Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
John Rowland Dover born 1889 in Flimby, near Cockermouth, Cumberland, the only son and one of 13 children of whom only 8 survived, 1 boy and 7 girls, 5 deceased (gender unknown, born to coal miner William Dover 1860 Cramlington, Northumberland and his wife Ruth Taylor of Manchester, Lancashire. His parents were married in Cockermouth, 1st quarter 1884 migrating to the north east between 1901 and 1911, settling at 32 Wesley Terrace, Annfield Plain, County Durham, where John Rowland at the age of 22 was working as a coal miner-hewer.
John Rowland Dover enlisted and was assigned as Private 28744 Durham Light Infantry 13th Service Battalion, drafted to France after December 1915 joining the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division just as preparations were underway for the battles of the Somme. With their Division the 13th Battalion D. L. I. participated in the battles at Albert. Bazentin Ridge, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Transloy Ridge. 1917 they were involved in the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th, in West Flanders, Belgium. The offensive at Messines was designed to force the Germans to move reserves to Flanders from Arras and Aisne relieving pressure on the French. The attack was to capture the defences which ran from Ploegsteert Wood to Messines and to deprive the Germans of the high ground south of Ypres. It was during this battle the Private 28744 John Rowland Dover Durham Light Infantry was killed in action, June 11th 1917, he was 28 years old and single.
Private Dover is commemorated on the Menin Gate, Ypres, Belgium, panel 36 and 38. The memorial records the names of 34,984 servicemen from the United Kingdom and the Commonwealth who died on the Ypres salient up to August 16th 1917 and who have not been found or have a known grave.
All monies due to Private Dover were given to his family, along with a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
John Rowland Dover is remembered at Annfield Plain on A38.01
