Harry Dixon
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Harry was born in 1896 in Retford and was the son of Charles and Amy Dixon, his father Charles died when he was very young in 1898 leaving his widow Amy to bring up their three children on her own. In the 1901 census Amy is shown living at 4 London Road , Retford with her two sons Leslie aged 6 years, Harry aged 4 years and daughter Annie aged 2 years. Both Leslie and Harry enlisted during the 'Great War' and their mothers pride turned to tragedy when first Harry was killed in action and then Leslie went missing in action and was later assumed to have been killed in action. Harry will was administered on 14th February 1917 ,it stated he lived at 4 London Road, Retford and was a private in the Cheshire Regiment and died on 08/10/1918 in France and that his estate value at £206, 19 shillings and 2 pence was left to his mother Amy.
Harry enlisted at Northwich, Cheshire and served with the 13th battalion Cheshire Regiment he was killed in action on 8th October 1918 , his body was never recovered and identified and his name is therefore commemorated on the Thiepval memorial.
Pte Harry Dixon , Retford Retford Times 2nd November 1916. GREATER LOVE We reget to record the death of Private Harry Dixon, younger son of the late Mr A Dixon and mrs Dixon, 4 London Road, Retford, which occurred as a result of wounds received in action on October 6th. The gallant lad, who was the grandson of the late Mrs C Dixon, tailor, was only 20 years of age, and enlisted last January in the Cheshire Regiment. Prior to enlisting he was serving an apprenticeship to gardening on Lord Barrymore's estate in Cheshire. mrs Dixon has received the following account of her son's death from one of his officers:- " I am very sorry to say that your son was killed on October 6th in the morning. He was working in the trench when a sniper's bullet hit him in the head. He died soon after, at 10.45am. He was a good lad, one of the best I had, and I want to express to you the sympathy of the officers, NCO's and men of his company in your sorrow." Captain the Rev, J D Heppie chaplain writes:- " May I offer my heartfelt sympathy with you and yours in your sad loss. I pray that God will strengthen you with the power of His Holy Spirit in your sorrow. These brave lads of ours are carrying out our Saviours example and precept, ' Greater love hath no man than this, that a man lay down his life for his friends' "
