Joseph Dixon
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
Joseph was born in Eaton in 1881 and was the son of Henry a general labourer and Emma Wright Dixon,(nee French ) of 7, Thrumpton Lane, Retford, Notts. Their other children were William, Joseph, Frederick, Herbert and Doris. In the 1901 census the family are living at the Royal Oak ,South Street Ordsall Joseph is 20 years of age and works as a railway carriage and wagon examiner.
Joe was one of the first men to enlisted at Retford under the Lord Derby scheme , however he was not released from his work until June 1917. At first he served with service number 203736 with the North Staffords Regiment but was later transferred to the 4th battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment. He went to France in October 1917, he was killed in action on 10th April 1918 and he is buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium
An article in The Retford Times dated 7th June 1918 , states : - Pte Joe Dixon South Staffs Mr Henry Dixon of Thrumpton Lane, Retford has received information that his son Pte Joe Dixon of South Staffs is missing after an engagement in the field. He was one of the first in Retford to enlist under Lord Derby's scheme, but was not liberated from service with the GN Railway Co until June last year. He went to France in October last year and saw a lot of hard fighting. He was a fitter labourer and formerly a verger at St Albans Church. He is a single man 37 years of age. The last letter received from him by his friends was dated 2nd April 1918.
