Medal Index Card

Charles Leslie Dorr, one of 9 children was the eldest of 3 surviving brothers and had 2 younger sisters. 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 Cyril 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 had declared war with Germany. Charles left his employment as a chauffeur and enlisted at West Hartlepool, December 7th 1915, posted to the Army Reserve the following day he was not mobilised until February 10th 1916 when as Private 862 he joined 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. Although he was hospitalised April 22nd-April 28th 1916 at the Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge, with a heart problem, Private Dorr 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. Private Dorr was himself wounded, April 4th 1918, gunshot wounds to the right buttock for which he received treatment in England, convalescing at the 1st Eastern General Hospital, Cambridge until May 23rd 1918, fully recovered he was sent for re-training to the coastal defences at South Shields and Jarrow as part of the garrison, 3rd Battalion Durham Light Infantry. July 4th 1918 he was permanently transferred to the 1st (Reserve) Machine Gun Corps, Grantham, with a change of service number, Private 173709.

Private Charles Leslie Dorr was married, October 24th 1918 at St. Thomas Church, York, to Mary Griffin born November 4th 1888, living at Stamford Bridge, East Riding, Yorkshire, with whom he had a daughter Edith born September 25th 1919.

Private 173709 Charles Leslie Dorr was transferred to Class Z, free to return to his home and employment but under the obligation to re-join at Ripon, Yorkshire, should hostilities resume with Germany. He was struck off strength and discharged August 28th 1919 after the signing of the Treaty of Versailles, July 28th 1919, which officially brought WW1 to an end.

Recipient of the British War Medal and Victory Medal.

Although both of Charles Leslie’s brothers were eligible for war service only the details of George William Dorrwho served with the Durham Light Infantry, have been found. He died of wounds in 1918 while on active service in Belgium.

Mary Dorr gave birth to their daughter Muriel in 1926, district of York. In 1939 Charles, Mary and Ethel were living at 17, Baker Street, York. Charles was employed as a chauffeur/mechanic, Ethel as a chocolate coverer machine hand, possibly at the Rowntree factory.

Charles Leslie Dorr died in 1967 aged 75 years, Mary Dorr nee Griffen aged 88 years in 1988. Edith Dorr married Jack Pullan in 1941, she died in 1989 aged 69 years, Muriel Dorr married in 1951 to Francis F. Tuersley, details of her demise, unknown.

In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.

Charles Leslie Dorr is remembered at Darlington in D40.067