The War Diary for the 1st Gordons for 21st March to 11th April records the following: 

Wancourt Sector:

21/3/18: Misty, damp til 10am afterwards weather fine and sunny. Great enemy offensive begins on our right. Our front quiet except for heavy enemy barrage. 

21st to 29th already recorded

30th Btatalion after being relieved from Neuville Vitasse by 21st Battn Canadian Inf marched to RIVIERE and was in their billets by 8:30am. After a hot breakfast all ranks slept til 12:30pm then had dinners at 2:30pm. Battn march off for WARLUZEL route BEAMETZ, les LOGES Gouy EN ARTOIS SOMBRIN. Although it rained all the time and the roads were heavy the distance about 15 kilometers . The men marched well and were in good spirits. Only 5 men fell out. 

Battn reached WARLUZEL at 7:30pm. A draft of 63 OR joined here. The total distance that day was about 29 kilomteres and this after 7 days continous fighting and 52 days in the trenches 

31/3/18 Day of resting and getting cleaned up

There follows a 20 page report of the actions of the 21st to 29th March. 

The 1st to 11th April saw the battalion marching around and did not see any action during this period and so therefore Percy’s MM must be for the action between 21st and 29th March. 

The Burton observer Saturday July 26 1918 reported the award of the MM

Two more Burton Military Medallists appear in the latest issue of the London Gazette. …. And Corporal P Dolman Gordon Highlanders 

Percy was reported wounded in the War office weekly casualty list July 2nd 1918. 

His Bar appears to be for the Battle of Amiens for gallantry between 8th August to 6th September 1918.

The battalion did not see any action in August until 21^st:

Ayette 21/08/1918

At zero hour (4.50am) the battn moved forward in column of route through a dense mist for about a mile and on breasting? The ridge west QUESNOY FARM split up into artillery formation. The advance was made in previously arranged bounds and came into action between battn and bde hqrs and maintained that front. Owing to the mist it was not possible to see further than about 100 x- about 11am the mist lifted- by this time the Battn had reached the valley west of COURCELLES but the railway embankment had not been taken and the forward coys were therefore took up their position in a SUNKEN ROAD about 300 x west of where they were supposed to occupy- some MG and shell fire during the day- in the vening A and D Coys went to cooperate in an attack on the RAILWAY EMBANKMENT just North of ACHIET LE GRAND with 63^rd Division on the right- about 7pm it was discovered that the attack on the right had taken place and was unsuccessful.

At the request however of the OC ANSON BATTN 53^RD DIV (the next bn on the right) the attack was undertaken and launched over the ridge about 1500 x short of the embankment about 7-30pm- there weas no artillery support- hostile machine gun, rifle and artillery fire was very intense and the attack was held up half way down the forward slope, about 50% casualtioes being sustained and the commanding officer(Lt Col RA Wall Murray DSO MC) was wounded while personally leading the charge.

22/8/18 Battn rested all day- Major Pearson came up and took over command. The battn moved up after dark with the remainder of the Bde to assembly positions for attack on GOMIECOURT the following morning. The Battn was to guard the right flank of the attack to be delivered by the two other Battns of the Bde as the taking of GOMICOURT alone would make a pronounced salient in our line- enemy was found to have a MG in the assembly positon for the two flanking coys and this had to be dislodged before the assembly.

23/08/18 When the attack started the two right flank coys met some oppositon on the RAILWAY EMBANKMENT halfway to their objective and were exposed to considerable MG fire from their right and right rear- they dug in however well on the flank and undoubtedly saved a large number of casualties in the assaulting Battns. The 2^nd division went through at 11am and this releived the pressure- about 4pm the battn moved forward to a position just SE of GOMICOURT and dug themselves in- the night passed quietly on the front except for some gas shelling between the village and the RAILWAY EMBANKMENT.

24/08/18 Battn rested all day- movement being kept down to the minimum owing to being in view from GAHAGNIES and SAPIGNIES about one mile in front- the Battn was withdrawn about 8.30pm to the PURPLE LIINE west of DOUCHY where they rested in open trenches.

