Name
Charles Dixon
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
26/02/1917
38
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Pioneer
128911
Royal Engineers
3rd Special Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
CITE BONJEAN MILITARY CEMETERY, ARMENTIERES
III. F. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin
Pre War
His home was at 36, Kings Rd, Hitchin and he left a wife and six children. His address was also shown as 64, Whinbush Rd, Hitchin – probably a later address.
Before joining up he was employed by H.J. Sayer of Nightingale Road, Hitchin as a painter. He volunteered in May 1915.
Charles was born early in 1879 in Hitchin and his parents were George and Sarah Dixon and he was christened on 13 April 1879 in Baldock.
In 1881 the family were living in Bancroft, Hitchin. Present were both parents: George (39) and Sarah (34), with x and working as a house painter. Their children were: Elizabeth (13), Joe (7), Herbert (4) and Charles (2).
In 1891 the family were living at 11 In Row, Hitchin. Present were both parents, with George working as a painter. All the children listed above were present Herbert and Charles were present – Charles at 12 was working as an errand boy – Elizabeth and Joe were absent, but new siblings were Harriet (9) and Ernest (7).
In 1901 the family were living at 15 Florence Street, Hitchin. His father had died and Sarah, now 53, was a widow. The children now present were Joseph, Charles, now a painter, and Harriett. Also present were William Dixon (84) the father-in-law and Henry Smith (8) a nephew.
Charles married Ada Day (b 16/4/1881) in 1902 and by 1911 they were living at No 10 Garden Row, Hitchin, Herts. Charles was working as a house painter. The census recorded they had been married for 8 years with 6 children of whom 2 had died. The children present were Dora Daisy (7), George (6), Blanche Harriett (1) and Charles at one month.
The children were Dora Daisy (b 21/7/1903), George (b 18/2/1905), Blanche Harriet (b 1/6/1909), Charles (b 23/2/1911), Violet Edna May (20/3/1914) and Frances Olive (30/9/1916)
He enlisted in Hitchin in May 1915. Before then he worked as a painter for Mr H J Sayer of Nightingale Road
Wartime Service
Charles went to the Western Front in January 1916. Initially he had the Regimental Number 20796 in the 4th Bn. Bedfordshire Regiment. Later he was given the Corps Number 128911 in the Royal Engineers and posted to the 3rd Special Battalion (Gas Unit). He was involved in engagements on the Somme and was killed by shellfire.
His National Roll entry suggests that he was involved in important duties in forward areas whilst operations were in progress, mostly on the Somme. A newspaper reporting his death suggested that he was expecting leave before he died.
He was buried in Plot 3, Row F, Grave 14 in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery in Armentieres in France.
Additional Information
After his death £6 7s 5d was authorised to go to his widow on 9 May 1917. Later, a war gratuity of £8 was authorised to be paid to her on 9 December 1919.
His pension cards record Ada, his widow, living at 64 Whinbush Road, Hitchin and later at 2 New Cottages, Pirton, nr Hitchin. She was awarded a pension of 33s 0d a week from 10 September 1917. It also listed their children as Dora Daisy (b 21/7/1903), George (b 18/2/1905), Blanche Harriet (b 1/6/1909), Charles (b 23/2/1911), Violet Edna May (20/3/1914) and Frances Olive (30/9/1916).
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Jonty Wild
