Some WW1 Dorling Hospital Admissions

1.  A Dorling, Lance Corporal,  age 32, 2nd Battalion Suffolk Regiment, Service No 6828, has served for 11.5 years, .  Influenza, admitted to 4^th Stationary Hospital, discharged 6 April 1915.  C of E.

[This is Arthur Dorling born 1886 Bury St Edmunds, son of Thomas Plummer Dorling & Emma lomax.   He enlisted 8 jan 1901 age 15 yrs 3 mths, 5 ft, 90 lbs, fair complexion, brown eyes & hair.  In the 1901 census returns he was a "bandboy" in the Channel Islands but was discharged July 1901 as medically unfit for service.  Next of kin in 1901 is given as his brother George Dorling of 106 Eastgate St, BSE & sister Ada? Same address.  Conduct & character very good. He marrried Daisy Turner at Woolwich in 1913 and had a daughter Joyce b. 1914 Woolwich.  Appears to have married a 2nd time to Lucy as she is named by War Graves Commission but this is probably a mistake. War graves Commission:- Corporal Service No:6828 Date of Death: 30/09/1915 Age:31 Regiment/Service:Suffolk Regiment 2nd Bn. Panel Reference: Panel 21. Memorial:YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL ]

2. C M Dorling, Private, age 35, 28 SB Amm Col, Army Service Corps, Service No 180701, had served for 1 year.  Admitted to 139^th Field Ambulance on 21 May 1917, 2 days treatment for 963 Impetigo, transferred 22 May 1917 to No. 50 CCS.  C of E.

[This is Charles Maurice Dorling of the Herringswell branch, born 1882 Kensington the son of George Dorling (b 1847 Tuddenham) and Maria Matthews.  In 1901 Charles is living with his uncle and working as a domestic groom.   In 1906 Charles (a groom by trade) married Ellen Emily Able, had a son and 2 daughters and happily survived the war.  His Army Medal Roll Index Card shows he was a Private and was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, whihc suggests he enlisted around 1916 or later.  Hi Army Service Corps No was M2/180701 and his previous unit was RASC.  He died in 1956 in Epping] 

3. G E Dorling, Driver, age 36, 109^th Company, Army Service Corps,Service No T4/058180, had served 3 yrs 3 mths, 2 months in Field. Admitted with N.Y.D.P.R. to 66^th Field Ambulance18 May 1918, transferred same day to Sick Convoy CCS. C of E.

[This is George Edgar Dorling of the Herringswell branch, born 1882 at Chippenham, cambs, the son of Samuel Dorling (b. 1852 Freckenham) and Agnes nee Perry.  George  married Margaret Tribick in 1910 at Newmarket and in 1911 was living at Freckenham as a cowman on a farm. By 1915 they had 2 sons and 2 daughters.  In 1915 they were living at New St, Chippenham when he attested 8 feb 1915 at Newmarket and enlisted at Woolwich as a driver.  His trade was given as stockman.  George served 4 yrs and 82 days, including in India, S Africa and Selonica, and suffered recurring malaria due to the climate conditions of the country in which he was serving.  He was admitted to 3 hospitals during the war, and had been in Bardwell Hospital at Mildenhall, Suffolk before the war.  He was a member of the Ashton Unity National Health Approved Medical Society.  In 1919 he was examined and malaria agreed but they were unable to assess the degree of disablility.  He appears to have been awarded a disability pension but there is no detail of payments in his army pension records.   In 1939 George was living and working as a farm carter at Dexisley Wood Stud, Newmarket, with his wife Margaret, daughter Evelyn and son George.  He died in 1968 age 85 in the Bury St Edmunds district.]

4. H F Dorling, Private, 8^th battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers, Service No 12274.  Admitted 21 Sep 1915 to HM  Hospital Ship “assaye” with renal abcess and fistula, opened and drained, CHCl3 anaesthetic used, operation by Lieut Rigby 21 Sep 1915.  Transferred to Malta.

5. H F Dorling, age 19, Private, Company D RWF, Service No 12274, 1 yeasrs service, 3 months with Field Force.   Admitted 21 Sep 1915 to HM Hospital Ship “assaye” with abcess to leg.  C of E.

