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Auction: 14003 - Orders, Decorations, Campaign Medals and Militaria
Lot: 59

A Fine Great War 1915 'Neuve Chapelle' D.C.M. Group of Four to Second Lieutenant T. Dooley, Leicestershire Regiment, Killed in Action Six Weeks Later, 1.5.1915, Having Been Commissioned in the Field
a) Distinguished Conduct Medal, G.V.R. (7149 C.S. Mjr: T. Dooley, 2/Leic. Regt.)
b) 1914 Star, with Bar (7149 C. Sjt. T. Dooley. 2/Leic: R.)
c) British War and Victory Medals (2. Lieut. T. Dooley.), good very fine or better (4)

D.C.M. London Gazette 3.6.1915 7149 Company Sergeant-Major Dooley, T., 2nd Battalion, The Leicestershire Regiment
'For conspicuous gallantry and marked ability near Neuve Chapelle from 10-13 March 1915. He showed great resource in the able handling of his men under fire, and also in strengthening the positions captured from the enemy.’

Second Lieutenant Thomas Dooley, D.C.M., born Rotherham, Yorkshire, 1883; enlisted in the Leicestershire Regiment,1903, and proceeded to India with the 2nd Battalion in 1906; on the outbreak of the Great War embarked from India for France as part of the Gharwal Brigade, Meerut Division, landing at Marseilles, 12.10.1914; awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for his conspicuous gallantry at Neuve Chappelle, 10-13.3.1915; shortly afterwards Commissioned Second Lieutenant 'for service in the Field', 28.3.1915.

The following article appeared in the Coalville Times, 30.4.1915, under the headline 'Risen From The Ranks - Commission For A Coalville Soldier': ‘Many congratulations will be offered by Coalville people to Lieutenant T. Dooley on having been awarded a commission in His Majesty’s Army. The gallant soldier is an old Coalville British School boy, and a son of Mr. T. Dooley, of 122 Margaret Street. He joined the army (Leicesters) 12 years ago and has spent nine years in India, being there when the war broke out. He came over with the Indian Expeditionary Force to France and has been taking part in the fighting. He was by the side of Corporal Jack Sheffield, when the latter fell at Neuve Chapelle. Only two months ago he was made a Company Sergeant-Major. The news of his further promotion, announced at a meeting in Marlborough Square, Coalville on Sunday afternoon, was enthusiastically cheered by a crowd of about two thousand people. He was married in March last and his wife is still in India. Lieutenant Dooley is every inch a soldier and has done remarkably well since adopting the army as his profession. For four years he has acted as a gymnasium instructor and he was captain of the regimental football team in India, having played for Coalville Town during the latter years of his civilian life.’

The day after this article appeared, Dooley was killed in action while serving in his new capacity as a commissioned officer in the 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment, 1.5.1915, when his trench, in the area of Port Athur came under a heavy enemy bombardment, and he is buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, Belgium.

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Sold for
£3,000