25/08/18 The battn rested all date- heavy rain fell

26/08/18 fine day- battn moved in the evening to trenches situated in front of HAMLINCOURT

27/08/18 During the day the enemy shelled intermittently round about the battn area and HAMLINCOURT

28/08/18 on the night of the 28^th inst the Battn moved forward from the trenches in front of HAMLINCOURT and relieved the 2^nd Grenadiers in the front line SW of ECOUST

29/08/18 Battn pushed out patrols to keep in touch with the enemy- one platoon of the left coy advanced too far and was practically wiped out by MG fire from the flank- The battn was to cooperate with the 8^th West Yorks (62 Div) in a small operation but owing to the very limited time for assembly purposes the venture did not take place

30/08/18 The Battn advanced in conjunction with the 2ns Suffolkj Regt who took ECOUST on our left but owing to the troops on the left having to fall back under a heavy counter attack our left coy was left up in the air and they suffered heavy casualties- on the right the battn reached its objective with very few casualties. The battn dug in and consolidated the position- the brigade were relieved at night with the exception of the Battn and 1 coy of the 8 KORL Regt who came under the orders of the GOC 9^th Brigade

31/08/18 The 9^th Bde attacked on a 3 battalion front in the morning- ECOUST was retaken- The Battn gaines its objectives and dug in- the a/adjutant (Capt H S Gammell MC) was killed while reconnoitring with a view to moving some other troops into position preparatory to the attack.

03/09/18- Battn withdrawn at 1am and marched back to rest trenches between MOYENVILLE and AYETTE arriving 5am.

At some point during this action, Percy Dolman would be awarded a Bar to his Military Medal.

A report in the Burton Observer on Saturday September 28 1918 gave notice of the award of the award of the Bar to the MM:

SERGT P DOLMAN MM WINS A BAR

Mrs Dolman, formerly of Calais Road has received the gratifying news that her son, Sergeant P Dolman MM has been awarded the Bar to his MM. His Officer writes to tell her that her son ‘’is a fine soldier, and one worth reognition. We have watched his career keenly since the Somme Battle 1916. Sergt Dolman is only 20 years of age, and at the time of winning the MM was the youngest man in Burton to gain the distinction.

Sadly, within the next 4 weeks Percy Dolman would lose his life during the capture of Rumilly in tragic circumstances.

Tha attack on RUMILLY assisted by the Suffolk Regiment was a huge success; a report from the LT Col Commanding the 1^st Gordons noted:

At about 11pm on Sept 30^th orders were received that the 76^th Inf Bde would attack RUMILLY and the enemy positions South East of it at 6am on the 1^st Oct…….. The 76^th Inf Bde was to attack and capture a line from G11to G23 including the village of RUMILLY…… The 1^st Bn The Gordon Highrs were to be in support…..The Barrage opened at 6am. Throughout the operation it was extremely ragged and many casualties were thus caused to our own men.

The attack was completely successful and about 80 prisoners were captured including a Battalion commander. A large number of machine guns have since been found in the village. Elements of the enemy still remained but they were captured or escaped during the night. A position was consolidated North of the village and placed under command of CAPT GILLESPIE MC as CAPT PRESTON MC had been wounded. Casualties were suffered as follows: One officer killed, one wounded, One Sgt Killed, two wounded one of whom is dying of wounds…..  

These casualties were all inflicted by our own shells falling short

Research has shown two Serjeants of the 1^st Gordons listed by the CWGC who died between 1^st and 3^rd October 1918. These are Percy Dolman and S/7400 T Johnston who died on 2^nd October 1918. Presumably Serjeant Johnston is the Serjeant wounded and who was dying of his wounds. The Serjeant killed being Percy Dolman.

Having been awarded the Military Medal twice, Percy Dolman was to be killed 5 weeks from the end of the war by his own artillery shells. He was a month short of his 21^st Birthday.

It didn’t take long for news to reach home. The first report I have been able to find is dated Saturday October 19^th 1918, published in the Burton Observer:

SERGT P DOLMAN KILLED

Mrs Dolman 71 High Bank Road has received the distressing news that her son, Sergt Percy Dolman, Gordon Highlanders, has been killed in action. Mrs Dolman has had a letter from the Lieut- Colonel in which he says ‘’Sergt Dolman was killed on October 1^st while leading his men in the attack on a village which had resisted the attacks of another battalion during the whole day. In the evening the company to which your son belonged was ordered to attack it, and it was very largely due to his gallantry that the attack was successful. The company had been fighting all day before the attack took place. Through it all your son had done splendidly. He was a very gallant fellow’’ Sergt Dolman went abroad 3 years ago, and was then only 17 years of age. Prior to joining the forces he was employed by Messrs T Salt and Co. ,Mrs Dolman has two other sons serving

