Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: P. Priano
Ypres Reservoir Cemetery: Pauline Priano
Medal Index Card
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
George William Dorr, one of 9 children was the 2nd eldest of 3 surviving brothers and had 1 elder and 1 younger sister. His father William Dorr, a Londoner, was born in 1866 at Marylebone where he was married, July 27th 1887 to Kate Lane, native of Woking in Surrey born 1867. William was in service, employed as a coachman/servant, in 1891 they were living at 14, Queen Anne Mews with son Cyril Thomas (1) who died later that same year aged 15 months, also in the household were Alfred William Snooks (15), a groom and his sister Alice Kate (10), their nephew and niece. Prior to their migration to the north of England Charles Leslie was born at Marylebone, August 26th 1891. They settled in the village of Norton, near Stockton-on-Tees, County Durham, and had a further 2 children Mildred Kate 1894 and George William 1896 before transferring to Neasham where Jane Susan and Harry Cyril Frederick were born in 1899 and 1901 respectively. William had maintained his employment in service, he and his family now lived at Neasham Hall Gardens transferring to 31, Brighton Road, Darlington by 1911. Charles Leslie (19) was now in service as a groom, George (15) an errand boy, their father worked in a hotel.
During the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1914 Kate Dorr nee Lane died aged 47 years, registered in the district of Darlington. Within 6 months of her demise Britain declared a state of war existed with Germany. George William left his employment as a chauffeur/driver to enlist at West Hartlepool, February 15th 1916, assigned as Private 950 to the 22nd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The 22nd Battalion was raised in response to a request by the War Office, August 6th 1915, for a battalion of pioneers to be trained to dig as well as fighting as infantrymen. The battalion was handed over to the War Office, March 9th 1916, moved to Scotton Camp, Catterick, March 22nd and after a short period of intensive training departed to France, June 16th 1916 from Southampton, landing at Le Havre just prior to the commencement of the Battles of the Somme. The offensive was planned for June 29th, however, delayed by bad weather it was rescheduled for July 1st 1916. The Pioneers were attached to the 8th Division and engaged carrying supplies to the forward lines and the wounded back to the dressing stations. Near La Boisselle while setting up a field dump the first 5 casualties of the battalion were wounded. Late October they lost 30 men digging communication trenches and carrying wounded for the 5th Division.
During his time at the front Private Dorr was admitted to hospital, the first on Christmas Day 1916, having been taken by the 24th Field Ambulance to the 2nd Canadian Stationary Hospital at Le Treport, suffering from bronchitis. Having recovered he returned to the 35th Infantry Base Depot at Etaples, February 22nd 1917 until March 3rd when he rejoined his battalion now on the Belgian salient. He fell ill again within 2 weeks with myalgia receiving treatment at the 25th Field Hospital and no sooner had he returned to his unit, was wounded, March 23rd 1917 and repatriated via the General Hospital at Rouen to England. Admitted to the Berrington War Hospital, Shrewsbury, during his stay he was treated for pleurisy, left lung. Discharged May 4th Private Dorr was posted for retraining to the 3rd Battalion, garrisoned at South Shields and Jarrow, part of the coastal defences, until considered fit again for overseas service. He departed with the British Expeditionary Force June 5th 1917, arriving at the 35th Infantry Base Depot temporarily posted to the 20th Battalion before re-joining the 22nd Pioneer Battalion D.L.I. July 19th 1917, in Belgium. His battalion had been engaged all summer digging trenches and laying railway track in preparation for the forthcoming 3rd Battle of Ypres which began July 31st and raged until November 10th 1917. The 22nd, subjected to mustard gas attacks, shelling, battling through the rain and mud remained on the Ypres salient until the Germans once again attacked on the Somme, March 28th 1918.
Private 22/950 George William Dorr was wounded in action February 16th 1918, a shrapnel wound to the neck, and taken to the Dressing Station, 26th Field Ambulance, attached to the 8th Division where he died later that day. He is at rest, Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium, grave III. C. 9, he was 22 years of age and single.
His father William of 31, Brighton Road, Darlington, County Durham, received all monies due to him, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, he also commissioned at a cost of 5 shillings 6 pence an additional inscription to be added to his son’s military headstone, it reads, “Gone But Not Forgotten.”
Although both of George William’s elder brothers were eligible for war service only the details of Charles Leslie Dorr who served with the Machine Gun Corps, have been found. He survived the conflict.
William Dorr of 31, Brighton Road, died March 18th 1940 at 108, Yarm Road, Darlington leaving effects in the sum of £307 19s 7d to Charles Leslie Dorr, post office employee. Charles Leslie Dorr died in 1967, West Riding, Yorkshire, preceded by his brother Harry Cyril Frederick, February 3rd 1963, County Durham. Jane Susan died in 1976 and Mildred Kate in 1988 also County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
George William Dorr is remembered at Darlington on D40.034 D40.047 and D40.067 and at Durham in the The DLI Book of Remembrance page 29.
