War Memorials - Surnames D

Walter George Daniel was born in 1890 (GRO reference: Sept 1890 Holsworthy 5b 515) to Samuel Charles and Mary Jane Daniel (nee Stidwill).

In the 1901 census the family lived at Manor Lodge, where Walter's father Samuel was a 36 year old cowman, presumably working on the farm of the recently opened (1899) Manor Asylum. His mother Mary Jane had died in March 1892 aged 31 and was buried in Epsom cemetery plot F73 on 31 March 1892. Walter's father Samuel remarried Rosa Spurrier, aged 30 during the September 1892 quarter. Walter had three siblings William aged 13, John aged 11 and Dorothy aged 5. The family had two boarders both working on the farm. Samuel's second wife Rosa also died young aged 46, and was buried in Epsom cemetery plot D437 on 17 November 1916. She had been living at 56, Common View Road, Epsom. Walter is shown as George in the 1901 census. I have been unable to find the family in the 1891 census.

Before the war Walter worked on the Horton light railway that served the Epsom Asylum cluster, and he was commemorated on the now missing Long Grove Hospital memorial. His name, wrongly spelt Daniels, appeared under the "Horton Estate Central Station and Railway" section of the memorial, along with two other men.

Walter served in the 1st Battalion East Surrey Regiment, which was in the 95th Brigade 5th Division. He was sent to France on 31 August 1915. In July 1917 a trench raid was planned, the objective being a trench along the western edge of Fresnoy Park. The raiding party was made up of men from No 1 Company on the right and No 4 Company on the left. The raid was to take place on 18 July 1917. At 3.30am under the protection of an artillery barrage the Battalion launched the raid. The objective was reached and about twenty Germans were killed and one was taken prisoner. However, the war diary reports that fourteen of the East Surrey's were missing, probably killed. Of those, eight men from No 4 Company pursued the enemy too far into Fresnoy Park and ran into their own protective barrage. The other six were probably killed by machine gun fire or bombs.

The 'Soldiers Died' CD states that fourteen men from the Battalion were killed in action on the 18 July, including Walter, who may have been a victim of 'Friendly Fire'.

Walter is commemorated on the Arras Memorial to the missing.

He was awarded the 1915 Star, British War medal and the Victory medal.

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(Listed on the Horton Hospital Staff Memorial).

Killed in Belgium on 16 August 1917. Aged 27 years. (Listed on the St Mary's Cuddington memorial)

John Knightly (also spelt Knightley) Donhue was born in 1898 (GRO reference: Mar 1898 Kensington 1a 126 to John Knightley and Mary Bessie Donhue (nee Child). John's parents were married on 11 March 1894, in the St Marylebone registration district, and went on to raise seven children.

In the 1901 census the family lived in Westleigh Cottage, Miles Road, Epsom. John's father, also John was a 30 year old engine fitter. His mother Mary was 29. John had 4 siblings, Arthur John aged 6, Hubert aged 4 Frederick George aged 1, and Edward aged 2 months. (Show as Donhen in Ancestry).

Two more sisters were added to the family, Kathleen Lucy born 10 December 1902, and Edith born 13 March 1905.

The 1911 census shows that the family had moved to 9, Hook Road, Epsom. John's brother Arthur was a 16 year old milkman, and brother Hubert a 15 year old errand boy. John and his other siblings were at school.

The Surrey recruitment registers have information on brothers Arthur and Frederick, but nothing on John or his father. The only service record to survive was that of the father, and on 14 April 1915 he was declared to be permanently unfit for service abroad due to chronic synovitis of the knee (a very painful condition where the joint lining of the knee becomes inflamed).

John Donhue volunteered his services to King and Country in September 1914, walking into the Tufton Street headquarters of the 2nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers), and was accepted as Private No. 2823.He would have been about 16 years old at the time, and as the minimum official enlistment age was 17, he probably lied about his age. However, he was assigned for training to the 2nd Battalion, 2/2nd London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). When the 2/2nd Battalion left England in January 1915 for the Mediterranean theatre, John was transferred to the 3rd Battalion for his training to continue. Perhaps his true age had been established, and the Regiment decided to adhere to the rules.

