In From The Cold - 16.06.08

[Terry Denham]

CWGC added the following 'new' WW1 casualty to its Debt of Honour database today – Monday 16th June.

Lt William Alfred DIXON MC

2 Bn, Suffolk Regiment attd 1 Bn, Essex Regiment

Died 22.10.20 Age 39

Buried: Dover (St James’s) Cemetery, Kent, UK

NOT FORGOTTEN

[ralphjd]

Well done now Not Forgotten.

[Messina1915]

Rest in Peace William

[Will O'Brien]

Raising a glass to the memory of William tonight.

[chrisharley9]

MAY HE REST IN PEACE

[Neil Clark]

One of mine!

Captain William Alfred DIXON. 3rd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment attached 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment. Formerly Company Sergeant Major (CSM) 7350, 1st Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Killed in Action (Murdered by the Irish Republican Army IRA) 22 October 1920 between Ballinbassig and Bandon, near Kinsale, Ireland aged 39 years (wounded in shoulder then 20 mins later killed by a bullet to nose that penetrated the brain). Born 19 March 1881 at Mill Lane, Dover, Kent. Husband of Ellen Mary Dixon (nee Burke) of 65 Clarendon Street, Dover, Kent. Moved to 77 Buckland Avenue, Dover, Kent in 1921. Married 11 September 1903 at Dover, Kent. Enlisted 1905. Served on active service throughout the Great War. Wounded in action at Ypres in 1915. Also saw service in Salonika and Russia (1919). Buried 29 October 1920 St James Cemetery, Dover, Kent. Grave reference – HX13.

A funeral service was held in the St Pauls R.C Church, Maison Dieu Road, Dover, Kent. The coffin was conveyed on a gun carriage covered with the Union Flag. A firing party from 1st Royal Sussex Regiment fired 3 salutes in tribute. A full military band was provided by the Royal Irish Fusiliers which played the “Last Post”.

William Alfred DIXON was born 19 Mar 1881, probably at Mill Lane, Dover, Kent. His parents were William Alfred DIXON snr. (a bricklayer), and his wife Esther (nee BETTS). They had married 23 October 1880 at the Register Office in Dover, and William Alfred was the first of their twelve children. The family lived at Mill Lane, Dover in 1881, at 53 Odo Road, Dover in 1891, and at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover in 1901.

Will executors were “Messrs Bradley Chitty and Scorer of 19/22 Castle Street, Dover, Kent. His total estate was £104 all given to his wife.

Details of William's early life and schooling are not known at this time, but we do know that he was apprenticed to Mr. I.W. BROMLEY of Dover, (a Carpenter), for five years, completing his term in November 1902. (An Army Trade Assessment carried out at Woolwich on 15 June 1906 showed him to be a “good skilled carpenter”).

On 11 September 1903 William married Ellen Mary BURKE at St Paul's Catholic Church, Maison Dieu Road, Dover. She was the daughter of Claude Connell BURKE and his wife Alice Matilda (nee BEAUMONT). Claude was a Paper Mill Worker who had previously served as a Sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and had completed at least eighteen years service with the corps. Claude and Alice lived at 5 Leslie Cottages, Buckland, Dover.

It seems that William Alfred converted to the Catholic faith in order to marry Ellen Mary, his parents and siblings having all been christened into the Church of England. William Alfred's service records all show his religious denomination as “RC”.William and Ellen had one child, Agnes DIXON, born 28 February 1905, and baptised 1 Mar 1905 at St Paul's Catholic Church, Dover.

This officers sacrifice is most shockingly NOT recognised by the country he gave his life for! The Commonwealth War Graves Commission doesn’t record his name either. We simlpy can’t understand how this officers name came to be completely forgotten by the country he gave his life for! It’s absolutely shocking when you take into account he had a very large formal military funeral.

William’s wife Ellen Mary Dixon was buried in the same plot on 3 March 1965. She died at the Sanatorium Annexe, Hawthorn Road, Bognor Regis, West Sussex (poor women probably went downhill after hearing her husbands sacrifice was to go unnoticed). William’s brother Alfred Dixon was the musical director of the Lord Warden Hotel in Dover, Kent.

