Arthur was born in Bury St Edmunds in 1886, the youngest son & 9th child of Thomas Plummer Dorling (b. 1847 Bury St Edmunds) and Emma Lomax (b. 1851 Bury St Edmunds).  His mother died age 40 in 1892 and his father died in 1899.  Although Arthur is part of the Bury St Edmunds branch of the Dorlings, it is his paternal grandmother (Frances Dorling, mother of Thomas Plummer Dorling) who was a Dorling, and his paternal grandfather is not known, though presumed to have the surname Plummer, and possibly named Thomas Plummer.  So although the YDNA of the Bury St Edmunds branch of the Dorlings is known, it would be no help in identifying Arthur.   Arthur enlisted 8 jan 1901 age 15 yrs 3 mths, 5 ft, 90 lbs, fair com,plexion, brown eyes & hair, and at the time of the census returns on 2 April was in St Peterport, Guernsey age 15, as bandboy, Guernsey Battalion 3rd Suffolk Regiment.   His next of kin in 1901 are given as brother George Dorling 105 Eastgate St, BSE & sister Ada Bridges of the same address.   Conduct & character very good but he was discharged in July 1901 medically unfit for service. However, he was in Egypt in 1911 with the 1st Battalion, Suffolk regiment (Infantry) occupation given as groom.  I have read they were at Mustapha Pacha Barracks in Alexandria, Egypt. In 1913 he married Daisy Turner at Woolwich, and the following year his daughter Joyce F B Dorling was born & her birth registered in the 3rd quarter of the year in camberwell.  Joyce later married Edwin Booth and in 1919 they were living in Underhill Road, Camberwell with widow Daisy Dorling. The 1st Bn were in Khartoum when war was declared in Aug 1914. They arrived back in England in October 2014 and were at Le Havre on 8 Jan 1915. In Apr-May they fought at 2nd Battle of Ypres and 25 Sep-8 Oct they fought at the Battle of Loos.  Perhaps this is where Arthur was killed or died of wounds. However, the records of his death state he was with the 2nd Bn. The 2nd Bn were in Curragh, Ireland, when war was declared in 1914.  They arrived at Le Havre 17 Aug 1914 and took part in the battles of  Mons in Aug 1914 & La Capeau where very heavy losses & some taken POW. This lead to those left being transferred to GHQ troops and in October 1914 transferring to the 8th brigade of the 3rd Division.    So it is unclear where Arthur died and which Bn he was with at the time Arthur was killed in action 30 Sep 1915 as Corporal Arthur Dorling and is remembered at the Ypres Menin Gate memorial.  According to the Register of Soldier's Effects, he was Acting Corporal in the 2nd Bn of the Suffolk Regiment.  His effects were to go to Daisy Dorling, widow and sole legate to whom a war gratuity was paid on 1 July 1919.  War graves Commission:- Corporal Service No:6828 Date of Death:30/09/1915 Age:31 Regiment/Service:Suffolk Regiment 2nd Bn. Panel Reference: Panel 21. Memorial:YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIA 

Karen Hemmingham