Menin Gate Memorial
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Robert Henry Dine born 1896 at Felling, Gateshead, County Durham, was the only son of Francis (Frank) Thomas Dine native of Whitehaven, Sussex born 1871 and Annie Lisle born 1868 at Tynemouth, Northumberland. They were married in the district of Stockton-on-Tees in 1893 but unfortunately his wife died in 1899 aged only 31 years. After her death, he and Robert Henry went to live with his brother Richard, wife and children at Drake Street, Heworth, where Frank was employed as a labourer at the paint works. He remarried in the district of Gateshead in 1906 to Charlotte Caroline Douglass Cutter born 1882 at Felling and with whom he had a further 2 children, Edith born 1907 and Evelyn born 1910. In 1911 the family was living at 18, Heworth Avenue, Pelaw-on-Tyne, Frank was still employed at the paint factory and Robert Henry aged only 14 years worked as a labourer at the brick works.
On the outbreak of war in 1914 Robert Henry was 18 years old, he enlisted at Felling and was assigned as Private 42009 Yorkshire Hussars (Alexandra Princess of Wales’s Own) Regiment, 9th Battalion which moved to Frensham joining the 69th Brigade of the 23rd Division, and on to Aldershot. February 1915, they were transferred to Folkstone, then Maidstone and finally Bramshott where August 28th 1915 they mobilised and as part of the British Expeditionary Force landed at Boulogne where after trench familiarisation as part of the 20th (Light) and 27th Divisions they took control of the front line at Ferme Grande Flamengrie to the Armentieres-Wez Macquart road and at Bois Grenier. During 1916 they relieved the French 17th Division in the Carency sector between the Boyau de l'Ersatz and the Souchez River and participated during the German attack on Vimy Ridge, the Battle of Albert, Bazentin Ridge, the Battle of Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, the Battle of Le Transloy and the capture of Le Sars. They left France in 1917 transferred to Belgium where they participated at the Battle of Messines, June 7th-14th.
Private 42009 Robert Henry Dine was killed in action on the first day of battle, June 7th 1917. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 52,395 names of servicemen from the Commonwealth inscribed on the Menin Gate Memorial to the Missing at Ypres, Belgium, commemorating those who died on the salient up to August 15th 1917 and have no known grave.
Private Dine was 22 years old and single. His step-mother Charlotte received all monies due to him, a pension and his awards of the 1915 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to 45, Heworth Terrace, Pelaw, County Durham.
Francis Thomas Dine died aged 57 in 1924, his widow remarried in 1926 to Alexander Gilmore in the district of Gateshead.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Margery Claxton has added the following:
On reading the information about Robert Henry Dine, died 1917 at Ypres, I realised that some family members could be added. Frank and Charlotte actually had 5 children, 3 boys were born after Edith and Evelyn. One son was my father Robert Cutter Dine who was born 2 years after Robert was killed. The other sons were called William and Frank. A daughter was then born after Charlotte married Alexander Gilmore. She was called Doreen.
The information you supply is excellent and very moving.
Thank You
Robert Henry Dine is remembered at Heworth on H92.03
