Fred DIXON

13 October 1916

THREE MEMBERS OF A CROSSHILLS FAMILY WOUNDED

On the 6th of October Mrs. Dixon, of New Zealand, Crosshills, received a communication from the War Office, saying that her son, Private Fred Dixon, had been wounded. Mrs. Dixon has heard nothing since, either from her son or the Military authorities. The last letter she received from her son was on the 12th of September. Private Dixon was in the Duke of Wellington’s Regiment, and took part in the fighting in the Dardanelles. He afterwards went with his Regiment to Egypt, and from there to France.

Another member of the family, Private John Dixon, is in the Chatham Military Hospital, as the result of a bombing accident. Some 223 men of the Royal Naval Division were engaged in live grenade practice in June last under Lieutenant H.J. Luckham. Petty Officer Place was instructing the men. He was an experienced grenade thrower, having had considerable experience in Gallipoli. Five men were in a trench at a time, together with Lieutenant Luckham and the Petty Officer. One of the men named O’Neill, was in the act of throwing a grenade, when, by some unaccountable means, due, it was thought to nervousness, it slipped out of his hands and fell short. Both the lieutenant and the petty officer realised the danger they were in. Place immediately caught hold of O’Neill and thrust him out of danger’s way, and also Private Dixon, who was struck by one of the missiles. The petty officer, who hailed from Leeds, was killed. Private Dixon was sent to Portland Military Hospital, and was there until a fortnight ago, when he was transferred to Chatham.

Another brother, Private Ernest Dixon, was wounded at St. Julien about a year ago. Pte. Dixon was in the York and Lancasters when war broke out, having enlisted in June 1914, and went out to Flanders about six months after the outbreak of war. Immediately on arrival, they were in the thick of the fighting, and took part in the battle of St. Julien with the contingent of Canadians. Private Dixon had his right eye blown out by a bullet, and whilst he lay wounded on the field, he received three more wounds from shrapnel bullets in the arm and leg. Private Dixon was sent to the base hospital at Boulogne, afterwards receiving treatment at hospitals in this country.

05 January 1917

FARNHILL – IN MEMORY OF THE BRAVE

On Sunday a memorial service was held in the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Farnhill, for Pte. H. Walmsley (who death was recorded a fortnight ago in this paper), and for all who have given their lives for their country, especially for Joseph Green, Fred Dixon, Tom Allsop and Joseph Smith, who were old scholars of the Primitive Methodist Sunday School. The Rev. J.E. Woodfield preached a very touching sermon. There was a very large congregation, amongst whom were the members of the Volunteer Force under the command of Captain Alfred Clough, Sutton, members of the band, and a number of old scholars. An augmented choir sang the anthem ‘Our trust is in the Lord’ with great effect. Being the National Intercession Sunday, the prayers used were those provided on the form of service for the day. At the conclusion the ‘Last Post’ was sounded by Mr. Gordon Fowlds, a member of the Keighley Volunteer Force.