[This is Henry Frank Dorling of the Bury St Edmunds branch, born 1896 Bethnal Green, the 5th of 6 sons of Edward Dorling (b. 1859 hHackney) and Mary nee Beckwith.  The mother dies in 1906 and in 1908 Henry Frank and his younger brother William james are removed by the parish overseers from Shoreditch to Bethnal Green as they are chargeable to the parish and have to live at the schools / workhouse.  By 1911 Henry is living as a servant in wales - perhaps sent there by the parish, and hhis brother is still at Bethnal Green workhouse.   Henry joins up in 1915, survives the war and is awarded  the 1915 Star, British and Victory medals.  In 1920 he marries Eunice Williams in Wales.  In 1939 he is a lorry driver in carmarthenshire, living with Eunice and their daughter Elvira.  Eunice died 1851, Frank died age given as 82 in 1979 in Carmarthen. Elvira married and has descendants.  Of frank's 5 brothers, only 1 is known of, as no trace has been found of the others after 1911]

6. Henry Dorling, private, age 42, CFA 3^rd Div Can Tmb, Service No 339072, served 4 months in Field Force.  Admitted 21 Apr 1917 to 18^th General Hospital with strain ligament R foot, 3 days treatment, transferred No 6 company 23 April 1917. Notes: Roman Catholic. Arras 18/4/1917 18 CCS. R.C.

[This is Henry Earle Dorling born 1868 Croydon, of the Dennington / Epsom branch son of Edward Jonathan Dorling and Maria nee Earle.  in 1877 he was a Ship's Boy and later a 1st class steward on Canadian Pacific Steamship The Empress of Asia, & Canadian Pacific Steam Ship Co. until his enlistment in 1916.     He enlisted at Vancouver BC on July 17th 1916 at age 41listing his occupation as "Steward" on board The Canadian Pacific Steamship Empress of Asia.  He served with the 15th Field 68th batalion Canadian Field artiller C.E.F (CFA).  He lied about his age as he was actually born in 1868 not 1875 so was really almost 50 years of age. After the war he settled in vancouver working with the canadian Steam Ship line and later with the Canadian Pacific railway until his death on 10 Jan 1935 age 69.  he is buried in the veteran's section of the fraser View cemeter in new Westmonster BB] 

7. Henry Dorling, Gunner, age 27, 3 a Brigade, AFA, Service No 15041, 1 yr 8 mths service, 10 months in the Field Force.   Admitted to Middx War Hosptial at Napsbury with Gun Shot Would Left Thigh and Gun Shot Would right hand. Transferred 18 Oct 1917 to Aus Aux Hspl Harefield. C of E.

8. J F Dorling, age 23, gunner, A Company Royal Field Artillery, Service No 40332, 10 months service, 2 months in Field Force.   Admitted 21 June 1916 to 139^th Field Ambulance Hospital with Colitis.  4 days treatment. Transferred 24 June.  C of E.  Notes: Mont? Des Cots.

[This is James Freeman Dorling of the Herringswell branch, born 1893 in Fulham, the son of William Freeman Dorling b 1857 Barton Mills & Emily nee Portlock.   In 1911 he is a Gateman on the district railway.  By 1916 when James married Thirza Naommi Brazier, he was in the army - Royal Field Artillery is given on his marriage certificate. He had joined the Terratorial Army at age 17yrs in Feb 1909 and was discharged Jan 1912 (was recorded at Annual training 1910 & 1911, but awol 1911 - presumably T.A.  he either joined up voluntarily or was drafted up during WW1.  His occupation is given as clerk on his attestation papers, jeweller's assistant on his "service & casualty form".    His medal card shows Rank: Acting Corporal Medal Awarded: British War Medal and Victory Medal Regiment or Corps: Army Service Corps Regimental Number: ES/50439 Previous Units: R.F.A. 40332 Gunner.    reverse of medal card - now serving as s/8070 L/Cpl.  James continued in the army.  In 1920 James and Thirza had a daughter Beryl who died age 5. in 1939 they are living at "Woodstock" Hookley Lane, Hambledon, Hampshire -  James E Dorling born 20 Feb 1893, occupation: Army S/8070 S S M J F Dorling R Company R A S C Married, Thirza N Dorling born 05 May 1885 occupation Unpaid Domestic Duties Married.  Thirza died 1976 and James died age 78 in 1981.]

 9. Dorling, Staff captain, 14^th Inf brigade.  Admitted to 14^th Field Ambulance 8 Nov 1914 with influenza – 8 days treatment, transferred to Motor Ambulances.