John remained with a training Battalion for longer than usual, about 18 months. Generally at this time 6 months was the norm, and again this was probably due to his young age. Eventually in April 1916 he was sent to France with a reinforcement draft to join the 1st Battalion in the field at the Artois village of Sericourt, where it is in training for the forthcoming Somme offensive. He was assigned to "A" Company. John would still have only been 18, despite the official age for fighting overseas at that time being 19.

The 1/2 Battalion London Regiment was in the 169th brigade in the 56th division. On 1 July, with the 46th division, the 56th division was to attack the Gommecourt salient, on the Somme battlefield.

At the northernmost extent of the Somme battlefield the German trenches formed a salient into British lines around Gommecourt Park. The attack on the Gommecourt salient was not considered part of the main Somme thrust, it was supposed to act as a diversion, drawing off German resources that might otherwise have been used further south. The 46th division attacked the salient from the north, whilst the 56th division attacked from the south. The 56th division commenced its attack at 7.30am, but John's battalion was held in reserve until 2pm, when 2 companies were sent in as reinforcements. They attacked through an artillery barrage and were cut down by machine gun fire.

169 men from the 1/2 London Regiment were killed on 1 July 1916.

John's medal card shows he was awarded the British War medal and the Victory medal.

The CWGC tells us that he was the son of John and Mary Donhue, of 9, Hook Road, Epsom.

The St Martin's church roll of honour states that "JOHN KNIGHTLEY DONHUE was only 16 years of age in the year 1914 when he, his father and three brothers all joined the Army. He was reported missing during the first advance on the Somme, and was officially presumed killed in action on the 1st July 1916".

He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial pier 16B.

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Joseph Doran was born in 1880 in Reading (GRO reference: Mar 1880 Reading 2c 387) to William and Alice Doran. William and Alice were both born in Ireland, and probably married in Ireland.

In the 1881 census the family lived at 22, Queens Cottages, Queens Road, Reading. Joseph's father was a 43 year old musician, and his mother was a 34 year old laundress. He had 6 siblings, Martha aged 17, a tailoress, John aged 14, a stable boy, William aged 12, Alice aged 5 and Sarah aged 3.

By 1891 the family had moved to 153, Ring Road, Reading. Alice now 15 was working as a domestic servant, and another sibling, Frances aged 9, had been born.

In 1901 Joseph, now aged 22 was working as an attendant at the London County Lunatic Asylum at Ilford.

Joseph married Ada Annie Coulson on 3 March 1904 at Romford, Essex. They had 2 children, Lionel Sydney Maitland Doran born on 3 October 1905 in Chigwell, Essex, and Olive Christina Maitland born on 31 July 1908 in Epsom. In 1911 they were living at Ferndale, Chessington Road, West Ewell. Joseph was then a Head Night Attendant. They had a boarder, 7 year old Thomas Henry Reardon.

Joseph attested on 11 September 1915 at Kingston, giving his age as 34 years and 9 months. He was 5 feet 8½ inches tall, weighed 128 lbs, had a chest measurement of 36½ inches with an expansion of 4 inches, and had a scar on the left side of his neck. He had been born in Reading, was a qualified nurse, and lived at 26, Hook Road.

Joseph joined the RAMC, presumably because of his nursing skills, and on 24 September 1915 was assigned to the 103rd Field Ambulance (FA). On 6 October 1915 he was appointed Acting Sergeant with pay, and on 22 November he was promoted full Sergeant. On 11 January 1916 Joseph was sent to France to serve with the 103rd FA, part of the 103rd Brigade in the 34th Division. The 103rd Brigade was known as the Tyneside Irish Brigade. Its 4 Battalions, the 24th, 25th, 26th and 27th Battalions Northumberland Fusiliers, were largely recruited from the Irish communities living near the river Tyne. The Brigade was to suffer terribly on 1 July 1916 when almost 600 men lost their lives. Joseph, no doubt would have tended many of the wounded.

Joseph suffered with heart problems that were first revealed on 12 July 1916, and by 16 July he could no longer carry out his military duties. On 26 September 1916 he was deemed by the medical authorities to be unfit for any kind of military service, and that it was caused by severe strain whilst on active service. He was honourably discharged and granted the 'Silver War Badge' (SWB).

