Frederick William Dare Sorby
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Frederick William Dare Sorby born 13 April 1889 at Todwick, Yorks. He had four siblings, all older than him, Vincent Dare, Francis Dare , Mabel Dare and Margaret Dare Sorby. Their parents were Frederick Leonard Sorby and Melene Lund who were married on 26 Aug 1879. Melene died in 1890. Her husband remarried to Ellen Haigh at Rawdon in 1891. He went on at a later date to marry for a third time. Frederick William Dare Sorby was a pupil at a Grammar School at 21 South Parade, Doncaster in 1901 and appears to have taken up with the merchant seaman’s life as on 29th April 1910 he was granted a Certificate of competency as Second Mate in the Merchant Service. Maybe it was whilst he was on his travels but he married Lily Gunn from Glasgow and had a daughter, Mabel Evelyn Dare Sorby born 25th March 1915. He was in Edmonton, Canada in 1915. He was attested on the 4th January and declared he had previously spent time in the 101st Edmonton Fusiliers. A will leaving his effects of £185 8s to his widow Lily Sorby. The address on the will, at the time of making, was at 24 Highland Grove, Worksop, Notts. His father had also died in 1915, the registration being at Worksop.
The obituary of Sergt Dare Sorby Worksop Guardian 18 October 1918 On Monday afternoon the news was received that Sergt Dare Sorby, DCM – Black Watch, Canadian Expeditionary Force, younger son of the late Mr F L Sorby, Worksop, had passed away on the previous Friday at a hospital in France. The wound he received in his knee on Sept 28th was not at first considered serious and it was thought he would soon be in England, but probably the head wound he suffered as recently as August 16th and the strain of the severe fighting he had taken part in during the last few months, had weakened his splendid constitution and he gradually sunk and passed away as stated. Upon hearing of things taking a serious turn, his sister, Miss Sorby, endeavoured to obtain a pass to visit him, but she did not get it on time. However, she had immediately written to Miss Ida Kemp V.A.D. (daughter of Dr Kemp) who had just returned to France after fourteen days leave, asking her to visit Sergt Sorby if possible. On receiving the letter, Miss Kemp found no time in finding the hospital, but the gallant soldier had passed away a few hours before she got there. She saw the Matron and Sister who nursed him, and from them obtained many particulars, which of course, are a great consolation to his relatives. In a letter conveying the sad intelligence to his sister, Miss Kemp writes:- “I can assure you that everything that could have been done for him, was done. The hospital that he was in is an excellent one and the Matron one of the kindest women. Both she and the sister who nursed him were very upset by his death. They said he was such a splendid patient and so unselfish and uncomplaining. They would have done and given anything to have pulled him through, but he was just tired out and gradually sank to rest. On consolation is that he suffered very little pain.” His gentle and unselfish disposition caused him to be loved by all who knew him. Sergeant Sorby enlisted when war was first declared. He had married Miss Lily Gunn of Glasgow in 1914. She and their little daughter had remained in Canada. Sincere sympathy is expressed with them and with Mis Sorby and the other members of the family in their great bereavement.
CWGC - Son of the late Leonard Sorby, of Worksop, Notts.; husband of Lily Sorby, of 141, Onslow Drive, Dennistoun, Glasgow. His CWG records he was awarded the D.C.M and Bar He is buried in Terlincthun British Cemetery, France. Research by Colin Dannatt