William Alfred Dixon was a Lieutenant in the Suffolk Regiment. He was a Dover resident, and professional soldier, having enlisted in 1905. He served throughout the Great War in the ranks, being wounded in the first battle of Ypres, and for three years at Salonika, and also in Russia. He gained a rapid promotion for a “Loophole” invention in trench warfare.

He died in Ireland on 22nd October 1920, when he was 39, having returned there just two days before, after ten days leave in Dover. He had been travelling in the second of two military motors, and on a secluded stretch of road between the villages of Innishannon and Ballinhassig, Ireland the cars were fired upon in an ambush, by people hiding behind fences. The first of the cars had important dispatches, which may have been the motive for the attack. This car escaped, and a Corporal from it leapt out and gave covering fire until until he fell with a wounded knee after some four of the attackers advanced upon him, firing in return. The second car, however, in which Lieutenant Dixon was travelling, came under heavier fire in the ambush. He and a Private of the Essex regiment were killed, and five others wounded, one later dying. This car was immobilised, and some forty of the attackers then took away all arms and weapons, and searched the pockets of the officer, leaving untouched the only uninjured person, a Private of seventeen years, save for taking his rifle. The court of Enquiry was held at Victoria Barrack, Cork, Ireland on 23 October 1920. Chairman was Brigadier-General H.W Higginson CB,DSO commanding Cork Garrison (17 Infantry Brigade). Lieutenant Dixon's funeral service began at St Paul's, where he had lain in state the night before. Father Grady officiated, and the coffin, with the Union Flag draped over it, was then carried on a gun carriage to St James. The pall bearers were from the Essex regiment, and it was a funeral with full military honours, with a band from the 2nd battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and a party from the 1st battalion of the Royal Sussex firing three volleys over the grave. The Last Post was sounded. There were many mourners, including his wife and child, his sister, Mrs Hatton, and his brother, Alfred Dixon, who was musical director at the Lord Warden Hotel. In 1924 his widow, staying in Folkestone with the family of his brother, Ernest Dixon, a casualty in the Great War, requested that William's name should go on the Dover Town Memorial. This request was turned down, because, although Lieutenant Dixon had served through the Great War, and had died in service, his death was not attributable to that War. How bloody ridiculous! There are hundreds of men commemorated on war memorials throughout the UK who were murdered by the IRA.

We hope to put the record straight although we will never be able to mend the damage done to his wife who was insulted by the idiotic trustees of the Dover War Memorial in the 1920’s… Perhaps it might be possible for the present Dover Town Council to make amends and add his name to the towns war memorial? We are seeking support from Maggie Stephenson-Knight who is Dover’s foremost military historian.

We also intend to trace the Private soldier from the Essex Regiment who was killed in the same incident.

William Alfred DIXON was born 19 Mar 1881, probably at Mill Lane, Dover, Kent. His parents were William Alfred DIXON snr. (a bricklayer), and his wife Esther (nee BETTS). They had married 23 October 1880 at the Register Office in Dover, and William Alfred was the first of their twelve children. The family lived at Mill Lane, Dover in 1881, at 53 Odo Road, Dover in 1891, and at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover in 1901.

Details of William's early life and schooling are not known at this time, but we do know that he was apprenticed to Mr. I.W. BROMLEY of Dover, (a Carpenter), for five years, completing his term in November 1902. (An Army Trade Assessment carried out at Woolwich on 15 June 1906 showed him to be a “good skilled carpenter”).

On 11 September 1903 William married Ellen Mary BURKE at St Paul's Catholic Church, Maison Dieu Road, Dover. She was the daughter of Claude Connell BURKE and his wife Alice Matilda (nee BEAUMONT). Claude was a Paper Mill Worker who had previously served as a Sergeant in the Royal Marine Light Infantry and had completed at least eighteen years service with the corps. Claude and Alice lived at 5 Leslie Cottages, Buckland, Dover.

It seems that William Alfred converted to the Catholic faith in order to marry Ellen Mary, his parents and siblings having all been christened into the Church of England. William Alfred's service records all show his religious denomination as “RC”. William and Ellen had one child, Agnes DIXON, born 28 February 1905, and baptised 1 Mar 1905 at St Paul's Catholic Church, Dover.