Joseph died on 24 January 1918 and was buried in plot H53 in Epsom Cemetery on 30 January 1918. He does not appear in the Commonwealth War Graves Commission records, presumably because he was not a soldier at the time of his death, even though his death ultimately was caused by the war.

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Percy John Doubleday was born on 15 June 1888 in Halifax, Nova Scotia. His father, also Percy Doubleday lived at 138 Argyle Street, Halifax, Nova Scotia.

Percy had had 4 brothers who also served:

Charles Walter who enlisted in 1914, joined the 24 Battalion in France and was badly wounded on 21 September 1916 at Courcelette, Somme. Invalided to England.
Herbert George, who went overseas with the 40 Battalion on 28 July 1915 when under age at 16 years. He was badly gassed in June 1916 just before the Somme battle.
Albert Edward joined the RCR in June 1916, but became ill shortly afterwards and was discharged.
Robert, enlisted 2 September 1916 but did not serve overseas.

Percy attested on 12 March 1915. He was 5 feet 4 ½ inches tall, had a chest measurement of 35 inches, with an expansion of 3 inches. His complexion was dark, and his hair and eyes were both brown. He had a scar on the outer side of his right shin, a vaccination mark on his left arm and a small scar on the base of his left thumb. He was considered 'fit for the Canadian Over-Seas Expeditionary Force'. He gave his religion as Church of England, and his 'Trade or Calling' as a Steeplejack.

Percy saw action on the Somme and at Vimy Ridge. He was wounded and evacuated to England in 1917. Percy must have received exceptional nursing care, presumably whilst at the Horton War Hospital, as he married his nurse Caroline Taylor (GRO reference: Mar 1917 Epsom 2a 22). Unfortunately the marriage was destined to be very short as Percy, once fit was again sent to France where he was killed in action by shrapnel on 18 July 1917. As the 25 Canadian Battalion was not engaged in any major battle at the time, Percy was presumably killed by shellfire whilst on duty at the front. One of the victims of the terrible war of attrition that killed men every day even though there were no official battles being waged at the time.

Percy was originally buried in Lievin Station cemetery, half a mile west of Lens. After the armistice his body was exhumed, and reburied in plot XIX. D. 3. in the Loos British Cemetery. Another fifty nine soldiers were exhumed from Lievin Station cemetery and reburied at Loos.

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(Listed on the Ashley Road Memorial, Epsom)

George Hunter Downie was born circa 1889 in Canongate, Edinburgh to George H and Isabella Downie.

The Scottish census for 1891 tells us that George's father, also George, was a 26 year old clothes salesman who had been born in Michigan, USA. His mother Isabella was 25 and had been born in Edinburgh. He had a 2 month old brother Arthur J Downie.

I have been able to find no census entries for 1901 in either Scotland or England.

George's medal card (downloaded from the National Archives, as it is not available via Ancestry) shows that he entered a theatre of war on 15 August 1914. The web site of the Dragoon Guards (www.qdg.org.uk) tells us that they mobilised on 3 August 1914, 2 days before the rest of the country, and that reservists made up 36% of Regimental strength. Mobilisation was completed by 10 August 1914, and they sailed from Southampton on Minneapolis, arriving at Le Havre by the evening of 16 August.

There is no service or pension record for George at Ancestry but the aforementioned website does hold a database for over 23,000 men who served, but does not guarantee the kind of information that might be found. It has a record for 'Downie G, Trooper, dated 1913', (www.qdg.org.uk/military_genealogy.php) but without a Regimental number. Could this be our G. Downie? I would have to spend £25 to find out.

Soldiers Died CD tells us that he enlisted in Edinburgh, and that he lived in Leith, Edinburgh. I suspect that he joined the colours at a quite young age, served a few years and then joined the reserve. He may have left the Army to join the staff of the Horton Asylum (opened 1903), as his name appears in a book produced by the London County Council after the war, called 'RECORD OF WAR SERVICE London County Council Staff 1914-1918'. Page 33 states that 'G.H. Downie (5th Drag. Gds., Asylums) died on 16 March 1916', followed with an appendix on page 198 which lists George with all those who served from the Horton Mental Hospital, and has the following entry 'Downie, George Hunter (1914-1916) Private, Dragoon Guards; France 13 months; Died of wounds 16 March 1916.

