Pte 56458 James Dockerty

• Age: 24
• From: Bangor, Co Mayo
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

The available records for James Dockerty appear to be inconsistent as his Medal Roll, Medal Card, Soldiers Effects and Pension Cards indicate he served as Docherty. His birth and family records are for Doherty and Leneghan. CWGC declares he was aged 21, the son of the late Anthony and Mary Dockerty. SDGW think his surname is Docherty, born in Bangor(assuming Erris) residence Ballycroy, Co.Mayo. 

James Doherty was born on the 09th August 1892 in Rossport, Co.Mayo, his birth registered in Belmullet. He was the son of Anthony and Maria/Mary (nee Leneghan) who were married on the 27th January 1880 in the Roman Catholic Chapel of Aughoos, Belmullet. His father was a 30 year old yeoman farmer, his mother was 25.

James enlisted in Ashton-under-Lyne as Private 36799 joining the Manchester Regiment.

In view of the fact he enlisted in Ashton-under-Lyne there is a 1911 census record for a boarder at 5 Lee Street, Stockport in the household of Michael and Maggie Tolan. He was recorded as James Docherty, born about 1890 in Foxford, Co.Mayo, he was single, and a carter on a sewage farm.

He was subsequently transferred to the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 56458.

He was killed in action on the 31st July 1917, aged 24, during the Third Battle of Ypres.  

17^th Battalion

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion, The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17^th Battalion on the left, and the 20^th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21^st and 90^th Brigades were still pinned down  and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.  

During the action and their time in the line the 17^th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3^rd -4^th August. 

His body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Belgium as Dockerty J.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

Many thanks to museumtom on GWF for identifying James' Irish family records. 

We are currently in contact to CWGC to see if the records can be amended to show James' surname as Doherty. The CWGC have now amended their records to show James as Docherty. His name will require an amendment at Menin Gate which will take some time. 

We currently have no further information on James Dockerty (Docherty), If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.