James Alfred Dooley

James was already in the militia when he enlisted into the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 6th October 1903. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion on 7 January 1904. James signed on for 3 years and 9 in reserve but on 19 October 1905 was permitted to extend the period in the line to 8 years. On 13 December 1906 at Aldershot he was examined and found fit to serve in India, leaving on 19th to join the 1st Battalion. Except for a couple of minor medical problems, his service in India continued until 3 November 1911, when he was transferred to the Army Reserve and returned home. On the 5 August 1914, James was mobilized and posted to 2nd Battalion on 19 th October, although his medal index cards shows him arriving in theatre on 10 October. He was awarded 7 days Field Punishment No 1 by the O.C., on 11 December 1914 for absence. On 20th March 1915 he was at the 6 Division rest camp suffering from conjunctivitis. He was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal in June 1915. On 8 August 1915 James was wounded in action with a gunshot wound to the left wrist, neck and left groin. Treated at 18th Field Ambulance and 18th General Hospital, Etaples. He was then moved by hospital ship to England and arrived at H.M. Queen Mary's Royal Naval Hospital Southend on 18 August remaining there until 31st. Between 29 September and 16 October he was in the Military Hospital Derby. He was then posted to 3rd Reserve Battalion at Sunderland. On 8 December 1915 he was declared a deserter, although by 21 January 1916 he had returned. On trial (District Courts Martial) at Sunderland for desertion. Despite 'losing his army clothing and other military items, he was found not guilty. He was given six months in custody for being absent and losing his uniform. On 19th May 1916 the remainder of his sentence was remitted and on 31 May he was posted to 1st Battalion. On 5th July 1916 the battalion was tasked with attacking, capturing and consolidating a line near La Boiselle (Somme). Progress to the jump off was slow and trenches congested. So soon after 1st July nothing was clear and in fact part of the trench system the battalion should have attacked was already filled with British troops. The battalion eventually went forward in three columns at 2.15 pm, The centre column advanced but were held up by a 12 feet high block of earth and despite several costly attempts had to give ground as the enemy bombers attacked the exposed flanks. This was because the right column after gaining its objective, had been driven back by bombs, whilst the left column had been held up from the start. Close quarter fighting continued for several hours but by 7 pm, it was obvious that all except 'D' company had been driven back. At 9 pm, 'D' company was withdrawn as it was in danger of being cut off. The early casualty returns showed - 4 officers and 50 other ranks killed. 10 officers and 175 other ranks wounded. At some point James Alfred was killed. He has no known grave, his name is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial Pier and Face 10 C 10 D and 11 A

His brother Private Joseph Arthur Dooley, 1st Battalion Nottinghamshire & Derbyshire, was killed in action on 7th June 1916. He landed in France with the battalion on 4th November 1914 and is buried in Tranchee de Mecknes Cemetery, Aix-Noulette. His brother Private Charles Henry Dooley enlisted at Nottingham, he initially served with the service number 6076 in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts & Derby Regiment). He was killed in action on 18th November 1916 and is buried at Grandcourt Road Cemetery Grandcourt Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged) 22 September 1916: 'Private James Dooley DCM (sic), Sherwood Foresters, of Park Street, Lenton, killed in action July 5th.' An obituary appeared the same day for 'Private Joseph Dooley, Sherwood Foresters, Park Street, Lenton, killed in action June 5th.' (photographs) Lenton War Memorial erroneously awarded him a DCM. His DCM was District Courts Martial.