More about Thomas Dolan

Thomas has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

Thomas Dolan   CZ/5112   Anson Bn  R.N.D.

Mr William Dolan, 10 Peddie Street, Dundee, has just received information that his eldest son, A.B. Thomas Dolan, of the Royal Naval Division, has been killed in action.  A.B. Dolan was 24 years of age, and had been on active service for about 14 months.  Before the outbreak of war deceased was employed with Messrs Thomson & Shepherd.  Mr Dolan had other two sons in the army.  Private William saw service with the Black Watch, and lost an eye, and has now been discharged.  The other, Private Robert Dolan, is serving with the Scottish Rifles.

Dundee People’s Journal 9th December 1916

Thomas Dolan was the son of Mr and Mrs William Dolan of 10 Peddie Street, Dundee and was employed as a Calender Worker. In June 1915 he volunteered to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. He was drafted to the Anson Battalion then serving in Gallipoli and he was there when the Battalion was withdrawn in January 1916. He spent some months in garrison duties in the Aegean before sailing with the Battalion for France in May 1916. After training in Army tactics the Anson Battalion began to experience the war on the Western Front and was being prepared to join in the Somme battle. One of the first day’s objectives of the British attack on 1 July 1916 was the capture of the village of Beaucourt just to the west of the River Ancre. It was finally taken on 14 November by the men of the RND. This was the first major operation by the RND in France and established a reputation for being a “Can Do” Division. However, the casualty list was very long and over 30 local men were killed and countless more wounded. Thomas Dolan was first listed as missing and then assessed as killed in action. This was the worst ever day for Dundee’s Naval forces in the First World War. His body was not recovered and his name is listed on the Thiepval Memorial, Northern France. Thomas had a sister and brothers, one of whom was called Robert.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie