Alias John Docksey. Private, Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire Regiment. No. 238120.
Previously 4577, Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment.
Early life:
George was born in Oakworth and his birth was registered in Keighley in the third quarter of 1898. He was baptised at Christ Church in Oakworth on August 21st of the same year. They were living on Providence Lane (probably at 1, Lower Providence) and his parents were Fred and Ellen Docksey and Fred was a woolcomber.
In 1901 George was three years of age and they were living at 51, Sun Street in Haworth but father Fred was absent for the census and may have been working away or serving with the Army. By 1911 they were back in Oakworth at 5, Roseberry Street, off Dockroyd Lane and Fred was still a woolcomber.
War service:
Records show he enlisted in August 1915 at Skipton under the name of John Docksey with the West Riding Regiment, service number 4577. We believe that he tried to enlist at Keighley but was refused because of his age, so he made the trip to Skipton and managed to enlist there at the age of seventeen. He was certainly under age for overseas service. Interestingly his father Fred enlisted at Skipton around the same time so they may have enlisted together.
At some point in his training George transferred to the 1st Battalion, Prince of Wales’ Own West Yorkshire Regiment, with the new service number of 238120 and went out to France in 1916 and was not more than eighteen years old at this time.
George was posted missing on 21st March 1918 on the first day of the German Spring Offensive ‘Operation Michael.’ He was never seen again and this date was later settled on as the date of his death.
Operation Michael.
This attack by the German Army was nothing short of a disaster for the battalion and indeed, almost the whole of our front line was decimated. Read more here at the Long, Long Trail website…
It was a bold move by the Germans and they very nearly succeeded. Several of our local men were lost during this short period. An idea of just how catastrophic it was, can be understood by reading the 1st Battalion West Yorkshire Regimental war diaries entries for the 21st and 22nd March 1918:
WO-95/1618/2/3. War diary entry for the 1st Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment.
MORCHIES. 21st March 1918:
Enormous enemy attack broke at 5 am, with intense barrage on all trenches, routes of approach and battery positions – much gas shelling – length of front of attack 50 miles from near ARRAS to ST. QUENTIN – Front line Companies B & D suffered tremendous casualties from barrage. Splendid stand made by whole of 6 Division along Reserve Line after both flanks had been pressed back and until evening when a withdrawal was ordered to VAULX – MORCHIES LINE (Corps Defence Line) and withdrawal carried out successfully – Reinforced by 11th ESSEX Regiment in RESERVE LINE and later by 25th Division in Corps Defence Line. Enemy used enormous number of troops and artillery was assisted by Austrian batteries – Enemy reported holding LAGNICOURT.
Lieutenant Colonel A. M. Boyall DSO and Major H. A. W. Cole Hamilton wounded and missing.
22nd March 1918:
Fairly quiet night- Enemy continued attack at 5 am. Remains of the Battalion very badly handled again. At night Battalion relieved by a Battalion of the 4th Division and withdrew to bivouacs near FAVRIEUL H30. Number returned: 1 Officer and 46 Other Ranks on this night and following three days. At night Battalion withdrew to BUCHANAN CAMP, ACHIET LE PETIT- Casualties: – Killed 1 Officer, 8. Other Ranks, Wounded. 3 Officers and 18 Other Ranks. Wounded and Missing; 2 Officers and 9 Other Ranks. Missing: 17 Officers and 531 Other Ranks.
George Docksey was one of the men lost at this time. He was posted missing and after a period all hope was eventually given up, as he was listed as having been killed on the 21st March.
Keighley News report dated 4th May 1918 page 3:
Mrs F. Docksey, of Dockroyd, Oakworth, has received official information that her son, Private G. H. Docksey, of the West Yorkshire Regiment, has been missing since March 21.
He is 19 years of age and has been in the Army about three years. His Father is serving in France with the Royal Engineers, and a brother [Thomas] has been in France with the Royal Air Force.
Keighley News report dated 15th June 1918 page 3:
Private George Henry Docksey, West Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mr & Mrs F. Docksey, 5, Roseberry Street, Dockroyd, Oakworth, is reported missing since March 21 last. He is 19 years of age and joined the Army in August 1915. Any information regarding him will be gratefully received by his parents.
Post war:
George was awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal and Victory Medal but because he enlisted under a false first name, his medals will be inscribed John Docksey instead of his real name George Henry Docksey.
George is remembered on the Arras Memorial at the Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France.
He is also remembered locally on the Oakworth War Memorial in Holden Park, Oakworth and on the war memorial plaque in Oakworth Methodist Church.
Information sources:
England & Wales, Free BMD Birth Index, 1837-1915.
West Yorkshire, England, Church of England Births and Baptisms, 1813-1910.
1901 England Census.
1911 England Census.
British Army World War I Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920.
World War I Service Medal and Award Rolls, 1914-1920.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission.
Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919.
Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929.
World War I Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923.
Keighley News archives at Keighley Library.
1921 England Census.
Oakworth War Memorial.
Oakworth Methodist Church War Memorial.