James Dorling / Dowling of Wortwell, his son Robert and his sister Sophia

In Jan 1843 James Dowling alias Dorling (b. 1798 Wortwell, Norfolk) and his 17 year old son Robert (b. 1825 Gt Linstead, Suffolk) were convicted of stealing 3 heifers in Metfield,Suffolk - their descriptions are given when they are put in Ipswich Gaol and many years ago my distant cousin Jim Dorling sent me the transcriptions of their Ipswich gaol record.  Since then I have researched the family who originate in the Norfolk parish of Redenhall with Harlston and Wortwell.   It is likely they were non-conformists as their baptisms do not always appear in the parish records.  

James was a farmer with a wife and 8 children.  In 1838 the tithe records show he is the owner and occupier property in Wortwell, Norfolk.  By 1841 the and his family were living in Cratfield, Suffolk, but James still had property in Wortwell as he appears in electoral rolls for Wortwell in 1841.  He is definitely above the status of labourer and this is referred to at his trial when the judge says he must have same punishment as men of lower class, or words to that effect.  

Robert is seen as being influenced by his disgraceful father and therefore given just 3 months hard labour, first and last weeks in solitary confinement.  He does well later in life as a cab proprietor in Walworth.  He marries in Newington in 1854 and has 2 daughters and a son.  

James is to be transported for 10 years, but then spends 6 years on the hulk Justinia at Greenwich. In 1843 the hulk register reports him as of good character and respectable.  I  recently found that he was pardoned in March 1848.   It was common for family and friends to organise petitions for pardon and this may have happened with James.  (George Dorling transported 1833 to Tasmania had an unsuccessful petition, despite being very young, a first offence and a young wife and baby) .  I am still trying to find what happened to James and his wife after the pardon.

In the full report of the trial in the Ipswich journal? (I need to check which paper) of Jan 1843, witness George Fuller states when questioned that he is the brother-in-law of James Dowling alias Dorling. He also states, on questioning, that before James's imprisonment they go to Bungay, James dressed with a women's cloak (some laughte in the court at this point!), where James assigns his property over to George Fuller - this being legally drawn up by a Mr Drake, presumably to prevent the court imposing a fine that would lead to the loss of his property.

I have now found that George Fuller married james's sister Sophia Cox nee Dorling, widow in 1828.  

Sophia’s first marriage was in 1818 and I've found 3 children from her first marriage when they were living in Alburgh. It's highly likely there other children from the 1st marriage as none yet found between 1818 - 1824.  

In 1826 Sophia had a terrible year - she had twin boys born 27 Aug 1826 and baptised 2nd September.  But a few days later on 9th September her husband is buried. On 24th Spetember twin George is buried,  and on 11th October, her 2 year old son William was buried.  

Two years later Sophia marries George Fuller.  In 1841 they are in Wortwell where George appears in the electoral register.  In 1851 and 1861 they are in Great Yarmouth.  George is a cordwainer.  They have 2 sons and 2 daughters.  Sophia is buried in Gt Yarmouth in 1866 age given as 71.  

Additional information - this fmaily are mainly Dowling if Norfolk, but Dorling in Suffolk.  James Dorling / Dowling was baptised 4 Oct 1789 at Redenhall With Harleston And Wortwell, his parents were James Dowling died 1839 & Hannah nee Johnson died 1838, who married 9 Oct 1788 at Redenhall.  There are Dowlings in Redenhall back to the 1700s -  2 Jeremiah's, one a silver smith,  one a butcher.  But I can't link them to James's family as I can't find a baptism for James d. 1839, but estimate he was born in the 1760s- I suspect they are baptised in non-conformist churches - will research one day!  

Research 31st May 2018

Spent Wednesday at The National Archives.  Now have copies of 6 Dorling litigation documents. 

One in 1624 names Nicholas Dorling of Harwich, mariner, whose testimony was needed before a debt could be paid.  The debt was to do with biscuit and bread value £20 which was sent to Virginia.




Two documents 1718-1720 concerning John Dorling of Burwell, Cambs and Richard Casburne.  This is a large document with a lot of writing to decipher!


A 1706 document where the defendant is Bunning Dalling - this is to do with a will on the Bunning side.

A 1727 document concerning property in the Bungay area, involving John Dalling senior, apothecary and John Dalling junior.

Another 1700s document concerning land in South Elmham involving the Bungay Dallings.