Sydney Dore

Dore was called up for service and following training was drafted to France. 1/7th Battalion, Sherwood Foresters were in the line opposite the village of Gommecourt which was their target on July 1, 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme. The week long bombardment of German positions had failed to suppress the enemy and at 7.30 a.m.on that Saturday morning as the men rose from their trenches they were met by shelling and a hail of machine gunfire. They came forward in four waves, but within minutes both the colonel and the adjutant had gone down. Gaping holes were torn in the lines but men moved forward to fill the spaces and they kept moving forward. At seventy yards from the German wire they could see that few gaps had been blown in it. Despite the hopelessness of their task they did not waver, but kept moving forward in a display of utter raw courage. About two dozen got into the German front line, but were soon ejected and were forced to go to ground in shell holes, waiting for night before moving. Of the 536 men that set out at roll call that day only 93 remained. Dore was reported missing, but it was not until May 1, 1917 that he was confirmed as killed in action. His body was never recovered, but his name was commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, dedicated to the 72,000 men missing on the Somme.

CWGC and Castle Gate memorial spells first name 'Sidney'. Named on the Castle Gate Congregational Church ROH printed January 1917: S Dore, 1/7th Sher. Foresters (Nottinghamshire Archives ref DD2325/10) Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, Tuesday 1 May 1917: ‘Dore. Missing July 1st, 1916, now officially reported killed, Private Sydney Dore, Sherwood Foresters, in his 20th year, the dearly-beloved second son of Thomas and Elizabeth Dore, 26 Manor-street, Sneinton. The day Thou gavest, Lord, is ended. From mam, dad, sister and brothers, grandma, Connie, and friend Albert.’ Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, Tuesday 1 May 1917: Dore. Killed in action July 1st 1916. Private Sydney Dore, Sherwood Foresters. His country called; he answered. From his cousins Emma, Will, Phyllis, Zena.’ Nottingham Evening Post, Roll of Honour, Tuesday 1 May 1917: ‘Dore. Missing since July 1st, 1916, now reported killed, Private Sydney Dore, Sherwood Foresters. He left his home one morning, intending to come back, but sad the news that came to us, which we shall not forget. Duty called him. He was there – to do his bit, to take his share. His heart was good, his spirit brave; his resting place a soldier’s grave. From auntie Ada, uncle Jim, and children, and uncle Frank (Ilkeston).’ Bernard Dore enlisted 22/3/1915 and served (612406) in the Royal Field Artillery. Harry Gustave Dore served (2872 & 26518) in 1/7th Sherwood Foresters. He arrived in France 28/2/1915, was wounded 13/10/1915 during attack on the Hohenzollern Redoubt and was discharged 14/2/1918.