Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
Add Information to Record of a Person who served during the Great War on The Wartime Memories Project Website
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221277
A/Cpl. John Dorren
British Army 5th Btn. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders
from:Greenock
My grandfather, John Dorren, served with this Battalion during WW1 and was injured during the Gallipoli campaign.
He suffered shrapnel wounds to his right hand and his back. For the rest of his life he wrote with two straight fingers on his right hand, making his grip of a pen somewhat strange. He also used to clamp his cigarette between the first and second fingers of this right hand- I remember being fascinated by this as a child.
Unfortunately, the wound in his back proved challenging to heal as part of his kilt had entered the wound at the time of injury. For very many years (until 1964 ish I think) he attended hospital for treatment as the wound continued to suppurate as the material rotted away. He was lucky, he survived and went on to continue his career in the Post Office before retiring in 1955.
He was a lovely, quiet man, gentle and tolerant- my Granny used to nag him constantly - John sit up straight, John don't put your head on the chair etc! He died in 1974, aged 84.
wonderful gentleman who I loved dearly and have fabulous memories of.