Military Service

William Alfred DIXON enlisted in the Army at Woolwich 21 June 1906 as Private 7350, Suffolk Regiment; (he enlisted for 12 years, being 9 years with the Colours and 3 years Reserve List). He joined his unit (1st Btn. Suffolk Regiment) at Bury St Edmunds 23 June 1906, and was posted to duties at depot.

A list of the dates of his postings and promotions is shown below:

24 June 1906 Posted to Home Depot

28 September 1906 Posted to Home Duties

29 May 1907 Appointed Lance Corporal

20 November 1907 Posted to Malta – Lance Corporal 1st Btn.Suffolk Regt.

21 June 1908 Awarded 1st Good Conduct Badge

22 August 1910 Promoted to Corporal

25 January 1911 Posted to Egypt - Corporal 1st Btn.Suffolk Regt.

1 December 1912 Appointed unpaid Lance Sergeant

11 February 1913 Awarded 1st Class Certificate

20 December 1913 Promoted to Sergeant

28 February 1914 Extended his service to complete 12 years with the Colours

5 August 1914 Posted to UK – Attached 8th Btn.Suffolk Regt.

27 October 1914 Reposted to 1st Btn.Suffolk Regt. - Sergeant

16 January 1915 Posted to France – Active service with France Expeditionary Force

25 March 1915 Promoted to Colour Sergeant

31 March 1915 Appointed acting Company Quarter Master Sergeant

9 June 1915 Appointed acting Company Sergeant Major

June 1915 Wounded in Action (gunshot wound in the right shoulder)

25 June 1915 Posted to UK for recovery from wound

29 July 1915 Posted to 3rd Btn. Suffolk Regt. - Acting Company Sergeant Major

1 March 1916 Extended his service to complete 21 years Army Service

8 April 1916 Received his Commission to be Second Lieutenant 3rd Btn. Suffolk Regt.

25 April 1916 Joined his Battalion at Salonika, Greece

8 October 1917 Promoted to Lieutenant – (Gazette 7 Feb 1918)

3 June 1918 Awarded the Military Cross for “distinguished conduct in the field”

8 August 1918 Posted to UK for Leave.

29 October 1918 Joined G.H.Q. Small Arms School as “Student”

21 November 1918 Posted as Lewis Gun Officer to 84th Punjabi Regt. serving in Russia

25 October 1919 Departed from Chanak, Dardenelles aboard HMT “Trent” for return to UK

11 November 1919 Confirmed by Officer I/C Infantry, Constantinople as removed from the active service list.

Ambush & Death

[The following has been pieced together from a variety of sources including British Army Records, and IRA memoirs, and I have tried merely to state the facts as I see them]. Dave Dixon.

At some stage following William Alfred's return to UK he was seconded to 1st Btn. Essex Regiment, and by 20th October 1920 he was stationed at Bandon Garrison, Co. Cork, Ireland, having just returned from 10 days home leave in Dover. His rank at this time was Lieutenant (Acting Captain).

On Friday 22nd October 1920 he was the officer in charge of a detachment of at least fourteen men from the Essex Regiment which left Bandon Garrison at 09.30hrs in two Crossley Army Lorries, bound for Cork. After travelling for about 30 minutes they had reached a place called Toureen (Tureen), halfway between the villages of Innishannon and Ballinhassig, where they were ambushed by men from the West Cork No. 3 Brigade, IRA, (about 40 in number), led by brigade O/C Charlie Hurley, with sections led by Liam Deasy and Tom Barry, who fired on them from both sides of the road. The first lorry seems to have escaped, but the second, (in which Captain Dixon was travelling), was stopped, and he descended from the lorry ordering his men to return the fire. As he did so he was wounded in the right shoulder. The gunfight continued for about twenty minutes during which time William was hit again, this time near the left nostril. This wound was immediately fatal.

The outcome of this ambush varies according to which account one reads, and I do not propose to favour either position in my analysis. [in times of conflict the first casualty is invariably “Truth”]. On Balance it seems that four, (possibly five), of the British Army soldiers, (including Captain Dixon), were dead and another four were wounded. A further six (including a Sergeant), were captured by the IRA but were released unharmed after being warned in no uncertain terms as to their future conduct with regard to their dealings with the Irish population.

