DOCKRILL, Walter


No.20886, Private, Walter DOCKRILL
Aged 20


7th Battalion, Suffolk Regiment
Died of his Wounds on Tuesday, 22nd August 1916


Walter Dockrill was born in Little Wratting, (Risbridge Q1-1896 4A:723), baptised in Horseheath (abode Little Wratting) on 5th July 1896, son of Alfred and Mary DOCKRILL (née POULTER). His father recorded as DOCKERILL on marriage registration, in fact there are few civilian uses of DOCKRILL.

1901 census...Aged 5, he was at Hanchett End, Haverhill with his father Alfred DOCKERILL [34] horsekeeper born Horseheath; mother Mary Ann [33] born Horseheath; sister Agnes [10] born Haverhill and brother George F [4] born Haverhill. However in the next census Agnes is recorded as born Horseheath and Walter and George as born in Little Wratting.

1911 census...Aged 15, farm labourer, he was at Westoe Farm, Bartlow, Castle Camps, with his parents(father farm foreman); sisters Agnes Jane and Doris May [4 months] born Castle Camps; brother George Frederick (farm labourer).

His brother Frederick George enlisted in Cambridge in the Suffolk Regiment on 27th September 1915, moved to Training Reserve and ended up in the Royal Field Artillery and survived the war


Walter enlisted in Haverhill and died in the Military Hospital in Chichester. With no Army service record available, and especially dying in England, it is impossible to say where or when he was wounded. The 7th Suffolk however were heavily involved in the Albert/Pozieres area in the Battle of the Somme. Although not involved in the dramatic first day, they did suffer quite badly on at least two occasions in July and August.




photo: Commonwealth War Graves Commission



Walter Dockrill is buried in Chichester Cemetery, Sussex grave 126:40

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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