Lieutenant John James Doble
Born Sunderland ON
Lived in Sunderland, ON
Officer Declaration – Feb 8, 1916 Uxbridge, ON
Killed in Action – April 11, 1917, Battle of Vimy Ridge
Loyalty is a powerful thing. What if you add the bonds of friendship, comradeship and add a little patriotism and sense of duty? John James Doble had embarked on significant steps in his career in Banking. He worked for a division of the Royal Bank of Canada called the National Crown Bank. They asked him to manage one of their branches but it required him to move…to a town situated in what would appear at the time, located in the middle of nowhere. And yet when asked to move to Swift Current, Saskatchewan, John accepted. Swift Current is situated in among the Great Plains was still occupied at the time by the last great free tribes of the West. In the years before the war, this land would still appear as it did for the past millennia hence the move offered John not only a new career opportunity but also a fine dose of adventure as well.
In October of 1915, John’s former Commanding Officer from the 34th Regiment, (an Ontario-based militia) received approval to raise a battalion. With this consent, Lieutenant Colonel Samuel Simpson Sharpe immediately reached out to his former officers. Sam needed to build a team and he wanted people who he could trust and rely upon. Without delay, through the power of loyalty and comradeship, former members of the 34th began to arrive at the Battalion Headquarters in Uxbridge. Eventually, the 40 former members of the former militia regiment signed up to help lead to the newly formed 116th Battalion. One of the men who arrived in Uxbridge to join Sam’s team was the banker from Swift Current, John James Doble.
John would soon be awarded a commission and become a Lieutenant in the new battalion. The assignment was an easy decision for Lt Col. Sam Sharpe. Outside of their history with the 34th, he would have known John for many years as he was a local lawyer and Member of Parliament for Ontario County. John was originally from Sunderland…a small town located just north of Uxbridge. Both Sharpe and Doble were also freemasons, thus would share in the brotherhood of the fraternity. As a result, the nature of their broad relationship would turn out to be closer than most other officers in the Battalion.
Once the battalion travelled to England for training, Lieutenant Doble would be responsible for drilling into the men the skills needed to make men soldiers. It was necessary to not only guarantee the operational effectiveness of the men in the field, however it was essential to ensuring they can protect themselves when out in the line. This included strict discipline, respect and responsiveness. If Lieutenant Doble issued an order, the 50 men under him had to be trained to execute that order without thought, debate or delay. This was his responsibility as a leader in the 116th.
At the Battle of Vimy Ridge, it has been noted that the men of the 116th were kept in reserve and not used as an active fighting force. They were much greener than the other Canadian battalions and Divisional Headquarters did not yet have the confidence in their abilities under pressure. Doble would have the benefit of watching the entire battle from their position at Dumpbell Camp. He would have watched and waited for the chance to join the fray. Doble would have his excitement nullified on Day 2 of the attack then the 116th was once again overlooked. However, as luck would have it the 116th was finally given their chance to move into the trenches and relived the 60th Victoria Rifles from their position manning the Support Trenches in the Allied lines. This transition occurred without incident…until it happened. The section of trenches occupied by “B” Company under the leadership of Lieutenant John James Doble was hit by some German 5.9s. 3 O.R.s were wounded and one man, the banker who travelled all the way from Swift Current to join the war, was killed.
Lest we forget.