THE LAST POST.
DEATH OF A VETERAN,
CAPTAIN GEORGE DORMER.
A figure well known in local military circles. Captain George Jonathan Dormer, died at his residence in Wynyard Road, Mount Eden, on Wednesday night, at the age of 76 years. Born in London, the late captain had an eventful and distinguished career in the Empire's service.
As a boy of 12 years of age he joined the Royal Navy, served on H.M.S. Rattler, and afterwards was transferred into the Hastings, a Queen's ship. It was while on H.M.S. Hastings that the deceased went through the Burmese War of 1852-53, for which he received the medal and clasp for Pegu. When the Crimean War was declared, Captain Dormer was serving on H.M.S. Sidon, and during a night attack on the forts of Sevastopol, June 17, 1855, he was wounded. Subsequently, he was invalided home, and discharged with a temporary pension. He received the medal and clasp for Sebastopol, and the Turkish medal.
In April, 1858, he left the navy and joined the 2nd Battalion of the 10th Regiment, and was afterwards transferred to the 2nd Battalion 14th Prince of Wales' Own Regiment. As a rifle shot, Captain Dormer distinguished himself early, and it was while he served in the army he passed the qualifying examination for sergeant-instructor at the Hythe School of Musketry. Seeing service in the New Zealand War, Captain Dormer afterwards went to Australia, where he served until 1870, when he returned Home. In 1875, he was promoted to quartermaster-sergeant, and served in various parts of Great Britain. He obtained his discharge in 1878, and received the long service and good conduct medal, and a gratuity. Later on, the deceased was quartermaster-sergeant in the Dorset Militia, and servant-instructor of musketry in the 1st Dorset Rifle Volunteers.
Obtaining his discharge in 1883, Quarter-master-Sergeant Dormer, and Mrs. Dormer, whom he married in New Zealand in 1863, returned to New Zealand, and in 1884 he joined the Auckland City Guards. Elected lieutenant in the following year, he finally became a captain when the 1st Battalion of Auckland Infantry was organised.
Captain Dormer always took a keen and active interest in rifle shooting, and he shot with distinction at the Dominion Rifle Association meetings at Trentham up till within the last two years. He was a participator in the Auckland district meeting last January, and as the oldest member of the association, he presented the prizes. Though the veteran of the Trentham range, Captain Dormer had a firm and steady hand and a true aim, and he put many a young shooting enthusiast to shame by his performances.
Captain Dormer leaves a family of five daughters and three sons, and there are 12 grandchildren. The deceased is to be accorded a military funeral to-morrow afternoon. -NZ Herald, 24/4/1914.
SIXTY YEARS A SOLDIER
FUNERAL OF CAPTAIN DORMER.
A military funeral was accorded the late Captain George Jonathan Dormer on Saturday afternoon. Captain Dormer, who died at his residence in Wynyard Road, Mount Eden, on Wednesday night, at the age of 76 years, had a distinguished career in the Empire's service, having served both in the naval and land forces since the age of 12 years.
Practically every unit of the Auckland district was represented, while, in addition, there were many mourners to be seen on the route to the Symonds Street cemetery. Colonel C. T. Major, D.S.O., was in command, while other officers present were: Colonel Stevenson, representing the Coast Defence Detachment; Colonel Cumming, representing the West Yorkshire Regiment, to which the deceased once belonged; Major Sherson, Auckland Field Artillery Brigade, A Battery; Captain Hawkins, representing Colonel Logan, Officer in Command of the Auckland District; Chaplain LieutenantColonel Gillam, several officers of the 3rd (Auckland) Regiment, and four surviving members of the old Auckland City Guard, of which Captain Dormer was a member. The 88th (Mount Eden) Company of Senior Cadets paraded under Lieutenant Morgan as a firing party, while there was also a large muster of the members of the Akarana Rifle Club, under President W. S. Moore.
Captains Dawson, Shera, Shepherd, McGuelph, Derrom, and Gibb acted as pallbearers, while the Rev. A. Richards conducted the, funeral service. Innumerable wreaths were received. -NZ Herald, 27/4/1914.
Symonds Street Cemetery, Auckland.
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