The exact details vary, but it seems that the IRA relieved the Army detachment of all their guns and ammunition, including Captain Dixon's revolver. The lorry was then burned using petrol, the dead having first been pulled clear.

After the IRA men had left the scene a British Army relieving party retrieved the bodies of the dead to Bandon, and the wounded were taken by ambulance to Cork.

Military Court of Inquiry (In lieu of Inquest)

The court to establish the circumstances surrounding Captain Dixon's death was assembled 23 October 1920 at Victoria Barracks, Cork, Ireland, at the behest of Brigadier General H.W. Higginson, CB, DSO, Commanding Cork Garrison & 17th Infantry Brigade. The President was Major C.S. Reid, DSO, Royal Engineers, assisted by Lieutenant A.C.O. Greenwood, 2nd South Staffordshire Regiment, and Second Lieutenant C.R.P. Curtis Nuthall, 2nd Hampshire Regiment.

Evidence was given by Private 5998496 Albert James Taylor, and by Private 5998638 Richard Alfred Briggs, both of the 1st Btn. Essex Regiment, both of whom had been involved in the ambush. The two accounts are remarkably similar in structure and content, with no reference being made to the capture and subsequent release of British soldiers, the scale of the arms and ammunition taken, or to the burning of the lorry. My impression is that the record of the evidence given by these two Privates was the bare minimum required to enable the Court to reach its findings.

Evidence was next given by Doctor William Ormerod Welply, Civil Practitioner, Acting Medical Officer I/C Troops, Bandon. He examined Captain Dixon's body at the scene of the ambush and noted two gunshot wounds. The first was in the right shoulder and was considered by him as most likely caused by a rifle. He then says “The other wound was in the left nostril the direction being upwards, evidently penetrating the base of the brain – I should say that the wound had been inflicted by a bullet from a revolver, and in my opinion it was fired at close range. There was no wound of exit. The cause of death was Shock & Hemorrhage”.

The fourth witness was Lieutenant R. Curzon Hope, 1st Essex Regiment, who simply confirmed the personal details of William, his widow and child.

After due deliberation the court gave the following verdict on 28th October 1920: That the deceased, Lieutenant Alfred William Dixon, [sic], MC, Suffolk Regiment, attached 1st Essex Regiment, died at a spot midway between Innishannon and Ballinhassig, at about 1000hrs on Friday 22nd October 1920, as a result of gunshot wounds inflicted at the aforementioned time and place, and that the said deceased met his death whilst in the execution of his duty, at the hands of some person or persons unknown. They further stated that “such person or persons aforesaid are guilty of WILFUL MURDER”.

Funeral – 29 October 1920

William's body was brought back to Dover for burial. His funeral service began at St Paul's Catholic Church, Dover, where he had lain in state the night before. Father Grady officiated, and the coffin, with the Union Flag draped over it, was then carried on a gun carriage to St James Cemetery, Dover. The pall bearers were from the Essex regiment, and it was a funeral with full military honours, with a band from the 2nd battalion of the Royal Irish Fusiliers, and a party from the 1st battalion of the Royal Sussex Regiment firing three volleys over the grave. The Last Post was sounded. There were many mourners, including his wife and child, his sister, Mrs Hatton, and his brother, Alfred Dixon, who was musical director at the Lord Warden Hotel.

Afterwards

The financial cost of the funeral (£34.15s.0d) was initially met by William's widow, Ellen Mary, with the Army finally reimbursing her in full in November 1921, but only after she had argued that sixteen officers and men killed in Ireland shortly after the date of her husband's death had received a “Public Funeral”. (The gross value of William's entire estate was £104.14s.6d).

No provision was made by the Army or War Office for a gravestone, and the grave is unmarked. His widow was buried with him in the same plot in 1965.

William is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission in their Roll of Honour.

In 1924 his widow, staying in Folkestone with the family of his brother, Ernest Dixon, himself a fatality in the Great War, requested that William's name should go on the Dover Town Memorial. This request was turned down, because, although Lieutenant Dixon had served through the Great War, and had died in service, his death was not attributable to that War.

