John Dixon

He left Retford in February/March 1914 and enlisted on the 7th September 1914 which was his birthday at Wakefield. He had been wounded on one other occasion having been shot in the left lung on 30th July 1915. Having been evacuated through the various clearing stations and hospitals John spent time at St Leonard’s on sea and Clacton on Sea recuperating. Being declared fit he returned to France on 26th September 1916 and 22 days later on 18th November 1916 was reported as missing. It wasn’t until a further 13 months that his death was confirmed. It is highly likely that Pte John Dixon was killed in one of the last attacks of the Battle of the Somme in the attack on Serre which took place on 18th November 1916. He is buried in Serre Road Cemetery grave reference 111 C 20 Information on John Dixon has been provided courtesy of Alan Laurie

Pte John Dixon K.O.Y.L.I Retford Times 7th December 1917 A years suspense Pte John Dixon K.O.Y.L.I second son of Mr and Mrs Charles Dixon, Grove Street, Retford, was a year ago reported missing and on Tuesday last information was received from the War Office stating that his death was presumed to have taken place on November 18th 1916. The deceased soldier, who was 29 years of age, joined the colours on his birthday Sept 7th 1914, at Wakefield, where he was employed by the Gas Company. He left Retford six months before the war, having been for several years postman for the Gamston district. He was wounded on July 30th 1915, having been shot through the left ling while coming out of the trenches. He spent a long time at St Leonards-On-Sea and at Clacton on sea in recovering and eventually returned to France on Sept 26th 1916. An elder brother Sapper Fred Dixon (41) has been the whole of this year with the Royal Engineers at Salonika. Mr Charles Dixon is well known in Retford, having been for nearly 30 years with Messsrs Unsworth and Co Ltd. Sincere sympathy is felt with the bereaved parents.