In the now disused chapel in the grounds of the former Horton Asylum is a memorial to 15 staff from the Horton mental hospital who lost their lives in the Great War, but George Downie is not one of them.

As already mentioned, his medal card states he entered a theatre of war on 15 August 1914. It also tells us he received the 1914 star (with clasp) British War medal and the Victory medal. In the remarks space is written 'Died (S.I.W.) 16.3.16'. So George, one of the first to go to France, one of the first to come under enemy fire, and having spent over a year and a half in France, was recorded as dying from a self inflicted wound. The first three months of 1916 were a quite period for the Dragoons. The Soldiers Died CD shows '1 Killed in Action, 3 Died of Wounds and George Downie, Died'. Was his name left off the Horton Mental Hospital Roll of Honour because he died from a self inflicted wound?

George is buried in St Riquier British Cemetery, plot C. 6

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Frank Stanley Duke was born in St Leonards in 1890 (GRO reference: Sep 1890 Hastings 2b 38) to David and Eliza Duke (nee Lacy). His parents were married in the Maidstone registration district in 1876.

In the 1881 census, before Frank was born, the family lived at 25, Gensing Road, St Leonards, Hastings. His father was a 31 year old 'eating house keeper'. His mother was 29, and he had three siblings, Mildred aged 3, David John aged 2 and Harry Carlton aged 11 months.

By 1891 the family had moved to 44, North Street, not far from Gensing Road. His father was still running an eating house, and brother David was a 12 year old waiter, presumably at Dad's café? Another 4 siblings had arrived, Godfrey Charles aged 8, Mabel Eliza aged 5, Percival Walter aged 4, and Ida Dorothy aged 2. Frank was the youngest in the household at 10 months.

In 1901 they lived at 23, Alfred Street, not far from North Street. Frank's mother Eliza, a charwoman, was now the head of the family, as father David had died in 1896 aged 44. Brother Godfrey was a 19 year old grocer's porter, Percival was a 14 year old bottle labeller working in a cellar, and another sibling had arrived, George Robert.

The 1911 census shows the family living at 2, Cross Street, again a move within a very small area of St Leonards. Mother Eliza was still the head of the family, being supported by her sons. Brother Godfrey was still working as a grocer's porter, Percy was a window cleaner, Frank himself was a barman, and George was a plumber and gas fitter. Eliza stated that she had borne 10 children and that 8 were still alive. The censuses reveal only 9, so presumably one of her children died in infancy.

Frank attested in Kingston on 31 August 1914, stating his age as 24 years and 98 days, he was therefore born on 26 May 1890. He was 6 feet ½ inch tall, weighed 168 lbs and had a chest measurement of 37 inches with an expansion of 3 inches. He was a labourer, had a fresh complexion, had been vaccinated in infancy, had perfect 6/6 vision, and his religion was C of E.

Frank was given service number 2365 and assigned to the 5th Battalion Middlesex Regiment, a Depot and training unit. On 4 November 1914 he was made Lance Corporal, and on 19 January 1915 he was transferred to the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment and sent to France. The 4th Battalion at that time was in the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division.

On 14 August 1915 the 4th Battalion Middlesex Regiment were holding trenches near Hooge, south west of Ypres. The following is an extract from the war diary for 14 August 1915:

Quiet day until 6pm when our howitzers and some Belgium field guns fired on places supposed to be trench mortar emplacements. This drew the enemy's fire and they sent over a lot of bombs but did little damage. The General Commanding 137th Brigade, the Chief of the 3rd Divisional staff, the C.O. and adjutant of the 1/5 South Staffords looked round our trenches also the Brigade Sanitation officer. One man killed and one wounded during the day.

The Soldiers Died CD tells us that only one man from the battalion was killed that day, so presumably it was Frank Stanley Duke. Frank is buried in plot I. A. 24. Woods Cemetery, Belgium.

