Captain Eric John Western Dolphin was born in Queenstown, Cork, Ireland in 1885 and was the fourth and youngest son of Lieutenant Colonel (Retired Royal Artillery) and Mrs H.E. Dolphin of Oak Lodge, London Road, Guildford. He was educated at Stubbington House School and the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst and was considered a good shot, rider and golf player.

Captain Dolphin was a career soldier and received his commission into the Hampshire Regiment in 1906, becoming a Lieutenant in March 1909 and being promoted Captain on 21 October 1914.

It is understood that on 7 November 1914 he was treacherously shot and killed by German soldiers after they had indicated they wanted to surrender and called out 'Don't shoot' near Ploegsteert about four miles north of Armentieres. 

Captain Dolphin was buried in Ploegsteert Churchyard, Belgium. He was 28 years old when he died.