The six sons of William and Ellen Dyer.

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I recently came across a small collection of trimmed post card photographs of various soldiers who appear to have a family resemblance. With the exception of one photograph which had some details for a newspaper article, none were named. Using the details on the back of the photograph I have been able to identify the majority and tell their stories.

Edited 30 July , 2021 by high wood

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From the 1901 census I was able to find their names.

1901 Census.

29 Infirmary Road, Blackburn.

William H Dyer. Head. 42. H.M. Inland Revenue. Born. Gloucester: Bristol

Ellen Dyer. Wife. 39. Born. Gloucester: Bristol

John W. Dyer. Son. 18. Apprentice iron monger. Born. Gloucester: Bristol. (John William).

Nora Dyer. Daughter. 16. Assistant fancy goods business. Born. Gloucester: Bristol

Albert Dyer. Son. 15. Born. Ireland. (Albert Henry).

Frank Dyer. Son. 13. Born. Ireland. (Frank Herbert).

Barbara Dyer. Daughter. 7. Born. Devon: Portsmouth

Walter Dyer. Son. 5. Born. Devon: Portsmouth. (Walter Hamblett).

Ernest Dyer. Son. 4. Born. Devon: Portsmouth

Harold. Dyer. Son. 3. Born. Devon: Portsmouth. (Arthur Harold)

 

 

By 1911 the family had moved to 35 Summerhill Road, St. George. Bristol.

1911 Census.

35 Summerhill Road, Bristol.

William Henry Dyer. Head. 52. H.M. Civil Service. Government Worker. Born. Bristol, Glos.

Ellen Dyer. Wife. 48 or 52. House management. Born. Bristol, Glos.

Albert Edward Dyer. Son. 24. Mechanic general tobacco worker. Born Billy, Co Antrim.

Frank Dyer. Son. 23. Engraver art department, fine arts, worker. Born. Ballymoorcarrelt, Co Down

Barbara Dyer. Daughter. 17. None, intended for school profession, scholastic. Born. Wednesfield, Stafford.

Walter Hamblett Dyer. Son. 16. Student. Born. Dartmouth, Devon.

Ernest Dyer. Son. 15. None. Bookseller and assistant if suitable. Born. Dartmouth, Devon.

Arthur Harold Dyer. Son. 14. Scholar. Born. Dartmouth, Devon.

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The eldest son.

John William Dyer. Gunner. 105261. Royal Garrison Artillery.

Edited 30 July , 2021 by high wood

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The second son. Albert Henry Dyer.

Albert Henry Dyer. Pte. 2316 TF, 200469. 1/4th Btn. Gloucestershire Regiment. To France 31st March 1915. Later WO2 (C.Q.M.S.). Awarded the Meritorious Service Medal, New Year’s Honours 1919. I cannot be sure of which of the two brothers in the photographs is which as both Albert Henry and Frank Herbert served in the same Territorial battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. Unfortunately there are no corroborating photographs in the local paper.

The third son. Frank Herbert Dyer. Pte. 2760 TF. Gloucestershire Regiment. To France 31^st March 1915. Died of Wounds, 30^th May 1915 age 28. Buried at the Lancashire Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

Western Press 5^th June 1915.

Killed in Action.

Dyer. Shot in trenches, Belgium, May 31^st and died in brother’s arms immediately. Frank Dyer, of 6^th Gloucestershire Regiment; and 35 Summer Hill Road, St George.

This implies that both brothers served together in the 1/6th battalion Gloucestershire Regiment T.F.  Albert Henry certainly appears to have transferred to the 1/4th battalion at some point.

The fourth son. Walter Hamblett Dyer. Pte. DM2/155047. Army Service Corps. Born 1894.

Edited 30 July , 2021 by high wood

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The fifth son. 

Ernest Dyer. Pte 14273. 12th Battalion Gloucestershire Regiment. (Bristol’s Own). To France 21st November 1915. Killed in Action 29th July 1916. Longueval. (C.W.G.C. states 30th July 1916). Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.

Western Press 9th August 1916.

Dyer. Killed in Action, July 29th, Ernest Dyer, 5th son of Mr and Mrs Dyer, 35, Summerhill Road, St George. “Who dies if England lives?”.

Western Press. 16th August 1916.

Private Ernest Dyer.

The following letter announced the death of Private Ernest Dyer of the Gloucesters to his parents :-

“Dear Mr and Mrs Dyer, it is deeply to our regret to inform you of the death of Ernest which occurred on the evening of Saturday July 29th.

“You may find some consolation in the knowledge that he died the death of a hero. He had bravely volunteered to take a message to our most advanced point, and had almost achieved his undertaking when he was struck by a German bullet. At some future date you may learn, we hope, all the details of his death from those who were near at hand. We who have been all together, both through training and active service, have invariably found him a most cheery and sociable comrade, and greatly mourn his death.

“Knowing all the sacrifices you have made for King and country, all the platoon join with us in this expression of deepest sympathy. The appended names are those of his most intimate friends, who wish to be especially identified in sending their condolences. Unhappily there are others who, but for their ‘absence’ would be associated with us in writing to you.

“In conclusion, we pray that god, will strengthen you to bear the tragic blow, remembering that Ernest feared God and honoured the King.

“We remain yours very sincerely,

H. J. Hayward, F. R. Short, T. E. Lacey, C. H. Wright. H. G. Venning, A. Scribbens, G. Sumsion, W. H. Chapple, G. E. Barnfield, W. C. Harman, W. Webber.” *

Private Dyer was a son of Mr W. H. Dyer (Customs and Excise) and Mrs Dyer, of 35 Summerhill Road, St George, whose six sons volunteered. After being rejected in August he joined the battalion directly it was formed. A brother, Private F. Dyer, of the Gloucesters, was killed in France in May, 1915; another, Private A. H. Dyer, of the Somersets, has been “posted missing” since the advance of July 1. Sergeant A. Dyer, also of the Gloucesters, has just left hospital after being wounded in France last May. Private W. H. Dyer is in France with M.T. A.S.C., and Gunner J. W. Dyer is in the R.G.A., stationed at present at Dover.

 

*Within five weeks of Ernest Dyer's death, two of his comrades who signed the letter of condolence to his parents were themselves killed in action. (I have not been able to find medal index cards for all of those named

H. J. Hayward, 14392 Pte Frederick Rowland Short. (S.W.B.), 14337 Pte. Tom Edward Lacey, 14429 Pte. Charles Harold Wright. (S.W.B.), 16542 Pte Henry George Venning, later 532372 Labour Corps, A. Scribbens, 14393 Pte. Gerald Sumsion. KiA 3rd September 1916, 14638 Pte. William H. Chapple, later 34195 Devonshire Regt., G. E. Barnfield, 14300 Sgt. William Cecil Harman, KiA 3rd September 1916, 14430 Pte. William T. Webber, later 18243 Army Pay Corps.

 

This photograph is the very same one that was sent to the Western Press to feature in the article.

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The last and youngest son.

Arthur Harold Dyer. Pte. 11676. 1st Battalion Somerset Light Infantry. To France 1st June 1915. Killed in Action 1st July 1916 whilst advancing towards Serre. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme.