Born: 1895
Died: 25 July 1916, Somme
Buried:
Address: 2 Angel Street, Baildon
Parents: Joseph & Sarah Ann
Spouse:
Siblings: John Wm, Arthur, Frances
Occupation: Glass cutter, E Lister & Co
Organisations/clubs:
Military
Rank: Pte
Medals/awards:
Rolls of Honour: Baildon Moravian Chapel; Thiepval Memorial
Children:
Regiment: 1/6 Prince of Wales Own
Frederick Selby Dyson
On 25 May 1915 the Shipley Times
& Express published an extract
from a letter Fred had written home
from the trenches.
He said: ‘We have had a day of
hard fighting. It started at one
o’clock this morning and has gone
on practically all day. I don’t think
this battle is finished yet.
‘We have been in what they call the
“Devil’s Orchard” or “Hell’s
Corner” and I can tell you we are
glad and thankful to get out of it
with the few killed and wounded
we have.
We have only one man wounded in
our section but other sections have
had one killed and two injured.
‘We have been moved a little
further away from the dreadful
place and are expecting to be
relieved tomorrow.
‘The next parcel you send please
include some soap and a few
“Union Jacks” or “Boys’ Realms”
as we are short of reading matter.
Please thank Mr and Mrs Bland for
the cigarettes they sent me and send
on some cakes as we are practically
living on biscuits out here.’
On 11 August 1916, Fred was one
of the men featured in the latest toll
of Somme casualties:
Pte F S Dyson of the West Yorks
Regt and youngest son of Mr J
Dyson, plumber of 2 Angel St,
Baildon, has been killed in action.
He was 21 years of age and before
enlisting worked for Messrs E
Lister & Co, glass merchants.
Lieut W G Tetley, commander of
deceased’s company, in a letter to
Mr Dyson says: ‘It is with deep
regret that I write to inform you of
the death of your son Fred.
‘He was one of a team of Lewis
gunners who were told off to hold a
very important post in our lines and
last evening about seven o’clock a
high explosive shell from the
German battery burst right on top
of them, instantly killing your son
and four others and wounding the
remainder of the team.
‘We all feel the death of your son
most keenly. He was always
cheerful and bright and a very
efficient member of the Lewis gun
section.
‘On behalf of the officers, non-
commissioned officers and men of
the company, I beg to tender our
heart-felt sympathy with you in
your great loss.’
His older brother, John William
Dyson, was killed the following
August
