John William Dolton (‘Bill’) was born in Long Sutton, Lincolnshire in 1896. His parents were John William & Martha Annie Dolton (nee Scott). His father died at the age of 56 years in November 1907 and was buried at St Mary's, Long Sutton. John had an older brother, Frank, a younger sister, Ivy (born 1898) and two younger brothers, Horace and Ralph.

In the 1911 Census, John was living with his widowed mother at Station Road. He and his brother Francis were farm labourers. His residence at time of enlistment was Stamford, Lincolnshire.

John enlisted at Holbeach, Lincolnshire. He was issued with an earlier service number (4956) and listed as being in the Lincolnshire Regiment

While serving in this Regiment, on 23rd October 1916, he was taken in 31st Ambulance train, suffering from "Trench fever" and discharged on 24 October 1916. John was then issued with a new service number (201810).

In early April 1918, the 1/5th Battalion moved to the Kemmel sector (south of Ypres) and took over the front line near Passchendaele. The Germans began their spring offensive (Operation Georgette, the Battle of the Lys) and the Battalion was moved to reinforce the Lys area. This was where John was apparently wounded on 9th April 1918. He died at the 20th General Hospital, France, on 10th May 1918.

He is remembered at Etaples Military Cemetery.

From a newspaper article, Lincolnshire Standard & Boston Guardian; 25th May 1918, it appears he had a fiancé, Kitty (Kate) who wrote:-

“Sleep on, dear Bill, in a hero’s grave, A grave I may never see; But as long as life and memory last Will I remember thee.” 

RIP Sir...