Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Thomas Dolman, a coalminer, born 1845 in Repton, Derbyshire (son of Thomas Dolman and Martha Dolman) and his wife Eliza Dolman (nee White, married on the 19th November 1867 in St. Peter’s Church, Hartshorne, Derbyshire), born 1846 in Hartshorne. John, a schoolboy was born in the July quarter of 1885 in Church Gresley, Derbyshire, his siblings were, William, a pot work carter, born in the January quarter of 1877 in Hartshorne and baptised on the 25th March 1877 in St. Peter’s Church, Hartshorne, Eliza Annie, a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1879 and baptised on the 17th August 1879 in St. Peter’s Church, Hartshorne and Emily (Emma), a schoolgirl, born in the July quarter of 1881 and baptised on the 28th August 1881 in St. Peter’s Church, Hartshorne, the latter two siblings were both born in Repton, Bessy (Betsy), born in the October quarter of 1887 and baptised on the 5th July 1893 in St. Stephen’s Church, Woodville, Sarah, born in the October quarter of 1887 and Harriet Edith, born in the April quarter of 1890 and baptised on the 5th July 1893 in St. Stephen’s Church, Woodville, the latter three siblings were all born in Derbyshire, in April 1891 the family home was at Pool Village, Church Gresley. In March 1901 John was employed as a pipe carrier and was residing in the family home at Chapel Street, Woodville, Derbyshire together with his father, a collier, his mother and sibling Harriet. In April 1911 John was employed as a clay miner and was residing in the family home at Chapel Street, Woodville, together with his father, a coal hewer and his mother, also residing with the family were grandchildren, Thomas Broadhurst, born 1905 in Hartshorne and Sarah Broadhurst, born 1903 in Blackfordby, Leicestershire. In the July quarter of 1912, John married Sarah Ann Jackson in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district, Sarah was born on the 7th April 1890 in Irlam, Lancashire and was baptised on the 30th April 1890 in the Church of St. John the Baptist, Irlam (daughter of James Jackson and Sarah Saltingstone). John and Sarah had two children, Elsie Mary Sarah, born on the 19th July 1912 and Sarah, born on the 23rd August 1914, both children were born in Ashby de la Zouch. In the October quarter of 1919, John’s widow, married Harry Buckley in the Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire district, they latterly resided at 22, Holywell Avenue, Ashby de la Zouch.
John’s army service enlistment documents do not survive, therefore the currently available information pertaining to his military service has been obtained from the following sources: - 1921 HMSO Publication, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914 - 1919, WW1 Service Medal and Award Rolls, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards and the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Registers.
Enlisted/Attested in Coalville into the Regular Army, date not known.
Joined. At Leicester, date not known.
Posted. To Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Allotted the Regimental Service number 16847.
Posted. To 7th (Service) Bn. Leicestershire Regt. Pte., date not known.
Posted. To Salisbury Plain. April 1915.
Embarked. With the 7th Bn. Leicestershire Regt. 28/7/15.
First entered the theatre of war in France on the 29/7/15.
Wounded in action. In the Field. 11/11/15.
Died of wounds in Rouen. 15/11/15.
Buried in St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, France.
Awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
In the event of his death, John nominated his wife and children as his part legatees.
On the 15th May 1916 John’s widow Sarah, of 6, Smallards Yard, Ashby de la Zouch, Leicestershire, was awarded a weekly Army Dependant’s Pension of eighteen shillings and six pence for herself and two children, to commence on the 22nd May 1916.
The War Diary records: BIENVILLERS. 1 man killed while digging.
On Monday, November 29th, 1915, The Leicester Daily Post published the following article under the heading. “LEICESTERSHIRE AND THE WAR.” – LOCAL CASUALTIES. – In the casualty list sent from the Base under date the 19th inst., Private R. M???, 6th Battalion, and Private J. DOLMAN, 7th Battalion Leicestershire Regiment, are reported to have died of wounds.