No.18586, Private, Herbert James DOCKING
Aged 25
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Herbert Docking was born in Brandon in 1893 (Thetford Q3-1893 4B:373) son of Herbert James and Ellen DOCKING (née FOX). His mother (born 1866, at Great Ellingham, Norfolk) died in 1900 and in 1902 his father married Ethel Eliza HUNTER. 1901 census...Aged 7, he was at 1 Town Street, Brandon with his widower father Herbert DOCKING [32] labourer in woodyard; brothers Percy [10], Bertie [9] and Arthur [3]; grandparents John DOCKING [60] labourer and Hannah DOCKING [64]. All were born in Brandon. 1911 census...Aged 17, a labourer, he was at 1 Town Street, Brandon with his father (labourer/fence fixer), stepmother Ethel Eliza [38]; brothers Bertie (farm labourer) and Nurthan [Arthur]; half brothers Hector William [6] and Hammond George [11 months]; half sisters Cissy [9], May Evelyn [7] and Kate [5]. All were born in Brandon. In 1913 he married Polly Elizabeth DYER in Brandon on 3rd August 1913. They had twins, born 4th January 1914, Herbert William John Q1-1914 who died on 13th June 1915, and Ellen Eileen. They were living at 7 Bury Road, Brandon. His brother Bertie was killed in Belgium in 1917. see here |
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He enlisted in Bury St Edmunds on 21st January 1915, giving his age as 21 years 5 months, a saywer (machinery), born in Brandon. 5 feet
5.5 inches (166.4 cm)tall, 33.5" to 36"(85.1 to 91.4 cm),weighing 132 lbs 960.1 kg), Church of England. Reported to Suffolks depot on 26th January and posted to 10th Battalion on 9th February. On 10th December 1915 he was posted to Mesopotamia and joined the 2nd Battalion. He suffered severaL bouts of illness before receiving a severe gun shot wound to the face on 22nd April 1916. He returned to his unit on 4th May 1916. Seeral more bouts of illness followed and late in May 1917 he went via HT "Edavana" to India for a month's leave. Back to his unit via HT "Elephanta" on 25th June 1917. He went sick on 8th October 1918 with flu and was admitted to 20 Casualty Clearing Station, Basrah, but this turned to pneumonia and he died at 5:45 pm on 14th October 1918. He was buried in Table Mountain Cemetery, 60 miles NE of Baghdad. When he was moved to Baghdad North Gate is not known. On the "living relatives" form completed by his widow in 1919 she gave one child, Ellen, living with her at 48 Bury Road, Brandon, his father at 1 Town Street, Brandon and brothers Percy and Arthur somewhere in the Army. brother Bertie was already dead. Despite going to Mesopotamia on 10th December 1915 he was not awarded the 1914-1915 Star. The exact date of his arrival in that theatre of war is not known, perhaps the voyage was slower than usual or he was not engaged in operations against the Turks until 1916. click here to go to the Brandon at War website for more information
click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details |
