George Dockrell (22 October 1886 – 23 December 1924) was an Olympic

swimmer Swimming is an individual or team racing sport that requires the use of one's entire body to move through water. The sport takes place in pools or open water (e.g., in a sea or lake). Competitive swimming is one of the most popular Olympic ...

, best known for competing at the

1908 Summer Olympics The 1908 Summer Olympics (officially the Games of the IV Olympiad and also known as London 1908) were an international multi-sport event held in London, England, United Kingdom, from 27 April to 31 October 1908. The 1908 Games were ori ...

in the men's 100 metre freestyle event for Great Britain. He had a lengthy swimming, and military career, until his death in 1924.

Early and family life

He was born William Robert to Maurice Edward Dockrell and

Margaret Dockrell Lady Margaret Dockrell (18 March 1849 – 29 June 1926) was an Irish suffragist, philanthropist, and councillor. Early life and family Margaret Dockrell was born Margaret Shannon on 18 March 1849, at 18 Charlotte Street, Dublin. She was the el ...

on 22 October 1886 in Dublin, Ireland but he was later baptised George Shannon Dockrell. He came from a prominent political family in Dublin. Sir Maurice Edward Dockrell was a Unionist Politician and was one of the few members who took his seat in the British House of Commons after the

1918 Irish General Election The 1918 Irish general election was the part of the 1918 United Kingdom general election which took place in Ireland. It is now seen as a key moment in modern Irish history because it saw the overwhelming defeat of the moderate nationalist Iris ...

. His mother, Lady Margaret Dockrell (née Shannon) was a suffragette, who actively campaigned for women's rights, and was a member of Dublin City Council. They were married in 1875 and eventually both his parents worked in the family business of Thomas Dockrell, Sons and Co. Ltd. Growing up he lived Blackrock, County Dublin with six siblings, a sister named Anna and five brothers Thomas, Kenneth, Maurice, Henry and James. His family was raised Protestant, within the Church of Ireland. His family was also heavily involved in the Dublin Swimming Club, where George won 21 out of the 38 titles won by the Dockrell family. Dockrell spent his school years, from 1899 to 1903 in Trent College, Nottingham where he excelled at swimming. In 1904 he sailed from Liverpool to New York aboard the ship ''Celtic'' under the name Geo. S Dockrell. He lived in America for two years where he was inspired by the technique of American Olympic swimmer, C.M. Daniels. Upon his return to Ireland he received his education at

Trinity College Dublin , name_Latin = Collegium Sanctae et Individuae Trinitatis Reginae Elizabethae juxta Dublin , motto = ''Perpetuis futuris temporibus duraturam'' (Latin) , motto_lang = la , motto_English = It will last i ...

. Several of Dockrell's siblings went to work alongside their parents at Thomas Dockrell, Sons and Co. Ltd. While his brother Henry became a Fine Gael T.D. Meanwhile, Dockrell became more actively involved in his own swimming career. His niece,

Marguerite Dockrell Marguerite Dockrell (10 March 1912 – 9 September 1983) was an Irish swimmer. She competed in the women's 100 metre freestyle event at the 1928 Summer Olympics. Early life Marguerite Dockrell was born on 10 March 1912 in Blackrock, Coun ...

, and nephew, Hayes Dockrell, also went on to compete in the 1928 Summer Olympics in Amsterdam. Like Dockrell, his niece competed in swimming, while his nephew took part in the water polo section.

War Service

In 1914 he joined the army in the

Rifle Brigade The Rifle Brigade (The Prince Consort's Own) was an infantry rifle regiment of the British Army formed in January 1800 as the "Experimental Corps of Riflemen" to provide sharpshooters, scouts, and skirmishers. They were soon renamed the "Rifle ...

, 9th Battalion. He was wounded in France in 1915. He was promoted to Staff Captain in 1917 and to Major in 1919 on completing his service. He was appointed OBE in the

1919 Birthday Honours The 1919 Birthday Honours were appointments by King George V to various orders and honours to reward and highlight good works by citizens of the British Empire. The appointments were made to celebrate the official birthday of The King, and were ...

. He died from lingering shrapnel wounds to his back on 23 December 1924 at the Officers’ Hospital,

Richmond, Surrey Richmond is a town in south-west London,The London Government Act 1963 (c.33) (as amended) categorises the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames as an Outer London borough. Although it is on both sides of the River Thames, the Boundary Commis ...

and was buried at

St Andrew's Church, Ham St Andrew's Church, Ham, is a Grade II listed Church of England church on Church Road, Ham Common in Ham in the London Borough of Richmond upon Thames. Architecture The church was built in grey brick in 1830–31; the architect was Edward Lapi ...

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Dockrell, George 1886 births 1924 deaths British male swimmers Olympic swimmers for Great Britain Swimmers at the 1908 Summer Olympics Place of birth missing Irish male swimmers Sportspeople from County Dublin Burials at St Andrew's Church, Ham Officers of the Order of the British Empire British Army personnel of World War I