Chum William John Doak
Belfast Branch
1914: 4703, Private W. J. Doak
1st Battalion, Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers)
Born at Ballynagarrick, near Portadown in County Armagh, William was aged eighteen and working as a labourer when he attested for Princess Victoria’s (Royal Irish Fusiliers) at Portadown on 11 November 1893. He arrived at the Regimental Depot in Armagh on 13 November and on 27 November was posted to the 2nd Battalion at Kilkenny. Private Doak was stationed at Cork when he was awarded his first Good Conduct badge on 11 November 1895, and early the following year was placed on a draft to the 1st Battalion in India, being transferred on 16 January 1896. He joined the Battalion in Burma, and on 21 December 1897 moved to Egypt and saw active service in the Sudan in 1898 for which he was subsequently issued with the Queen’s Sudan Medal and the Khedive’s Sudan Medal. On 16 December 1898, shortly after his return to Alexandria, Private Doak forfeited his Good Conduct pay but this was restored to him on 21 June 1899.
On 24 September 1899 the 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers sailed from Egypt to South Africa, disembarking at Durban on 12 October. The Battalion arrived at Ladysmith the following day before moving to Dundee. On 20 October Private Doak fought against the Boers at Talana Hill and during the fighting the 1st Battalion lost two Officer and fifteen Other Ranks killed, and five Officers and 37 Other Ranks wounded out of the 640 All Ranks that had gone into action. Following the retreat from Dundee Private Doak was besieged in Ladysmith and in 1901 was noted as being attached to the Scottish Horse as a mounted infantryman. He was awarded his second Good Conduct Badge on 21 June 1901. For his service in South Africa Doak was later issued with the Queen’s South Africa Medal, with clasps for Talana, Defence of Ladysmith, Cape Colony, Orange Free State and Transvaal, and the King’s South Africa Medal with the clasps South Africa 1901 and South Africa 1902.
On his return from the Cape Private Doak was posted onto the strength of the Regimental Depot at Armagh on 10 August 1902 and was granted £6.10.0. War Gratuity. On completing nine years with the Colours William was due to be transferred to the Section A Army Reserve on 13 October, but two days later rejoined the 1st Battalion at Victoria Barracks in Belfast and was awarded a further gratuity of £13.15.0. He married Sarah Jane Dear at Gilford in County Down on 2 January 1903 and together they went on to have four children. On 7 March 1903 Private Doak again forfeited his Good Conduct pay, but in July was issued with his Mounted Infantry Certificate as a consequence of his employment in the role on active service in South Africa. His Good Conduct pay and badges were restored to him on 7 March 1904, and on 1 April 1905 Doak was posted to the Regimental Depot at Armagh. He re-engaged to complete 21 years’ service with the Colours on 14 October 1905 and was awarded his third Good Conduct Badge on 7 March 1906. On 23 September 1907, Private Doak was posted to the 1st Battalion at Aldershot and was awarded the Long Service and Good Conduct Medal, with a gratuity of £5, in Army Order 117 of 1913.
When war was declared on 4 August 1914 Private Doak was stationed with the 1st Battalion at Shorncliffe, and shortly afterwards moved to York, leaving his pregnant wife and three children behind. The 1st Royal Irish Fusiliers arrived at Harrow on 18 August, and embarked for France on 22 August, landing at Boulogne the following day. He soon saw action during the Battle of Le Cateau on 26 August before taking part in the subsequent retreat. Doak was invalided back to England and on 10 September was posted onto the strength of the Regimental Depot. On 10 November 1915 Private William Doak was discharged on the termination of his second period of engagement, having served for 22 years.
On leaving the Army William and his family moved to Belfast and lived at 17 Pisa Street. He was issued with the Clasp and Roses for his 1914 Star on 12 March 1936 and joined the Belfast Branch of The Old Contemptibles’ Association of Northern Ireland, which amalgamated with the main Association in 1946. William was being treated at the Royal Victoria Hospital when he and Sarah celebrated their diamond wedding anniversary on 2 January 1963, but the nurses and patients on No. 2 Ward held a party to mark the occasion. Chum Doak, as the oldest Chum of the Belfast Branch, also laid the wreath at the Cenotaph in front of Belfast City Hall on 15 August 1964 to mark the fiftieth anniversary of the outbreak of the Great War, a parade at which representatives from the Dublin Central and Londonderry Branches of The Old Contemptibles’ Association were also present. When interviewed by The Belfast Telegraph about the occasion, William stated that: “I now look forward to two events each year, to-day’s parade and the annual dinner of the Association.”
Chum William Doak died at Belfast on 8 March 1966, aged 89 and the Chums of the Belfast Branch were represented at his funeral. In the May 1966 edition of ‘The Old Contemptible’ Chum John Kelly paid tribute to him:
“He was the perfect type of soldier. Always dressed like a tailor’s model, complete with bowler, and upright carriage despite his great age, he was a credit to his regiment.”
Old Contemptibles' Association Scrap Book 