Name
Reginald Charles Francis Dolley
17 July 1887
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
01/07/1917
29
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Second Lieutenant
Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment)
6th Bn. (Territorial)
'A' Coy.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 7.
France
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, St Andrew's Church Memorial, Watford, St John the Evangelist Church Memorial, Watford, Watford Grammar School Memorial, Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance, Not on the Codicote memorials
Pre War
Reginald Charles Francis Dolley was born on 17 July 1887 in Codicote, Herts, the son of Francis Daniel and Emily Sarah Dolley (nee Turner), and baptised 18 September 1887 at St Mark's Church, Hatfield. His parents had married on 8 July 1886 at St Etheldreda’s Church, Hatfield, Herts. He was one of seven children, although one had died by 1911.
On the 1891 Census, aged 3 he lived in High Street, Codicote, with his parents and one sibling at which time his father's occupation was given as Police Constable. By 1901 the family had moved to Watford, with his parents and five siblings.
He was educated initially at Beechen Grove Infants’ School, Watford; then Beechen Grove Board School from 15 January 1894 to 30 September 1901; finally Watford Grammar School from September 1901 to July 1905. He then attended the University of London, with a Derby Scholarship of £50 a year, studying History and obtained a BA with Honours in 1908.
On the 1911 Census, he was recorded as a Visitor at the home of Thomas and Sarah Lynn at 39 Penn Road, Holloway and gave his occupation as a university lecturer. Their daughter Hilda was also living there and her occupation was given as history student.
He began teaching at University College Nottingham in 1910 and became its first Professor of Modern and Medieval History in 1914 at the age of 27.
He married 1915 Hilda Marguerite Irene Lynn on 10 February 1917 at St Luke’s, West Holloway, Islington, London. (Hilda gave her address as 39 Penn Road, Holloway).
Reginald's father Francis died in 1943 in Watford aged 79, and was buried 11 May in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford. His mother Emily died on 21 April 1952 in Watford aged 86, and was buried 25 April, also in Vicarage Road Cemetery.
Wartime Service
Reginald enlisted in as Private 8310 with the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps from November 1915 at Lincoln’s Inn, London: aged 28, 5’11” tall. He was appointed Lance-Corporal 27 May 1916, promoted to Corporal 1 July 1916, and promoted to Sergeant 19 August 1916.
He was discharged as a consequence of being appointed to a commission in the 5th (Reserve) Battalion, Notts & Derby Regiment, and was Gazetted in February 1917 as Second Lieutenant before being sent to France.
Reginald was reported missing near Lens on 1 July 1917, and later presumed killed in action on or since 30 June 1917, aged 29. A newspaper report indicated that "he was last seen surrounded by the enemy in a German trench which his company had taken, and which he refused to leave, saying that if needs be he would hold the position alone."
He has no known grave and his name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial.
Additional Information
His widow obtained probate in London on 8 May 1918, with effects of £273 18s 6d. She received a war gratuity of £9 and pay owing of £46 7s 7d.
The published Watford Grammar School Book of Remembrance entry reads:
“DOLLEY, REGINALD CHARLES FRANCIS. School period: September, 1901, to July, 1905. Second Lieutenant, Sherwood Foresters. Enlisted in Inns of Court O.T.C. November, 1915, and became Sergeant; gazetted to Sherwood Foresters in February, 1917; went to France; reported missing near Lens, 1st July, 1917, and since presumed killed.”
There are articles about Reginald in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 14 July 1917 and 23 March 1918 (including two Death announcements); plus In Memoriams in the issues dated 6 July 1918 and 5 July 1919. N.B. A note on a pension card states that his widow changed her surname by deed poll back to her maiden name of Lynn. There is no information on any pension being paid. There is a suggestion that Hilda remarried in 1936 in Bombay, India, to Norman Dobbins. This is unverified.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
