469 Pte Adolphus Glaire, 5th Dragoon Guards

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Arrived overseas: 15 August 1914.

Connection: 1914 Star.

I was fortunate to be the high bidder on Adolphus Glaire's 1914 Star at auction in January this year. He appears to have gone by the name of 'Dofey' rather than Adolphus, but even so, his name is unique. He was born at Ventnor on the Isle of Wight in 1887, and along with two of his brothers, he was educated at Lowtherville School, Ventnor. He joined the 5th Dragoon Guards in April 1907, arriving overseas with his regiment on the 15th August 1914.

Dofey Glaire served throughout the war and in 1919 re-enlisted with the Tank Corps, serving for a further 1 year and 321 days. His original Tank Corps regimental number was 33621 and this was subsequently replaced with the army number 392129.

One of Adolphus's brothers, Charles Glaire, was an early casualty of the war, being seriously wounded in September 1914 at the Battle of the Marne, whilst serving with the 1st Hampshire Regiment, and subsequently dying of his wounds at Netley hospital on the 10th October 1914. He is buried in Ventnor cemetery. A second brother, George Edwin Glaire, would be killed in action on the 30th March 1918.

Adolphus Glaire lived until the age of 81, dying in 1968.


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