L/Sjt Gordon Dixon.
Headstone in Cambrin
Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away.
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Gordon Dixon was born 1885 in Escomb, Bishop Auckland. He was one of 4 surviving children, (1 deceased). 2 boys and 2 girls, born to William Dixon (1851) and Elizabeth Morgan (1858) who were native of Escomb and married there in 1878.
His father, William Dixon, from the age of 20 worked as an inspector at the coke ovens. After his marriage to Elizabeth he took work as a grocer, returning to his previous line of employment in later years.
Elizabeth died in 1907, followed by William, July 31st 1911. He left probate of £297 7s to his son Cecil Dixon, described as a gentleman, and Matthew Maughan, the husband of his eldest daughter, Emily.
Gordon, in 1901, at the age of 15 was already working at the local colliery as a screen worker above ground, extracting stones, slates and brasses from the coal.
On October 7th 1908 he married Ruth Ethel Pattinson and they set up home at Durham Road, Chilton, Ferryhill, where in 1911 he was living with his wife, his sister-in-law Hilda Mary Pattinson and his first born son Percival Norman Dixon. There was also a boarder named Ralph Parkin. Their second child, a girl, Hilda May Dixon was born in 1911.
In September 10th 1914 Gordon enlisted at Bishop Auckland as Private 14508 in the Durham Light Infantry, 15th Battalion, “A” Coy and remained in England undergoing training. On November 1st 1914 he was appointed Lance Corporal but reverted back to Private, August 4th 1915, at his own request. Gordon was posted to France September 10th 1915 landing at Boulogne on September 11th. The 15th Battalion D. L. I. was part of the 64th Brigade, 21st Division. Whilst in the trenches near La Neuville Gordon was injured during trench digging. He turned around rather suddenly and was struck on the left hand with a pick, lacerating it. He was hospitalised April 16th 1916 at Etaples, a huge field hospital away from the front line where he stayed until being discharged May 10th 1916.
He rejoined his Battalion 4 days later and the following month took part in action September 1st, the first day of the battle of the Somme, just north of Fricount and advanced towards Shelter Wood. The 15th Battalion sustained many casualties. Gordon was twice given promotion during this battle being assigned the rank of Lance Corporal on July 1st and 3 days later the rank of Corporal. On September 13th 1916 he was promoted to the rank of Lance Sergeant, just prior to the 15th Battalion’s objectives of taking Flers and Courcelette and along with the 2nd and 14th Battalions in the attack on the Quadrilateral strong point near Ginchy. By October 7th they were grouped at Abbeville for an unknown destination which turned out to be Chocques and on to Burbure and Bethune where they remained until October 11th. These arrangements were completed by the 14th and the Battalion moved up to the front line relieving the 2nd Battalion in the Cambrin Sector. The sector had the appearance of being quiet but the Germans subjected the front line to a heavy bombardment in the following days. It was during this bombardment that on October 18th Lance Sergeant 14508 Gordon Dixon was killed in action. He is interred at Cambrin Churchyard Extension, Pas de Calais, France, grave S11. His headstone bears the words, “Until the day breaks and the shadows flee away,” commissioned by his wife at a cost of 11/1 (eleven shillings and one pence). Lance Sergeant Dixon was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He was 31 years old.
On February 24th 1916 his widow Ruth Ethel Dixon received the return of his personal effects and was later awarded a pension for herself and their two children of 27/6 (twenty seven shillings and six pence) a week and a final payment of separation allowance and back pay of 23/- (twenty three shillings). Ruth died in 1974 in Bishop Auckland, aged 85 years. Their son Percival Norman Dixon died in 1921, I have been unable to find details of their daughter.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
David Osborne writes:
Having done a lot of research I found this my great grandfathers grave . My mother and father had looked into it and couldn’t find out anything about Gordon . Two weeks ago on a motorbike trip around Europe me and my partner visited his grave at Cambrin churchyard extension . Grave s11.
It was a moving thing to see and after taking photos and videos I emailed them to my parents who were amazed that I had let alone found but visited his grave .
David has submitted the three photos shown here.
Gordon Dixon is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12
