George Archibald Docherty likeness

George Archibald Docherty cap badgeAble Seaman George Archibald Docherty

Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve "Collingwood" Battalion
Service No: Clyde Z/1969

George Archibald Docherty grave

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Personal details

Family Information

Son of Robert (13/06/1861 - 1936) and Elizabeth Archibald Docherty (25/02/1865 - 1901) of 5 Coats St then 285 Dundyvan Rd, Coatbridge. Georges' younger brother Private William Docherty of the 16th (Service) Battalion (2nd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry Died of Wounds on the 21/06/1918. George had 2 other brothers also serving. From the 1901 Census - Address - 7 Coats St, Coatbridge - Robert Docherty aged 39, Elizabeth Docherty aged 36, Janet Archibald Docherty aged 14 (1887 - 1917), Robert Docherty aged 12 (1889 - 1929), George A Docherty aged 9, William J A Docherty aged 5, Edward Docherty aged 1. George and his brother William's Pension was awarded to his father Robert of 5 Coats St, Coatbridge.

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / c/o 1g Barrowfield St, Coatbridge when he enlisted.

Died

Killed in Action on the 04/06/1915 from wounds to his back at the 3rd Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli

Enlisted

04/11/1914

Employed

Tube Worker in the Union Tube Works.

Age

24 / DOB - 31/05/1891

Buried / Remembered

Helles Memorial (Panel 8 to 16), Turkey.

Cemetery / Memorial Information

The eight month campaign in Gallipoli was fought by Commonwealth and French forces in an attempt to force Turkey out of the war, to relieve the deadlock of the Western Front in France and Belgium, and to open a supply route to Russia through the Dardanelles and the Black Sea. The Allies landed on the peninsula on 25-26 April 1915; the 29th Division at Cape Helles in the south and the Australian and New Zealand Corps north of Gaba Tepe on the west coast, an area soon known as Anzac. On 6 August, further landings were made at Suvla, just north of Anzac, and the climax of the campaign came in early August when simultaneous assaults were launched on all three fronts. However, the difficult terrain and stiff Turkish resistance soon led to the stalemate of trench warfare. The Helles Memorial serves the dual function of Commonwealth battle memorial for the whole Gallipoli campaign and place of commemoration for many of those Commonwealth servicemen who died there and have no known grave. The United Kingdom and Indian forces named on the memorial died in operations throughout the peninsula, the Australians at Helles. There are also panels for those who were lost at sea, in one of the troopships sunk off Gallipoli. Over 20,000 names are commemorated on this memorial.

Additional Information

The "Collingwood" Battalion and two other Battalions left Blandford at 5am on the 10/05/1915 for Plymouth and from there embarkation on H.M. Transport. The ship finally arrived at Mudros around the 23rd May having stopped at Gibraltar and Malta on the way. During the next week the men resumed training, particularly getting fit and acclimatizing which included route marches and field work. The orders came through on Thursday the 27th of May that the men would be leaving for the front. On Saturday the 29th they left Mudros at 7pm packed into four lighters arriving off Cape Helles at 2am. They landed at "V" Beach, Gallipoli on the morning of the 31st May. The Battalion were part of the 2nd Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The 3rd Battle of Krithia, Gallipoli 04/06/1915 : The 2nd Brigade of the Royal Naval Division were on the left of the French with Anson, Hood and Howe. The Collingwood's were in support. The attack was to be a straightforward trench assault, any hold up would open the unit next in line to catastrophic fire from uncaptured Turkish positions. The Collingwood Battalion were in support and "A" Company Collingwood went over at 12.15 in support of Anson. They suffered heavy losses covering the 400yds to the Turkish trenches. "D" Company were ordered into the firing line to support Howe and as soon as they reached there they went over. They reached a dummy trench after 100yds but with no support when they attempted to advance they too retired, again with losses. Able Seaman J Toogood formerly of the Collingwood Battalion then Anson stated that Able Seaman Docherty was killed on the 04/06/1915 and that his body was lying in front of the trench before retirement. It was not possible to recover the body. His own words - "During the retirement on June 4th I saw Docherty lying on his face between Turkish and our own trenches. It seemed as though he was hit in the back for the back of his tunic was covered in blood. He appeared to me to be nearly dead. I never saw him again". Able Seaman Toogood was Killed in Action on the 13/11/1916. SEE PHOTOS x 13 FOR THE ROYAL NAVAL DIVISION JUNE 1916. The Collingwood battalion had a very short, disastrous life. They arrived in the front line fort No 1 in Antwerp on the 5th October 1914, their first taste of war, and underwent 3 days of heavy shelling. On the 8th October they were ordered to retire. In the confusion that followed only 22 out of 700 originals reached England; the rest interned or prisoners. The surviving 22 formed the nucleus of the new Collingwood. Early morning on May 30th 1915 the Battalion arrived on Gallipoli alongside the 'River Clyde'. On June 4th at noon, the Collingwood went over the top. Within 45 minutes 24 Officers and over 500 OR's became casualties. From June 5th began the process of breaking up Collingwood and so it ceased to exist. Its front line experience lasted about 7 days and it was wiped out twice as a fighting force. See Directory for George's younger brother Private William Docherty's page. George is also remembered on the East United Free Church and Maxwell Parish Churches' Rolls of Honour (see photos). See photos for George's CWGC Grave Registration x 2, his name on the Helles Memorial Panel List, his Naval Casualties Record, his Naval and Medal Award Rolls, George and his brother William's Pension Records x 3 and the Collingwood Battalion Shoulder Title. Finally, see photos for Newspaper clippings x 3 (Coatbridge Express x 2 and Airdrie and Coatbridge Advertiser x 1) and the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division Order of Battle x 16 (the Division he was with when he died).

Photos
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