Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Henry Dixon, also known affectionately as Harry, was the youngest of 5 siblings of whom only 4 survived. His father Robert William Dixon and mother Annie Forster were born in 1863 in the district of Hexham, Northumberland and Victoria Garesfield County Durham, respectively. Married during the 1st quarter (Jan/Feb/Mar) 1887 in the district of Lanchester they settled at Benfieldside, County Durham, where Margery Jane, also known as Madge, was born, September 21st 1887, Alfred in 1889. In 1901 they were living at 5, St. Aidan's Street, Blackhill, a property they shared with builder Thomas Gibson and his wife Jane, Robert William was employed as a joiner. Daughter Ada and Henry were born at Blackhill in 1892 and 1894 respectively.
Annie Dixon nee Forster died in 1898 aged 35-years, Robert, finding himself alone with such young children, sort the help of his parents and extended family. Henry went to live with his paternal grandparents Robert and Margery Dixon (nee Barron) at Burn House, Shotley Low Quarter, whilst his niece Elizabeth (21), who had been living with them, moved into his home to look after Alfred (12) and Ada (9), Margery Jane went to live with her uncle and aunt, Thomas and Jane Wallace at East End, Wolsingham, where her uncle was a circular saw sharpener. By 1911 all his children, now adolescents, had returned to the family home at Gate House, Shotley Bridge. Robert William was still employed as a joiner, Madge (23) ran her own dressmaking business from home, Ada (19) remained at home, Alfred (22) was employed as a clerk and Harry (17) worked as a domestic gardener. Robert William’s father died, December 7th 1911 aged 83-years and interred in the family plot within St. John’s Churchyard, Shotley Low Quarter.
When war was declared, August 4th 1914, Harry enlisted as Henry Dixon in Hexham, Northumberland, initially assigned as Private 88756 to the King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, then transferred to the 8th (Service) Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers as Private 25032. The 8th Battalion was raised in answer to the call to arms by Kitchener, part of the New Armies. Private Dixon joined his regiment in France, still part of the 34th Brigade, 11th (Northern) Division, as of July 1916 after its withdrawal from Gallipoli and Egypt. As part of the 11th Division the 8th Battalion N.F. took part in the closing phases of the Battles of the Somme at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, September 15th-22nd and the Battle of Thiepval, September 26th-28th 1916 before being engaged in the Operations on the Aisne, January 11th-19th 1917, then leaving France for Belgium, in action at the Battle of Messines, June 9th-14th and the Third Battle of Ypres, July 31st-November 10th, including the battles at Langemark, St. Julien, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. They had returned to France by August 1918 to the Arras sector, the now Lance Corporal 25032 Henry Dixon Northumberland Fusiliers it deemed to have been killed in action, August 27th 1918, in the days preceding the Second Battle of Arras in the vicinity of the River Scarpe.
His sacrifice is recorded as one of over 9,000 names inscribed on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Pas de Calais, France, commemorating servicemen from Great Britain, South Africa, Canada, Australia and New Zealand who fell in the sector between the Somme and Loos as of August 8th 1918 until the Armistice of November 11th 1918. Lance Corporal Dixon was 24 years of age and single.
His father Robert received all monies due to his son from the Army, his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to him at Burn Cottage, Shotley Bridge.
Harry’s grandmother Margery Dixon nee Barron died, December 4th 1921, aged 86 years and interred with her husband at St. John’s Shotley, Henry’s father Robert William Dixon was laid to rest with his parents, he died aged 78-years, May 20th 1941.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Henry Dixon is remembered at Shotley Bridge on S27.01 and S127.06 and at Shotley Low Quarter on S28.01 and S128.07
