This article about my grandfather, Ernest Henry Dolley, was published in the Totnes Times shortly after the death of his eldest son. William Henry Uriah Dolley was lost over Norway in April 1940, was the first Totnes man to be killed in the Second World War and was my father's only brother.
"TOTNES MAN'S EXPLOITS
Served in Two Wars.
ELDEST SON NOW LOST
SYMPATHY OF KING AND QUEEN
The following extract from a Cornish newspaper will no doubt interest Totnes readers:-
Participant in two wars, survivor from Salonika, and a hand to hand struggle with a Turk at Gallipoli. Mr E.H. Dolley, formerly of St Mellion, is now residing at the New Walk, Totnes, Devon.
"Old Ern" as he is known to his many friends, with his three brothers, served his King and country in the Boer War, and from 1914-18, and between times has had more than the usual allowance of notable experiences, but in his declining years has suffered bereavement in the loss of his son, Mr William Dolley, who joined the R.A.F. last year, and was posted as missing during operations in Norway, the last news of him being obtained on April 8th.
FIRST TELEGRAM TO PENTILLIE
"Old Ern's" earliest recollections are bound up with his boyhood at St Mellion, the first being of winning a rcae there during the festivities in connection with Queen Victoria's Jubilee in 1887. His fleetness of foot was a proper introduction to his first appointment-as a telegraph boy-and he claims the distinction of delivering to Mr William Coryton at Pentillie Castle, th first telegram to be received at St Mellion post office.
Later he learnt his trade as a carpenter and wheelwright, and amongst work that has lasted down the years, made the casing in which the weights of the clock at St Mellion parish church are contained. He also recalls muffling the five bells in the tower for the funeral of Miss Charlotte Coryton, of Pentilie, the Rector at the time being Rev. Grenville May.
An early escape from serious injury was when he was returning from carrying out repairs at Trevollard Board School, near Saltash. As he was driving down Trematon Hill, the pony bolted, but Mr Dolley suffered no lasting ill effects.
The call up to serve in the Army made him give up his civil work, and on being drafted to Ireland he prepared a letter to send to his mother telling her of his safe arrival. He was about to drop it into the letter-box when he was warned that - as is legenadry in Ireland - it was not there for use yet. This was not good enough for Mr Dolley, so he reported it to a higher authority, who ordered the box to be opened and a number of postal packets were revealed.
Mr Dolley's name and other particulars were taken, and some weeks later he was summoned to the office, and was solemnly presented with £10 for bringing the matter to light. Another presentation to him - earned by skill and not good luck - was a watch in 18-ct. gold case, which he carries to this day, for defeating a musketry sergeant-major on the range, the Cornishman's eight shots scoring seven bulls and an inner.
GUARDED MY JOSEPH CHAMBERLAIN
Mr Dolley was sent to South Africa during the Boer war, and had a period in hospital at Elandsfontein, where stitches were inserted in cuts received from wire. He was on duty at Varegian, Transvaal during the peace talks ansd was part of the bodyguard allotted to Mr Joseph Chamberlain when he was at Potschefstroom.
Through being a good shot, he was picked by his captain to accompany him on a big game hunting expedition up in Rhodesia and the Belgian Congo. On their return, the captain picked up enough cash to pay for the expedition, as a horse he had backed in England (Flying Fox) had won the Derby.
"Ern" is pleased to see the railways have improved, as he can remember the first time off the transport boat the troops had to push the train up the hill in the South African War.
Mr Dolley received a letter from a chum a chum in South Africa saying that the company's larder was strengthened when "Ern's" pet pig was killed and taken to the cook-house, as it weighed close on 14 score. The pet pig would follow him about the camp like a dog, and its sty was inspected every morning by the Medical Officer.
"Ern" witnessed a football match in South Africa which resulted in the murder of the goalkeeper.
On another occasion he was one of of a party of four who dug out an ant-bear, which was later sent to Pretoria Zoo, and in recognition of this feat their names were inscribed on a brass tablet.
To-day Mr Dolley is corresponding with a comrade, with whom he was photographed at the end of the war, and with whom he worked in the Rand goldfields. All woodworkers were required for mine duties at that time, and Mr Dolley recalls with satisfaction that the pay was £1 per day in addition to regimental wages.
Mr Dolley told a "Totnes Times" representative that on one occasion when stationed at a miltary hospital in South Africa, the colonel in charge said he wished he would shoot some of the owls, as they were keeping the patients awake at night. He promised him 6d for evry owl he shot.
The Colonel had to pay Mr Dolley for 76 owls, and so that he could not bring the same owls back again the Colonel had all their heads chopped off. This practice was stopped when the patients complained that they could not sleep because of someone shooting.
CAPTURED IN THE GREAT WAR
At the outbreak of the Great War he was working in Somerset, but joined up again. His three brothers were present in distinguished actions, one being on HMAS Sydney when she sank the German raider Emden, and the others being in the Australian Army and British Artillery unit respectively.
Joining the Royal Engineers, "Ern" was sent to the Dardenelles, where in a bayonet versus dagger struggle with a Turk, whom he saw crawling through the long grass, he was the victor, retaining the Turk's dagger to this day.
He was subsequently sent to Salonika upon the first British transport from the Dardenelles, and on being wounded, was moved to Alexandria abroad an Indian mail boat. In Egypt he travelled to teh Khedive's palace at Cairo, whence he was invalided home. He later went to France, fought in the Somme battle, was captured by the Germans, and escaped after four-and-a-half hours, only to be wounded again. From Namur in Belgium. Mr Dolley was finally sent backed to England.
Now he resides at Totnes, and his younger son works at Dartington Hall. One of his brothers, who farms in Australia, has a son in the Australian Air Force.
The King and Queen have sent the following message to Mr Dolley: "The Queen and I offer you our heartfelt sympathy in your great sorrow. We pray that your country's gratitude for a life so nobly given in its service may bring you some measure of consolation.
-George R.I"