DYSON, Frederick



No 19337, Private, Frederick DYSON
Aged 33


1st Battalion, Essex Regiment
Killed in Action on Thursday, 12th October 1916


Frederick Dyson was born in Clare (Risbridge Q4-1882 4A:660), son of George and Caroline DYSON (née BRUTY).

1891 census...Aged 8, he was at Nethergate Street,Clare with his father George DYSON [53] hay cutter; his mother Caroline [51] born Bocking; brothers Edmund [21] (hay cutter), Charles [19] (Post Office letter carrier), John [17] (butcher's labourer)and George [10]; sister Kate [14]. All except his mother were born in Clare.

1901 census...Aged 19, a chemist's porter, he was at Nethergate Street, Clare with his parents (mother now recorded as born Cavendish); brothers Goerge (haycutter) and sister Kate (laundress).

He married Fanny Elizabeth CLARKE in 1909 in Clare.

1911 census...Aged 28, a groom.gardener, he was at Nethergate Street Clare with his wife Fanny Elizabeth [28] born Stoke by Clare and their daughter Ella Elizabeth [1] born Clare. His parents and sister Kate were still in Nethergate Street. His mother had lost 2 of her 11 children and she died in 1915


He enlisted in Southend-on-Sea when resident in Leigh-on-Sea. So far it is not known when he moved to Leigh-on-Sea.He had fought in the Gallipoli campaign.
The battalion war diary 12th Oct 1916:-
" 2 am on 12th inst W and X Coys in firing line in front of Gueudecourt, Y and Z Coys in support in SUNKEN ROAD. Two front line companies fighting.1 company was in light order? Two support companies consolidating x-x? Zero was at 2:05 pm. W and X companies at zero advanced behind our barrage and took 1st objective followed by Y and Z Coys. On gaining 1st objective, half Z Coy under Lt Eastwood reinforced X Coy. Remainder of Y and Z Coys swung left handed as first objective there had not been gained by 7th Suffolk Regiment. They came under heavy shell fire and machine gun fire and endeavoured to dig in shell holes. The attack here was held up and these Coys x--x? until 5:30 pm when they retired and reorganised in our original front line. Meanwhile W and X companies dealt with the Germans in dugouts and first objective, killing about 300 and capturing 60 Germans. They then advanced from 1st to 2nd objective and at about half way came under heavy machine gun and rifle fire from front and flanks. At about that point 15 Germans appeared from a dug out and showed signs of surrendering. One German however jumped on Lt Eastwood who shot him with his revolver.Lt Carolin then came up and shot him also, the remainder of the Germans were then killed. Both Company commanders Capt Foster and Lt Carolin then found they had no troops on either flank and so were unable to advance. These two companies then gradually retired in waves to 1st objective and then back to original front line where they reorganised"


CWGC Records show 87 were killed, of which 65 have no known grave and are named on the Thiepval Memorial.
Frederick was found at 57c.N.21.a.21(? no 6th digit), north of Gueudecourt, identified by a cross on his grave but wrongly attributed to 3rd Battalion, Essex. He was transferred to Bancourt in 1919


He was initially buried in this area






photo:Rodney Gibson



Frederick Dyson is buried in Bancourt British Cemetery, grave 9:L:10

click here to go to the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website for full cemetery/memorial details


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