Trying to find information on one of my great grandfathers brothers.

[Daniel Dixon]

Hi all, my great grandfathers brother was called John Dixon, born 1893 in West Hartlepool. He was in the Royal Navy between 1911 and 1916 but in his notes it shows he ran from Vivid II. It shows as Vivid II (Attack) in 1916. 

I can't find anymore information on this relative although his brothers Edward and Joseph served in the Merchant navy.

Would there be anymore records to find on him? I only found 1 sheet.

Edited 23 September by Daniel Dixon
Spelling.

[KizmeRD]

He was a Stoker who seems to have disappeared out of the navy after going on the run (deserting) from HMS Attack (destroyer) in December 1916.

Should be a mention of him in the Police Gazette - deserters and absentees.

MB

Edited 23 September by KizmeRD

[Daniel Dixon]

30 minutes ago, KizmeRD said:

He was a Stoker who seems to have disappeared out of the navy after going on the run (deserting) from HMS Attack (destroyer) in December 1916.

Should be a mention of him in the Police Gazette - deserters and absentees.

MB

Thanks, I did have a look but I can't seem to find him, I don't think he was an electrician but I could be wrong.

[DavidOwen]

1 minute ago, Daniel Dixon said:

Thanks, I did have a look but I can't seem to find him, I don't think he was an electrician but I could be wrong.

Unless he was living in Staines and was a Reservist not yet reported for duty then it isn't him. I can't find him either.

According to the RNVR medal roll he ran 31/1/1915? 

Image courtesy FMP

[Daniel Dixon]

14 minutes ago, DavidOwen said:

Unless he was living in Staines and was a Reservist not yet reported for duty then it isn't him. I can't find him either.

According to the RNVR medal roll he ran 31/1/1915? 

Image courtesy FMP

Yeah I don't believe that's him. I found the record on Ancestry.

His service number was K13173 and he was a miner from West Hartlepool according to the documents. It says 18th December 1916 " Run "

 

 

[DavidOwen]

OK - ignore my suggestion above then.

To help others - what do you already know about him?

[horatio2]

Per RN Medal Roll, he was entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio of medals, all being forfeited as a deserter. Prior to desertion he had a poor disciplinary record, with four spells in cells.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum holds his engagement papers. You could apply for a copy (charges apply).

[Daniel Dixon]

5 minutes ago, DavidOwen said:

OK - ignore my suggestion above then.

To help others - what do you already know about him?

Next to nothing, only found this 1 record which I believe to be himself. His father died in 1904 and the family broke apart. Edward Dixon, my great grandfather, was a marine donkeyman, as was his brother Joseph... he is on the 1901 census in Hartlepool at Mainsforth Terracewith mother Rose Ann and father Joseph. In 1904 his father slit his own throat in a suicide. They had another brother, William Dixon, born 1902 who was a notorious criminal, and fired a gun at a police officer in 1926. Quite the family by all accounts, I believe they all where in trouble with the police at some point or another.

1 minute ago, horatio2 said:

Per RN Medal Roll, he was entitled to a 1914-15 Star trio of medals, all being forfeited as a deserter. Prior to desertion he had a poor disciplinary record, with four spells in cells.

The Fleet Air Arm Museum holds his engagement papers. You could apply for a copy (charges apply).

Thanks, I'll be sure to check it out, I have been looking for newspaper articles on him as i'm sure there would be, difficult to track down unfortunately.

[PRC]

HMS Attack didn't go to the Mediterranean until 1917, so if he did a runner in December 1916 it was while the destroyer was still based, (I believe), out of Harwich.

So if he is anywhere at least it is likely to be the UK.

Have you tried working back from the 1921 Census of England & Wales, (FindMyPast only) and the 1939 Register, (FindMyPast and Ancestry).

I don't subscribe but the 1921 Census has two John Dixon's, estimated year of birth 1892, with a West Hartlepool connection. One is born and resident there, (other household members shown in the preview as "Agnes, Hilda and one other"), and the second born Hartlepool and resident West Hartlepool, (other household members Hannah, James and 1 other). By that stage my understanding is that WW1 era deserters weren't being actively pursued unless other crimes were involved so not much reason for him to remain in hiding.

Cheers,
Peter

[Daniel Dixon]

10 minutes ago, PRC said:

HMS Attack didn't go to the Mediterranean until 1917, so if he did a runner in December 1916 it was while the destroyer was still based, (I believe), out of Harwich.

So if he is anywhere at least it is likely to be the UK.

Have you tried working back from the 1921 Census of England & Wales, (FindMyPast only) and the 1939 Register, (FindMyPast and Ancestry).

I don't subscribe but the 1921 Census has two John Dixon's, estimated year of birth 1892, with a West Hartlepool connection. One is born and resident there, (other household members shown in the preview as "Agnes, Hilda and one other"), and the second born Hartlepool and resident West Hartlepool, (other household members Hannah, James and 1 other). By that stage my understanding is that WW1 era deserters weren't being actively pursued unless other crimes were involved so not much reason for him to remain in hiding.

Cheers,
Peter

Hi mate, good to know, it gives me somewhere else to look as well as he might have stayed down south. I know his family don't show up on the census records in 1921 because they lived in a place in Middlesbrough called Davidson's yard around that time, it was basically a slum, and I don't believe any census where carried out in that area.

I have checked the 2 aforementioned census, the 1921 ones, and it's definitely not the right ones, it just doesn't add up. As for the 1911 census, I can't find the entire family on it, I assume after their father died they all ended up all over as their Mam was a drunk.

Will keep looking.

 

Cheers

Dan

[KizmeRD]

There’s also a possibility (at least) that John Dixon switched identity papers (discharge book) with one of his brothers and secured alternative employment in the mercantile marine.

MB

[Daniel Dixon]

5 hours ago, KizmeRD said:

There’s also a possibility (at least) that John Dixon switched identity papers (discharge book) with one of his brothers and secured alternative employment in the mercantile marine.

MB

That is true, it could have happened, although I did find both Edward and Joseph on 1939 registers are marine donkeymen. I'm thinking he might have changed his name completely and went on the run after desertion.