FAMILY INFORMATION PROVIDED BY DAVE DIXON

(Lifted straight off his website)

1. William Alfred DIXON, born 19 Mar 1881 in Dover (Kent), census 1881 at Mill Lane, Dover (Kent),census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 4 Crabble Avenue, River near Dover (Kent), occupation 1901 House Carpenter. Enlisted 1905 as a professional soldier. He served throughout the Great War, (being wounded in the first battle of Ypres), and for three years at Salonika, and also in Russia. He gained a rapid promotion for an invention in trench warfare. 1920 Lieutenant - Suffolk Regiment, died 22 Oct 1920 Killed in an ambush in Ireland - Aged 39. He married Ellen M. BURKE, 11 Sep 1903 in Dover (Kent).

Parents

2. William Alfred DIXON, born 1858 in Dover (Kent), baptized 15 May 1858 at Charlton Church, Dover (Kent), census 1861 at 11 Spring Gardens, Charlton, Dover (Kent), census 1871 at 11 Hartley Street, Dover (Kent), census 1881 at Mill Lane, Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent), occupation 1891 - 1901 Bricklayer. He married Esther BETTS, 23 Oct 1880 in Dover (Kent).

Children:

1. i William Alfred DIXON, born 19 Mar 1881 in Dover (Kent), census 1881 at Mill Lane, Dover (Kent),census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 4 Crabble Avenue, River near Dover (Kent), occupation 1901 House Carpenter. Enlisted 1905 as a professional soldier. He served throughout the Great War, (being wounded in the first battle of Ypres), and for three years at Salonika, and also in Russia. He gained a rapid promotion for an invention in trench warfare. 1920 Lieutenant - Suffolk Regiment, died 22 Oct 1920 Killed in an ambush in Ireland - Aged 39. He married Ellen M. BURKE, 11 Sep 1903 in Dover (Kent).

ii Alfred Thomas DIXON, born Abt 1882 in Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent), occupation 1901 Carpenters Apprentice, occupation 1920 Musical Director - Lord Warden Hotel, Dover.

iii Edith DIXON, born Abt 1883 in Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent).

iv Ethel DIXON, born Abt 1888 in Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent).

v Florence May DIXON, born Oct 1889 in Dover (Kent), baptized 17 Oct 1889 at St Bartholomew, Charlton, Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent). She married Arthur Herbert HATTON, Jun 1908 in Kensington (London).

vi Ernest Edward DIXON, born Mar 1892 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent), Second Lieutenant 168th Siege Bty, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died 9 Jun 1917 Killed in Action. Buried Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery – Grave IV. D. 2.

vii Muriel Alice DIXON, born Sep 1894 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

viii Violet Henrietta N. DIXON, born Sep 1896 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

ix Agnes Isabel V. DIXON, born Dec 1897 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

x Ada C. DIXON, born Abt 1899 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

xi Doris Edith DIXON, born Dec 1900 in Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

xii Emily Nellie DIXON, born Dec 1901 in Dover (Kent), baptized 3 Dec 1901 at St Andrew, Buckland, Dover (Kent).

3. Esther BETTS, born Abt 1859 in Dover (Kent), census 1881 at Mill Lane, Dover (Kent), census 1891 at 53 Odo Road, Dover (Kent), census 1901 at 5 St Andrews Terrace, Dover (Kent).

[Neil Clark]

Here is the gallant officer. And His MILITARY funeral -

[Neil Clark]

and the Times report on his death... (My good friend Chris Harley might want to see this)

[delta]

Well done to all

S

[chrisharley9]

Neil

the Private Reed mentioned as being killed with Captain Dixon

is actually

Name: REID

Initials: C W

Nationality: United Kingdom

Rank: Private

Regiment/Service: Essex Regiment

Unit Text: 1st Bn.

Date of Death: 22/10/1920

Service No: 5998619

Additional information: Son of Mr. W. C. Reid, of 42, Grant St., Battersea, London.

Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead

Grave/Memorial Reference: Screen Wall. B. 20. 511.

Cemetery: WANDSWORTH (EARLSFIELD) CEMETERY

Chris

[Neil Clark]

Chris,

Thanks for that helpful info, it will save me going on a wild goose chase....

All the best

Neil

[stiletto_33853]

Well done everyone.

R.I.P.

Andy