Family :

Service Life:

Campaigns:

• The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.

22 April - 25 May 1915. On the 22nd April 1915 the Germans used poison gas at Ypres. This was the first 'official' use of gas and took the Allies by surprise. After initial success capitalising on the confusion and horror of this weapon, a heroic stand, initially by the Canadians and then supported by British and Indian Battalions, held the German advance. However it became clear that the Germans had achieved a tactical advantage and eventually the British were forced to retire to more a more defendable perimeter closer to Ypres. These positions were on the last ridges before Ypres and their loss would have resulted in the loss of the town and possibly open the Channel coast to German occupation with disastrous consequences for the re-supply of the BEF.

Detail :

Probate Record: DOOLEY Thomas, of Ranikhet United Provinces, India. Second Lieutenant Leicestershire Regiment, died 1st May 1915 at Hill 60, Lille, France. Administration London 19th November to Ethel Dooley, widow. Effects £191 5s.

Masonic :

Joined St. Georges Lodge No. 2532, Madras, but resigned 3rd November 1913. Joined Fidelity Lodge in Ranikhet 20th September 1913 and became its Senior Deacon, but resigned from this lodge also 31st December 1914.

Source :

The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:

• The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
• The (UK) National Archives
• Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
• ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry

Additional Source:

• Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
• Researcher : Bruce Littley