Bombardier, 71784, Adolphus Alexander Dodd (20) – Killed in Action

48th Battery, 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery,  8 May 1917

Adolphus Dodd.

Guernsey Evening Press.

Extract from the above publication dated 19 May 1917 :-

ROLL OF HONOUR

Bomb. A. Dodd, R.F.A.

We reported recently that Mr. Adolphus Dodd, of the Rue Maze, St. Martin’s, had received news of the death of his son Bombardier A. Dodd, R.F.A., who was killed in action “somewhere in France.” Mr. Dodd has since received the following Letters:

R.F.A., B.E.F., May 10, 1917

Dear Mr. Dodd, - It is my painful duty to inform you of the death of your son, Bombardier A. Dodd. He met his death by a shell while in action on the 7th inst. He was a fine man and I can assure you that if Fate had not decided otherwise, he would have been promoted to Sergeant in a very short time, as he was the best junior N.C.O. in the Battery.

I can deeply sympathise with you in your great loss, as I myself lost my brother, an officer in this Brigade, not ten days ago, and I know how empty words really are on an occasion such as this.

Yours Sincerely

E.W. Manifold, 2nd Lieutenant

Dear Sir, – You will doubtless have heard from his O.C. of the death of your son, 71784 Bombardier A. Dodd. I buried him today. His grave is marked by a cross. May you be comforted in your sorrow by the thought that he died for his country, and also by the sure and certain hope of our religion.

Yours truly,

Philip Holden, C.F.

Bombardier Dodd was the eldest son of Mr. A. Dodd, and was 20 years and four months old when he was killed. He enlisted some time before the war, and left for the front with the original Expeditionary Force. He has been at the front throughout the war, only coming home once for three days’ leave in August, 1916. He was formerly employed by Messrs. J. and S. Ramey, of the Rue Maze, as a plasterer. He was educated at St. Martin’s Schools.

One of his chums writes to say “Your dear son was killed instantly by a shell, and he suffered no pain. As a Non-Commissioned Officer he was a favourite with everybody, and although he has only been known to us for a few months, he soon became liked and respected for his quiet, sensible and obliging personality. His grace will be well looked after by the members of this Battery.

War Diary 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery

7 May 1917

Roclincourt

A number of our aeroplanes attacked the Bosh (sic) balloons at 9 a.m.. They flew only about 100 feet high, and completely surprised the Bosch, bringing down 2 balloons in flames. The Bosch archies (anti-aircraft guns) seemed to be too surprised to shoot till it was too late – Enemy shelling still above normal. Lt. Robertson D/36 posted to 15th as second in command and promoted Captain 9th May.

8 May 1917

Roclincourt

Enemy shelling heavy and much counter Battery work done. Enemy put up an intense barrage from north of (Adius?) to south of Oppy – The counter attack retook Fresnoy and part of the Oppy Mericourt line as far south as the north of Oppy Wood.

Fresnoy and Oppy Wood, 3–4 May 1917.

Further Information

Adolphus Alexander Dodd was born on 6 January 1897 at St. Martin, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

He was the eldest son of Adolphus and Lucy Dodd. Little information is known of the younger Adolphus but he was educated at St. Martin’s Schools and in 1911 he is shown as being a labourer / plasterer for Messrs. J. and S. Ramey, Rue Maze, St. Martin, Guernsey.

In November 1912, at the age of 16 years, he was part of a large number of volunteers for the Militia in Guernsey. As there was a limited number of spaces available for the units, a ballot was conducted at the New Market Hall. The positions available were in the Royal Guernsey Artillery, Royal Guernsey Engineers and the Royal Guernsey Light Infantry. Adolphus was allotted a space in the 2nd Royal Guernsey Light Infantry, this would fit in with his service number 71784 which was from around this year.

It is unclear at what date Adolphus transferred to the Royal Field Artillery but it appears that it was prior to the commencement of the Great War as he was one of the first to head to the French Theatre of War on 16 August 1914 with the Royal Field Artillery. He was part of the 36th Brigade in the 48th Battery which also consisted of the 15th and 71st Battery at the time. He was certainly in action during the early years of the war as his 1914 Star also contained the clasp.

Adolphus was to spend most of his time in France with the 48th Battery until his death on the 8 May 1917 in action near Oppy, Pas de Calais.

He is buried at the Roclincourt Valley Cemetery,Pas de Calais, France which was close to where he fell.

Family

Adolphus Dodd was born on 6 January 1897 at St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands. The following family information is taken from the 1901 and 1911 Census and the Register of Soldiers Effects.

His family is shown as follows :-

  • Father: Adolphus, born c.1870 at Forest, Guernsey – Mason.
  • Mother: Lucy Elizabeth Guilbert or Dodd, born c.1866 at St Andrews Parish, Guernsey.
  • Sister: Evelyn, born c.1893 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Sister: Elsie May Dodd or Allen, born c.1896 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Sister: Mabel Maud, born c.1898 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Sister: Florence Louisa, born c.1901 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Brother: George William, born 3 September 1904 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Brother: Arthur, born 20 April 1906 at St. Martin, Guernsey.
  • Brother: Ernest, born 30 December 1907 at St. Martin, Guernsey.

Addresses

The following addresses have been ascertained for Adolphus Dodd :-

  • 1903: 3 Rockwell Terrace, St. Martin, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
  • 1911: Les Creles, St. Martin, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
  • 1917: Rue Maze, St. Martin, Guernsey, Channel Islands.
  • Post 1918: 24 Pedvin Street, St. Peter Port, Guernsey, Channel Islands (This address was given as the parental address to the Imperial War Graves Commission.)

Medals

Adolphus Dodd was awarded the 1914 Star and Clasp, the  Victory and the  British War Medals for his service in the Great War.

Memorials

Adolphus Dodd is honoured and remembered on the following memorials :-

  • St. Peter Port War Memorial, Guernsey, Channel Islands.

Remarks

Also killed on the same day within 48th Battery and most likely in the same action as Adolphus was Gunner, 30502, Stanley Worthington Sanders aged 34 years, who belonged to Catford, London.

2nd Lieutenant E.W. Manifold, who wrote to the parents of Adolphus following his death, mentioned that his brother had recently been killed in action. This was 2nd Lieutenant, William Herbert Manifold who was killed on the 26 April 1917, aged 27 years while service in the 15th Battery, 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.

Links to Additional Information

References

  • Soldiers Died in the Great War.
  • 1901 Census.
  • 1911 Census.
  • 1903 Kelly’s Directory.
  • Medal Index Card.
  • Victory and British War Medal Roll.
  • 1914 Star Medal Roll.
  • Register of Soldiers Effects.
  • Channel Islands Births and Baptisms.
  • War Pension Cards.
  • Guernsey Evening Post dated 19 May 1917.
  • Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
  • War Diary 36th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.
  • Guernsey Evening Press dated 2 December 1912.

Groups

Contributors:-

  • Vincent Stuart.