On 25 April 1919 Frank's mother completed Army Form W.5080, a statement of all living close relatives of a deceased soldier. She entered the names of Mildred, David and George. So of her 10 children she outlived at least 7 of them.

George was probably the one who put forward Frank's name for inclusion on the Ashley Road memorial as his address is given as 76, Lower Court Road, Epsom, Surrey. Possibly Frank was living with his brother at the time of his enlistment.

Frank was awarded the 1914 - 1915 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal. His mother received them separately in three different parcels between 15 July 1920 and 16 February 1921.

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May have been Private., 12th Bn, Middlesex Regt. Killed in France on 3 May 1917. Listed on the Arras Memorial, France. Aged 41 years. Husband of Harriett Dulake, 111 Godstone Road, Whyteleafe, Surrey. (Listed on the Ashley Road Memorial, Epsom).

William Walter Dunn was born in one of the Elizabeth Cottages, Stamford Green, Epsom, on 1 November 1888 (GRO reference: Dec 1888 Epsom 2a 22), to William and Sarah Dunn (nee Simons). William's parents married at Christ Church, Epsom on 4 June 1888.

In the 1891 census the family lived at Railway Side Cottages, Epsom Common. William's father was a 27 year old general dealer, and his mother was 21. William, known as Willie, had a younger brother James, aged 8 months.

In the 1901 census the family address was 1, Railway Cottages, Woodlands Road, Epsom. William's father was now a 36 year old general fruit dealer, working on his own account. His mother was 30, and he had two more siblings, John aged 7, and Alice Maud aged 3 months. Also shown is 15 year old Henry Hoare, a servant and general helper. It is likely that he was a lodger with the Dunn family rather than a servant to them.

Clive R Dunn, a great nephew of Willie Dunn, has provided the following information:

The Dunn family were poorly educated, had no recognized professions and came from humble beginnings; official documents show that Sarah was still illiterate in her twenties. As far as we know, William and his sons made their livings selling fruit and vegetables from a cart and undertaking general labouring. At some stage, the family began selling wet fish and James would make frequent visits to the fish markets in London by train to collect supplies. Sarah worked at one of the laundries in the Stamford Green area. The laundry business was important to the local economy, with dirty washing being brought down from London by train and returned washed and ironed the same day. The Dunn family also took in lodgers at Railway Cottages to supplement their income. Willie did not marry.

William (Willie's father) died of tuberculosis in January 1911 at the age of 48, and this same condition would claim the life of his son, James, in February 1914. Sarah (Willie's mother) remarried in June 1912 to Michael Hennessey, and shortly afterwards the family moved from Railway Cottages to 13 Pound Lane, Epsom, to open a shop selling greengroceries. It is believed that Willie and John volunteered for Army service within months of the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. With Willie and John in the Army, and having lost James, Sarah found that she could no longer manage running the greengrocery business and the shop changed to selling confectionery.

Willie's brother, John, survived the war although he received serious shrapnel wounds which permanently damaged one of his lungs. He convalesced at one of the Epsom Hospitals. John married Audrey Deane of 17 Pound Lane, Epsom, on 7th June 1924 and had three children; he also had three children with Kathleen Orford after he had informally separated from Audrey. Alice Maud, Willie's sister, married John Dillon in 1925 who was the brother of the successful Irish jockey, Bernard "Ben" Dillon. Bernard Dillon was the third husband of the colourful music hall star, Marie Lloyd.

William's Great War service record has not survived. However, his medal card tells us that he was awarded the 1915 Star, British War medal and the Victory medal, and that he went to France on 21 May 1915, with the 2nd Battalion Rifle Brigade. This Battalion was in the 25th Brigade, 8th Division, and fought in the third battle of Ypres, (known as the battle of Passchendaele) . On 16 August 1917 the Battalion were in trenches near Westhoek, and were to support the 1st Royal Irish Rifles and the 2nd Berkshire regiment, who were the main attacking battalions, across the Hanebeek stream. Twelve men from the 2nd Rifle Brigade lost their lives on 16 August 1917, including Willie who was killed in action. He has no known grave, and is commemorated at the Tyne Cot memorial.

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