On Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent, is the name of J/39953 Boy 1st Class Robert Milburn Dixon, serving on H.M.S. Black Prince with the Royal Navy who died 31/05/1916.
He was the son of Robert Milburn Dixon and F. Dixon, of 13, Boathouse Terrace, Cambois, Blyth.
Colin Boyd has provided the following:
Robert was born on 17th December 1898 in Blyth to Robert Milburn Dixon, a miner and his wife Frances.
In 1901 he was living with his parents, one sister, one brother and two boarders at 24, Marlow Street, Cowpen, Blyth.
At the time of the 1911 Census the family had moved to 13, Boathouse Terrace, Cambois, Blyth and now consisted of Robert, his parents, three sisters and three brothers.
Robert enlisted in the Royal Navy on 15th April 1915 as a boy 2nd Class when he was noted as being 4 feet 11½ inches tall with brown hair, brown eyes and a fresh complexion. His occupation was given as a pit boy. He was promoted to Boy Ist Class on 16th July 1916 and posted to his first ship, HMS Black Prince on 26th July 1915.
Robert was lost on 31st May 1916 during the night action during the Battle of Jutland when HMS Black Prince became separated from the rest of her Cruiser Squadron and blundered into the main German High Seas Fleet. Under the concentrated fire of the battleships she burst into flames within two minutes and then disappeared in a huge explosion. There were no survivors from her complement of 872.
Morpeth Herald 07/07/1916 carries a brief obituary:
Seaman R.M. Dixon, of Boathouse Terrace, Cambois, H.M.S. Black Prince, lost.
The Blyth News 02/06/1924 carries the following “In Memoriam” notice:
In loving memory of our dear son, Robert Milburn Dixon, lost on the Black Prince in the Jutland Battle May 31st, 1916.
Once our home was bright and happy
But how sad it is today;
For the one we loved so dearly
Has for ever passed away.
Could we but hear his loving voice
Or see his smiling face,
The aching of our hearts would cease
And sunshine take its place.
Ever remembered by his loving father, mother, brothers and sisters.
Robert Milburn Dixon is remembered at Cambois on C6.02 and in our List of Ships’ Crews.
