Dorken, Ernest John: Service no. 675020

Source: Signature line from post in CEF Study Group

Family Search: When Private Ernest John Dorken was born on 27 December 1895, in Finchley, Middlesex, England, United Kingdom, his father, Frederick Thomas Dorken, was 27 and his mother, Emily Caroline Balls, was 21. He immigrated to Quebec, Quebec, Canada in 1911 and lived in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario, Canada in 1916. He registered for military service in 1916. In 1916, at the age of 21, his occupation is listed as pressman, woodstock sentinel-review in Woodstock, Oxford, Ontario, Canada. He died on 28 May 1917, in Mont, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Nouvelle-Aquitaine, France, at the age of 21, and was buried in Vimy, Pas-de-Calais, Nord-Pas-de-Calais, France.

Dorken, Ernest John: Service no. 675020. Contributed by family member.

Private Ernest John Dorken of 292 Admiral Street, Woodstock, Ontario.

c2d681nwgaakklg — Poppy commemorating the death of Private Dorken taken Acheville, France. It is believed that he perished in this field and his body was not recovered. He is commemorated at Vimy Ridge. Source: @bruinz19

dustin-picture-of-private-dorken-at-acheville — Picture of Private Dorken taken Acheville, France. It is believed that he perished in this field and his body was not recovered. He is commemorated at Vimy Ridge. Source: @bruinz19

dustin-picture-of-private-dorken-at-vimy-ridge — Picture of Private Dorken taken at Vimy Ridge at where his name is inscribed on the memorial. Source: @bruinz19

The Hamilton Spectator
15 Jun 1917, Fri ·Page 17.

Wedding of my G/grandparents, 1916 in England. Great uncles (both 18th Battalion) Ernest (tall guy, middle rear KIA May 1917). George second from right, back row, wounded Aug 1918). Lest We Forget. Contributed by a family member via 18th Battalion Facebook Group.

Summary of Service for Private Ernest John Dorken, Reg. No. 675020

Date	Event	Remarks
December 27, 1995	Born	Born at London, Ontario.
January 5, 1916	Enlists	Enlists with the 186^th Battalion in Woodstock, Ontario. He is a pressman standing 5’6” tall and is aged 20-years. He has prior military experience having served with the 22^nd Oxford Rifles. He lists as his next-of-kin his mother, Mrs. Emily Dorken residing at 292 Admiral Street in Woodstock, Ontario. Note that his younger brother, George, enlists on the same day and has the reg. no. 675021 issued to him. He survives the war.
April 19, 1916	Vaccinated
May 18 1916	Inoculated	Anti-typhoid.
May 28, 1916	Inoculated	Anti-typhoid.
May 15 – 22, 1916	On Furlough
June 1, 1916	Admitted	Admitted to London (Ontario) Military Hospital for an abscess of the knee. A card indicates the diagnosis as synovitis of the knee.
June 27, 1916	Discharged	Discharged re. entry above.
October 7 – 10, 1916	Absent Without Leave
October 22, 1916	Forms Will	Forms Will leaving his real estate and personal estate to his mother, Emily Dorken. The will was witnessed by Sgt. Charles Henry Northeast, reg. no. 675798 and Private William Jerry, reg. no. 675349.
November 1, 1916	Assigns Pay	Assigns $20.00 per month to his mother.
November 1, 1916	Embarked Halifax	Embarked for Liverpool, England.
November 11, 1916	Disembarked Liverpool	Arrives and disembarks at Liverpool.
December 5, 1916	Transferred	Transferred to 12^th Battalion at West Sandling.
April 1, 1917	Transferred	Transferred to the 4^th Reserve Battalion at West Sandling.
April 13, 1917	Stuck off Strength	At Bramshott struck off strength from the 4^th Reserve Battalion to be assigned to the 18^th Battalion.
April 16, 1917	Arrives Canadian Base Depot	Arrives Canadian Base Depot at Etaples, France.
May 12, 1917	Joins Unit in the Field	Joins the 18^th Battalion in the field. The Battalion is currently serving in Willerval Sector. On that date the War Diary states: “3 O.R’s “Wounded”. 8 O.R’s admitted to hospital (sick). 22 O.R’s arrived as reinforcements.”
May 28, 1917	Killed in Action	Private Dorken may have been one of the men of a “covering party” that was engaged in protecting a wiring party. During a German barrage element of these parties retired and it was found that three men were missing. An attempt to find these men was made but to no avail. The men where not found. See the War Diary for more details. Commemorated on the Vimy Memorial as his body was never found.
December 13, 1921	Plaque and Scroll	Canadian Government issues plaque and scroll to Mr. Frederick and Mrs. Emily Dorken, the parents of Private Dorken.