Chester-le-Street Chronicle 1916
Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Thomas Dixon was born in Maryport, Cumberland, date unknown, the son of William Dixon. His family, as did many, migrated to the north east in search of work and finally settled in or around the Craghead area.
Thomas Dixon enlisted 1914 in Newcastle-upon-Tyne and was assigned to the 11th Service Battalion Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers as Private 18248, the battalion came under the orders of the 3rd Brigade, Ulster Division. After initial training they went to Bordon in early September 1915 and landed in France 3rd-6th October 1915 attached to the 109th Brigade, 36th Ulster Division. They were initially concentrated around Flesselles, north of Arras and sent in small groups to the front line to experience trench warfare conditions, attached to the 4th Division of the regular army. October 21st the Division was moved away from the fighting area to near Abbeville where it spent most of the winter of 1915-1916 continuing training. The whole of the Division finally took over a complete section of the front line in February 1916 between the River Ancre and the Mailly-Maillet to Serre road. In the first week of March they extended the front line taking over the sector known as Thiepval Wood until in July the Battles of the Somme began. Private 18248 Thomas Dixon Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers was reported as not having been seen since July 1st 1916, presumed dead, the C.W.G.C. has adopted this as his official date of death. His sacrifice is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Somme, France, pier and face 4D and 5B. The memorial commemorates the 72,246 British and South African officers and servicemen who died on the Somme between 1915 and 1918 who have no known grave.
As his sole beneficiary his father William received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1914-15 Star, Brattish War Medal and Victory Medal as Thomas was single.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Thomas Dixon is remembered at Craghead on C120.01 C120.02 and C120.04