A further report in The Burton Observer Saturday October 26 1918 gave a report of his death:

THE LATE SERGEANT P DOLMAN

MM

Mrs Dolman of 71 High Bank Road, Winshill, has received a letter from he chaplain with reference to the death of her son, Sergeant P Dolman MM who was killed instantaneously on October 1^st, being struck by  a piece of shell, which exploded in the vicinity. The Battalion was advancing at the time to take a German position. The rev gentleman says that unquestionably he was one of the bravest brightest and best, being active and eager, trustworthy and brave. He inspired bravery in the men he led. We admired him for his soldierly qualities, but also we loved him for himself, for as a man he won our affection and esteem and as a man and soldier he has left behind him in his short life a record of which a mother may well be proud. He was buried, along with two officers killed in the same action, with military honours.

What is amazing is that Percy has a substantial write up in De Rivignys Roll of Honour, which offers a great insight into his life:

Dolman Percy MM: Sergt No 10402 1^st Battn (75^th Foot) The Gordon Highlanders, S of George Dolman, of 71 High Bank, Winshill, Burton on Trent. Joiner by his wife Mary Jane, dau of the late James Cliff. B Burton on Trent, co Stafford 27 Nov 1897, educ Guild Street Boys School; enlisted in the Gordon Highlanders 6 May 1915: served with the Expeditionary Force in Flanders from Dec 1915: was wounded and invalided home in June 1917: returned to France the following Aug: was badly gassed in June, 1918 and sent to hospital at the base and was killed in action south-west of Cambrai 1 Oct following. Buried at Ribecourt. His commanding office wrote…. He was killed while leading his men in the attack on a village which had resisted attacks of another battalion during the whole day. In the evening the company to which your son belonged was ordered to attack it, and it was very largely due to his gallantry that the attack was successful. The company had been fighting all day before the attack took place, and through it all your son had done splendidly. He was a very gallant fellow, and his death leaves a gap in the rank which is impossible to fill’’ and the Chaplain ‘’He was active and eager, trustworthy and brave. In camp he carried out every duty efficiently And well and in the field he had no fear and brave himself he inspired bravery in the men he led… As a man and a soldier he has left behind him in his short life a record of which a mother may well be proud’’

He was awarded the Military Medal for gallantry in the field.

 A photo appears in in the Burton Observer and South Derbyshire Weekly Mail Saturday November 2^nd 1918.

The story doesn’t end there. The Burton Observer continues to provide reports on Percy when his MM was presented to his mother.

Saturday April 12^th 1919

Another honour won by a soldier who was subsequently killed; was the MM presented to Mrs Dolman of 71 High Bank Road, . Her son, Sergeant Percy Dolman, of the 1^st Gordon Highlanders, was killed on October 1^st. After unsuccessful attacks all day Dolman’s company in the evening was ordered to attack, and it was largely through his gallantry that the attack was successful

On the anniversary of his death in 1919, the family posted a memorial to Percy again in the The Burton Observer:

Saturday October 4 1919

ROLL OF HONOUR

DOLMAN- In loving memory of our dear son, Sergt Percy Dolman MM (Pop) 1^st Batt Gordon Highlanders, who was killed in action October 1^st 1918 at Guillecourt, France aged 20 years

Too dearly loved to be fogotten. Never shall his memory fade- From his loving father

DOLMAN- In proud and loving memory of our dear brother, Sergt Percy Dolman, MM (Pop) 1^st Batt Gordon Highlanders, who fell in action at Guillecourt, France aged 20 years

Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends

From his loving sister Gert, and brothers George and Ern

Today, Percy Dolman lies buried in Ribecourt Railway Cemetery, he was buried by his comrades in the small battlefield cemetery there.

His parents chose very poignant words for his headstone:

ONLY A BOY YET A MAN LOVED BY ALL

The Dolman family would experience further tragedy, this time during the second world war. Percy’s brother Ernest would have a son, who he named Percy in memory of his brother; Percy was killed in action on 6^th July 1944 aged 22. He was an air bomber on Halifax JP287with 614 squadron and is buried in Austria.