John Canning Dove

Memorial: Falfield - St George's Church

Regiment: New Zealand Rifle Brigade

Medals: British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal

Rank and number: Lance Corporal 70386

Parents: John Clement and Blanche Mary Dove (nee Canning)

Home address: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Date of birth: 23/11/1897

Place of birth: Rockhampton, Queensland, Australia

Date of death: 26/10/1918

Buried/Commemorated at: Vertigneul Churchyard, Romeries, Nord, France

Age: 20

Further information:

Served with "D" Company, 4th Battalion 3rd, New Zealand Rifle Brigade. John left Wellington, New Zealand on 23rd April 1918 on the ship ”Willochra” with 36th Reinforcements New Zealand Expeditionary Force [roll No.81], 37th Reinforcements New Zealand Rifle Brigade and the 28th Reinforcements Maori Contingent.
Transhipped aboard the liner “RMS Ormonde” at Suez and again transhipped at Taranto aboard the liner - “Duchess of Argyle” to Southampton where troops arrived 18 July 1918. Fourteen weeks later he was killed in action in France

John Canning Doves' connection to Falfield: John had two aunts Matilda Mary Dove (1871– 937) and Agnes Evelyn Dove (1876-1950) who are both buried in St George's Church, Falfield. Research has also established that his Great Aunt Susanna Dove was also living in Falfield between 1850 and 1937 residing at Falfield House, Mount Pleasant with Matlida prior to their deaths in 1937. Susanna Dove is buried in the churchyard at Mount Pleasant Chapel, Falfield. Agnes Dove died in 1950 with burial records recording that she was living at "The Cot" St Mary's Road, Portishead

It is assumed that they got his name added to the War Memorial

John's father was John Clement Dove (1861-1939) who was the son of Revd. William Dove (1797-1855). His mother was Blanche Mary Canning (1868-1938), both of whom were born in Australia. John Clement Dove’s father was the Rev William Woodman Dove (1831-1867) who was born in Falfield and some time between 1851 and 1853 emigrated to Cassillis, New South Wales and in 1859 married Martha Hensley the day after she arrived in Australia after emigrating from England. John Clement Dove was the son of Revd. William Dove (1797-1855) who was the Minster at the United Reform Church Thornbury from 1831 to 1843. In 1850 he moved to Falfield House next to Mount Pleasant Chapel

Matilda and Agnes Dove were the daughters of Dr John Reuben Bathurst Dove 1837 – 1904 who was the son of Revd. William Dove (1797 - 1855) and a brother to Susanna Dove

By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):

Forces War Records and Falfield Village website