Thiepval Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Dickeson was born 1889 at Dalton Le Dale, one of 11 children of whom only 7 survived, 5 sons and 2 daughters. His father John Dickeson of Cox Green, West Herrington, County Durham was born 1852. In 1871 at the age of 19 he was an apprentice joiner and cartwright eventually owning his own shop and also building rolley carts for the colliery. He married Hannah Allen, also of Cox Green and born in 1852, at Houghton le Spring, in June 1874. Robert did not work with his father instead choosing to work at the colliery as a coal miner/labourer.
Robert Dickeson enlisted at Seaham Harbour and was assigned to the 19th Battalion Durham Light Infantry as Private 1328. As part of the first Durham Bantams they assembled in West Hartlepool before moving to Cocken Hall in May, after the 18th Battalion D. L. I. had moved out, headed for France. A month later they moved again to Marsham in North Yorkshire as part of the 106th Brigade, 35th Division. Training was completed at Salisbury Plain before the 19th Battalion sailed from Southampton, January 31st 1916 and entered the trenches in France at Neuve Chapelle. July 1st 1916 the Division, including the 19th Battalion was moved south to the Somme near Longueval but did little fighting, instead digging trenches, however, the heavy shell fire did cause many casualties.
Private 1328 Robert Dickeson was declared as dead, killed in action, July 23rd 1916. He was 27 years old and single. His sacrifice is recorded on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, Thiepval, France, pier and face 14A and 15C, one of the 72,246 names of servicemen from the British Empire who died in the Battles of the Somme, 1915 to 1918 and have no known grave.
Robert’s father received all monies due to his son, a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal. John Dickeson of 20, Rupert Street, Whitburn, Sunderland died, aged 88, March 12th 1940 at 31, Longnewton Street, Dawdon, Seaham, leaving the sum of £70 7 shillings and 1 pence to his eldest son James Allen Dickeson aged 65 years. Robert’s mother preceded his father and died in 1938 aged 86.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Robert Dickeson is remembered at Dalton le Dale on D39.01, and in Murton on M47.01 M47.06 and M47.12
Robert Dickeson is also remembered in the D.L.I. Book of Remembrance in Durham Cathedral D47.013 page 193 and in the 19th D.L.I. Book D47.015 page 5
