Pte
William Arthur Greenwood Dolby
Information about birth
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Year of birth: 1889 |
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Place of birth: Haworth, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Wool Classer |
Army information
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Country: England, United Kingdom |
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Force: British Expeditionary Force |
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Rank: Private |
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Service number: 13813 |
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Units: — Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), 10th Bn. (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 20/09/1917 |
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Place of death: West of Polderhoek, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 28 |
Memorial
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Tyne Cot Memorial Panel: 83 |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 1
| #1 | Place of birth |
My story
Private William Arthur Greenwood Dolby, a former wool sorter, served in the 10th (Service) Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, which was part of the 69th Brigade, 23rd Division. This Battalion took part in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge on the 20th of September 1917.
The 23rd Division attacked their main objective, a line named Green Line (just west of Polderhoek) at 5.40 a.m. The 69th Brigade was placed on the left and attacked with the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, the 9th Yorkshire Regiment and the 10th Duke of Wellington’s. The 68th Brigade was on the right.
The first (Red Line) and second (Blue Line) objectives were successfully captured, with the ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s taking Northampton Farm. A string of 12 pillboxes laying between the Blue and Green line caused many casualties but were captured. The concrete dugouts of Veldhoek resisted the attack of the Wellingtons ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies. Eventually this could be overcome and the green line was taken. In the afternoon of the 20th two counterattacks developed, but artillery fire dispersed both. The battalion held the line until the night of 22/23 September.
The War Diary notes that, in addition to officer casualties, 51 other ranks were killed and 21 others missing. Private William Arthur Greenwood Dolby is one of the men killed or missing. His grave was not identified after the war.
The 23rd Division attacked their main objective, a line named Green Line (just west of Polderhoek) at 5.40 a.m. The 69th Brigade was placed on the left and attacked with the 11th West Yorkshire Regiment, the 9th Yorkshire Regiment and the 10th Duke of Wellington’s. The 68th Brigade was on the right.
The first (Red Line) and second (Blue Line) objectives were successfully captured, with the ‘B’ and ‘D’ Companies of the 10th Duke of Wellington’s taking Northampton Farm. A string of 12 pillboxes laying between the Blue and Green line caused many casualties but were captured. The concrete dugouts of Veldhoek resisted the attack of the Wellingtons ‘A’ and ‘C’ companies. Eventually this could be overcome and the green line was taken. In the afternoon of the 20th two counterattacks developed, but artillery fire dispersed both. The battalion held the line until the night of 22/23 September.
The War Diary notes that, in addition to officer casualties, 51 other ranks were killed and 21 others missing. Private William Arthur Greenwood Dolby is one of the men killed or missing. His grave was not identified after the war.
Sources 5
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Sources used |
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Chris McCarthy, 'Passchendaele : The Day-by-Day' London: Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018, p. 79-81. Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1630161/dolby,-william-arthur-greenwood/ Sources used |
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Naval & Military Archive http://www.nmarchive.com/ Sources used |
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The long long trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk Sources used |