On the Chatham Naval Memorial is the name of ST 736 Trimmer William Dixon, serving on H.M. Trawler Everest with the Royal Naval Reserve who died 06/07/1917.

The son of Elizabeth Dixon, of 67, Whitehall Street, South Shields.

William was born on the 25th October 1890 in South Shields the only son of fourteen children of which only 4 survived, of Paul and Elizabeth Dixon nee Todd. The other children were Ethel, Jane Anne and Elizabeth. In 1891 the mother and three children, William, Elizabeth and Mary Ann were residing at 131 Eldon Street, South Shields with another Dixon Family who resided at 133 Eldon Street.

In 1901 the family were residing at 218 Marshall Wallis Road, South Shields by 1911 they had moved to 67 Whitehill Street, Tyne Dock, South Shields.

William worked at the Tyne Dock for the North Easter Railway as a Freight shunter and a Wagon Greaser.

William was on the HM Trawler ‘Everest’ requisitioned for Minesweeping duties by the Admiralty.
Each Trawler was given an Admiralty number, the Everest was allocated no 43 initially, but was re-numbered twice, 656 and 385 in its life time. Also each Trawler was given a Fishery Port Registration number, the ‘Everest’ was allocated H 942. The ‘H’ signifies the port of Hull.

Trimmer William Dixon drowned on Friday 6th July 1917. Age 27.

Acknowledgment: James Hoy Archive.

William Dixon is remembered at South Shields on S86.008, S86.043, on the North Eastern Railway War Memorial (York)  and on our List of Ships crews.