7042 L/Cpl Charles Joseph Dolwin, HAC

7042 Lance-Corporal Charles Joseph Dolwin of the 2nd Battalion Honourable Artillery Company (HAC) died of wounds on the 13th October 1916. He was 24 years old and, according to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, was "the son of William Walter Dolwin of Yaxley Cottage, Sharp's Lane, Ruislip, Middx. Native of Muswell Hill, London."

Charles Dowlwin's partial service record survives as a burnt document at the National Archives and so I am able to fill in a little more information about him.

Charles attested with the 12th London Regiment at its headquarters in Chenies Street on the 4th September 1914. He gave his address as 39 Rosebery Road, Muswell Hill which, at the time, was his father's address. Charles was tall - six feet, two and a half inches - and gave his trade or calling as "clerk". He stated that he had been born at St Pancras in London.

He was appointed lance-corporal on 25th January 1915 and on 5th July that year was attached to the 102nd Provisional Battalion (formerly the 2/12th Londons). In January 1916, whilst stationed at Wimbledon, Charles applied for a transfer to the 2nd Battalion, HAC. At the time, his character was described as "very good" and the transfer duly went ahead on the 11th February 1916. Transferred as a private, and with a new number - 7042 - he was later appointed lance-corporal (22nd July 1916).

Charles remained in England until the 2nd October 1916 and, having spent over two years in the army, applied for a transfer, and signed the Imperial Obligation form was presumably eager to see active service overseas. Little would he guess of course, that he would be in France for less than two weeks before making the supreme sacrifice.

A memo dated 5th November 1916 and sent to the Officer in Charge of records for the Territorial Force in London, notes that Charles was buried in "English Plot, Rue de Romarin Cemetery, Belgium" and that this was reported on the 24th October 1916 by the officer commanding the 21st Field Ambulance. No burial date is recorded, although it does state that Charles died of wounds.

In February 1917, the authorities returned Charles's personal possessions to his father. The long inventory reads as follows: Disc [presumably one of his two identification discs, the other one being left on his body], letter, braces, knife, belt, 18ct ring, wrist watch, strap and cover, numerals, badge, pipe, note book, cigarette case, comb, handkerchief, photo, wallet, whistle and cord, two parcels, scissors and a pouch. To see such a long list is unusual; equally unusual - in my experience at least - is to see a list containing items of value like the gold ring and (presumably) wrist watch.

Charles is buried in Nieppe Communal Cemetery which contains 62 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.

At the going down of the sun, and in the morning, WE WILL REMEMBER THEM.

Sources:

Ancestry.co.uk (MIC)
Army Ancestry
Army Service Numbers 1881-1918
Commonwealth War Graves Commission