Patrick had emigrated to New Zealand from Ireland as a young man, and was the priest at Foxton until the war, when he volunteered and became chaplain of the Auckland Mounted Rifles.

The terrain was very steep and rugged at Gallipoli, with little shelter from the firing of the enemy. Padre Dore had been there through weeks of intense fighting already, scrambling up and down the steep rocky hillsides helping the men. This included helping through dark moonless nights with preparations for the big offensive launched on Chunuk Bair in August, 1915.

A popular friend and counsellor to the men, he worked through very difficult conditions alongside the Medical Officer to treat and care for wounded soldiers. On the 22nd of August 1915, he was again helping rescue wounded soldiers. Caught in a hail of bullets, he was severely wounded in his spine. He would have died if the stretcher bearers weren’t determined to rescue him. They carried him all the way down to the beach where he was taken to the waiting hospital ship. Back in New Zealand, he suffered from his wound for nearly 3 years before he died in July 1918, aged 33. He was buried in Foxton and was awarded the Military Cross for notable acts of courage at Gallipoli. We remember him.

Story and photo story supplied with thanks to Regimental Historian Angus Kirk, 16 Field Regt RNZA QAMR RNZAC. From Archives New Zealand, AALZ 25044 / F1852 66.