Born: 2 June 1896, Undercliffe
Died: 14 April 1917
Buried: Bailleul Road East Cemetery, St Laurent-Blangy
Address: 2 Tunwell Lane, Eccleshill
Parents: Fred & Hannah, nee Bilborough
Spouse:
Siblings: Ida, John, Rose, Walter
Occupation: Gardener
Organisations/clubs: Eccleshill Cogregational Sunday School; Band of Hope
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Eccleshill, Park & St Luke’s
Children:
Regiment: 1 Bradford Pals
Harry Norman Dixon
Harry Norman Dixon was born on the
2nd of June 1896 in Undercliffe and
baptised on the 8th July 1896 at St Peter
Parish Church the son of Fred Dixon
born in 1871 and Hannah Dixon,
formerly Bilborough who was born in
Leeds in 1870. Fred was working as a
lamp porter.
In 1901 the family were living at 16
Westgate, Eccleshill. Fred was now a
railway porter and three children had
been born.
By 1911 the family had moved to 2
Tunwell Lane, Eccleshill and Fred was
employed at Smith Hutton as a beamer in
worsted. Harry at 14 years of age was working
as a piecer in a mill. Two more children had
been born.
When war broke out in 1914 Harry was working
as a gardener for Mr S W Vint of Briarfield in
Idle. He was a member of the
Eccleshill Congregational Sunday
School and a worker at the Band of
Hope.
He enlisted on the 5th December
1914 in the Machine Gun Corps as
Private 20303 and was transferred to
the 93rd Battalion of the MGC which
was formed in October 1915.
Harry was wounded in the left arm on
Easter Sunday 1916 and again in the
right arm on the first day of the Battle
of the Somme on the 1st of July.
He was killed in action on the 14th of April
1917 during the Arras Offensive which took
place between the 9th of April and the 16th of
June 1917. He was 20 years of age.
Corporal Willie Smith of Moorside Cottage,
Eccleshill, who was in the same Machine Gun
Corps, wrote to Harry’s parents to let them
know the circumstances of his death. “We were
waiting in a trench previous to an attack when
Harry and several others met their death by the
bursting of a shell.
“I cannot tell you how much I miss him for we
both came from the same place and were
transferred from the same Battalion and for
those reasons had a great deal in common. He
was liked by everyone in the Company for he
was always so bright and cheerful”.
Harry is buried on the Bailleul Road East
Cemetery in St Laurent-Blangy. This village
fell into the hands of the British on the 9th of
April 1917, the first day of the Battles of Arras
and the cemetery was begun by the 34th
Division.
At his father’s request Harry left his effects to
his mother Hannah who received £3.9.8d on the
23rd of August 1917 and a War Gratuity of
£10.10s on the 25th of October 1919.
Researched and written by Jean Britteon,
to whom many thanks
We are fortunate in having a
number of articles published about
Harry’s war as friends and family
passed on letters to the Shipley
Times & Express for publication.
14 January 1916
Pte Harry Dixon, of 2 Tunwell
Mount, who is with the 1st Pals
‘somewhere in the Mediterranean,’
has written home saying: “We
arrived safe and sound at our
destination after a very exciting
voyage. We were chased by a
submarine and things have been a
bit lively for us.
“On Christmas Eve I was on guard
in the trenches, watching for the
enemy, and my thoughts would
wander to what you were doing at
home.
“My fare for Christmas Eve was
not what one usually expects at that
season. It consisted of something
like a dog biscuit and some bully
beef. But we must expect such
things while on active service.”
25 February 1916
Writing to a friend from
‘Somewhere in Egypt’, Harry gave
a bit more detail about the
submarine attack: “I was heartily
glad to receive the parcel from the
Sunday School and being the first
chap in the regiment to do so, quite
a crowd collected round to see what
the contents were.
“It was a very agreeable change
from bully beef and biscuits.
Two submarines
“As you will perhaps be aware, we
had a very exciting voyage out,
although the sea was calm. One day
there was a tremendous bang. We
hurried up to find the cause and it
seems the lookout had spotted two
submarines, one of them being a
good distance away and the other
300 yards.
“The noise we had heard was the
first shot at the nearest submarine.
The gunner let fly a second shot
which just missed by a few yards
and then we saw a deadly torpedo
rushing along but it went wide of
the mark and the submarine
disappeared from view.
“Our captain put on full speed and
we escaped further attention.”
31 March 1916
Two weeks later, Harry wrote to a
friend: “Things have altered since I
wrote to you last for we are now
‘Somewhere in France.’
Desert march
“When we received our orders in
Egypt we had a ten miles march
across the desert in full pack.
“When we reached France we saw
a great number of German
prisoners working on the quay side
and on passing through the town,
were able to note the many
splendid buildings the place
possessed.
“At this place we are now resting
but are expecting being sent to the
firing line before long.”
21 April 1916
Pte Harry Dixon who is in France
with the 1st Bradford Pals writes:
“I have not had the pleasure of
going into the first line trenches yet
but some of the men have already
had that distinction.
“It’s far better being here than in
Egypt. There is always something
on the go. It is surprising to see the
number of motor transports and
Red Cross waggons whizzing along
the roads.
“It creates a bit of interest to see the
signs that are painted on them.
There are many “thumbs up” and
others with shamrocks painted on.
“It is fascinating watching our
aeroplanes hovering over the
German lines and to see the
Bosches wasting large quantities of
shells in a vain endeavour to bring
them down. It is as good as being at
the pictures.
“Our artillery is splendid and it is
really marvellous how quickly they
can get the range. We are being
well looked after as regards rations
whilst cigarettes are served out
every week.”
5 May 1916
The people who have grumbled at
the Bradford Pals having had a
good time while the other
regiments have been doing the
fighting can grumble no longer on
that score, for the Pals have been in
action and some have already made
the supreme sacrifice and others
have been wounded.
Mr and Mrs Fred Dixon, of 2
Tunwell Mount, Eccleshill, were
informed on Friday by field
postcard that their son, Pte Harry
Dixon, who is in the 1st Pals, was
wounded and an inmate of one of
the base hospitals.
Marvellous escape
On Saturday they received a letter
from their son in which he says:
“Don’t worry about me as I am
getting on well. I have had a
marvellous escape.
“There were four of us in the firing
line which is only 30 yards away
from the Germans and a shell
called a ‘Whiz-bang’ dropped right
into our trench on Easter Sunday
morning.
“I could not explain how it is I am
the lucky one for I was between
two of my chums and they were
killed at my feet. My other comrade
had one eye blown out and shrapnel
also entered his chest and I regret to
say he died a few hours after.
“I was knocked over by the same
shell but got up and walked to the
dressing station.
“I was wounded in the left arm and
after my injury had been attended
to, I was conveyed by Red Cross
motor to another station. I am now
in a rest camp and the chaplain has
already been to see me.
Bit shaky
“I am sorry to say that we lost
seven men during the four days we
were in the trenches. It rained the
whole time we were there and we
had to stand in three feet of water.
“I am getting on well but as you
may expect from me having such a
narrow escape, I am a bit shaky yet
with my nerves.”
Pte Dixon enlisted in the Pals soon
after its formation and had his
training at Skipton and Ripon and
was sent to Egypt.
14 July 1916
Pte Harry Dixon of 2 Tunwell
Mount, has received a bayonet
wound in the right arm and is now
in hospital within ten miles of
England. Pte Dixon is one of the
1st Bradford Pals.
22 September 1916
Pte Harry Dixon, who was
wounded a few months ago has
now recovered and gone back to
the trenches.