Name
George Dockru (poss Dockree)
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
10/04/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
19207
Bedfordshire Regiment
6th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
ARRAS MEMORIAL
Bay 5
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
St Albans Citizens Memorial, Town Hall (old) Memorial, St Albans, Fleetville Memorial (Hatfield Rd Cemetery), St Albans, St Mark’s Church Plaque, Colney Heath, London Colney Village Memorial
Pre War
He was the son of the late E. Dockree, of Tyttenhanger Green, St. Albans and husband of Minnie Dockree (nee Cook – the sister of Fred Cook who was also killed).
George had three elder brothers who all served in the Great War.
In 1891 George (2) was the youngest of four children living in London Colney with his parents. George’s older siblings were all girls, Annie (10), Emma (8) and Alice (6).
In 1901 George was the eldest of the three children living with their mother Sarah. The other children are George’s two sisters, Florence and Agnes; the older sisters having left the family home. According to the census George’s father was absent, perhaps working away or had died, as Sarah is identified as Head. In 1911 George was a bricklayer’s labourer boarding with Arthur and Eliza Savill and their daughter Rose, a straw hat finisher.
Wartime Service
George joined the Bedfordshire regiment shortly after the outbreak of war and went to France on 26th July 1915. He returned to England in November of that year with shell shock and was in hospital for twelve months, returning to France in December 1916.
The Bedfordshire Regiment war diaries at the time of George’s death record the following:
- 2nd April 1917: “In billets for training (Etrée-Wamin).”
- 5th April 1917: “Marched to Hauteville (8 miles).”
- 7th April 1917: “Marched to Wanquentin (3 miles).”
- 8th April 1917: “Marched to Warlus (2 miles).”
- 9th April 1917: “Marched to Arras (6 miles) and drew fighting equipment: advanced to road N & S through Feuchy Chapelle (4 miles) and dug in.”
- 10th April 1917: “Captured La Folie Ferme & La Bergere, in conjunction with attack of 11th Battalion on Moncey-Le-Preux. Lt Shaw killed. Battalion entrenched on the La Mergere crossroads – Guemappe. Lt Hedges, Pattison, Davidson, Freeman wounded.”
In April 1917 Mrs (Minnie) Dockree received a letter from George’s commanding officer Lieut Dudley W Wright, announcing with deepest regret that George was killed in action on the afternoon of April 10th. Dudley confirmed that George was shot through the body and felt that his death would have been instant. He also confirmed that George was one of his best bombers and was most popular with his comrades. Dudley was close by George at the time and during the action only managed to retrieve George’s identity tags which he sent to Minnie. This above was all confirmed in an article in the Herts Advertiser.
The Herts Advertiser at the time of George’s death [April 1917] stated that Lance Corporal Fred Cook was his brother in law. The sad fact was that Minnie lost her husband and her brother, Fred, within a three week period. The article also went on to say that in addition to Minnie, George also left two children. One of whom was Ronald Ernest, who is recorded in the St Mark’s register as being baptised on 26th July 1914 (born 18th June 1914). Exactly a year later George was sent to France.
The last place of residence, “Ferndale”, was the family home with his wife, Minnie, and this was confirmed through a note on George’s Medal Index Card.
Additional Information
George had three elder brothers who all served in the Great War and his brother-in-law, Fred Cook, also served his country. See additional information sheet
Acknowledgments
Gareth Hughes, Graham Clark – World War One – The Fallen of London Colney, Grace Clark, Jonty Wild
