213534 Sgt. Albert Edward Victor Doggett DCM.British Army 58th Brigade, D Bty. Royal Field Artillery from:Sipson, Middlesex Albert Doggett joined the army on the 17th Nov 1913 age 16 years 3 months. He was promoted Bombardier 16 June 14. Later posted to 57 (H) battery andmobilised on 5 Aug 14 into 43 Bde RFA 1Div. He fought at Mons, Great Retreat, Marne and Aisne. He transferred to Ypres 16/19 Oct 14 and was wounded by German shell 4th Nov 14. Albert was evacuated to Norwich and treated at Norfolk Hospital, Norwich.
Albert was promoted Cpl on the 8th Jan 1915. (age 17years & 5 mths). Posted to A Bty, 81 Bde RFA 17 (Northern) Div. at Swanage. Promoted Sgt 7 May 15 (age 17y 10mths). 17 Div moved to Winchester in June 1915, and proceeded to France on the 13th of Jul 1915. 17th Div went into the Ypres sector and on the 5th of Aug 1915, were in action at Hooge. On 11th Aug 1915 A/81 Battery, including Sgt Doggett and a portion of the Ammunition Column withdrawn and posted to 118(H) Bde 1(Canadian) Div at Ploegstreet. from Sept to December 1915 they shelled German trenches and rear areas around Ploegstreet including Petite Douve Farm and Messines Town. On the 25th of Sep 1915 A/81 was renamed 460 Battery then on the 15th Dec 1915 460 Battery was renamed 461 Battery.
Albert spent Christmas 1915 in the line and as 461 Battery Sgt's Mess Sgt Doggett was to sing "Old Soldiers Never Die". On the 4th of Apr 1916 118(H) Bde moved North to the Ypres area and were engaged in shelling Hill 60 and St Eloi. On the 15th of July 1916 118(H) Bde broken up. 461 Battery (including Sgt Doggett) transferred to 58 Bde RFA 11 (Northern) Div who were freshly arrived from Egypt. The Battery was located at Dainville until the 4th of Sep 16 when they moved to Mash Valley for ops against Thiepval, Mouquet Farm, Schwaben Redoubt.
Sgt Doggett remained with D/58 till Feb 1919 fighting through the Battles of Messines, Third Ypres, and through to the Armistice just South East of Mons. He won a DCM on 7 Nov 1918 at Eth Wood. As a regular soldier he was posted to Cork in Feb 1919 and transferred to the reserve in Dec 1920. He died in 1990 aged 93.
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