DIXON, Neville Wilburn


15883, Private, Neville Wilburn DIXON
Aged 20


7th Battalion, Lincolnshire Regiment
Died of Illness on 10th November 1918

Neville Wilburn DIXON was born in Doncaster (Doncaster Q2 -1898 9C:821), son of Harry Knight and Clarissa Frances DIXON (née WILBURN).


1901 census...Aged 2, he was at 11 High Street, Doncaster with his widower grandfather Arthur WILBURN [60] an upholsterer/decorator and Wesleyan lay preacher, born Doncaster; his father Harry K DIXON [30] assistant in upholsterer's shop, born Retford, Notts; his mother Clarissa F [30] born Doncaster; and a cousin Martha CRUMP [19] born Westwoodside, Lincs.

1911 census...Aged 12,he was at Rutland Villa, Long Lane, Gainsborough, Lincs. boarding with school master Edward Samuel LETTS and his wife Florence and their son and daughter.
His parents (father now a grocer/draper) were at Gringley on the Hill, Doncaster with his sister Frances Mary [5] and brother Eric Edwin [4 months], both born in Gringley on the Hill.

Another sister, Bessie, was born in East Retford, Notts in 1912 and his parents later moved to 3, Arthur Road, Gainsborough.
He was educated at Gainsborough Grammar School and then the East Anglian School in Bury St.Edmunds. He entered an apprenticeship with H.C. Lee (chemist) Silver Street , Gainsborough.


He enlisted in March 1915 in Gainsborough, Lincs, when he must have lied about his age. "Soldiers Died", incorrectly, has him born in Gainsborough. He died of bronchial pneumonia in No.45 Casualty Clearing Station at Awoingt. His legatee was Miss Lilian DUKE.

The Gainsborough News of 22nd November 1918 reported:-
DIXON, N.W. Pte. Lincolns
We regret to have to record the loss of Pte Neville W. Dixon, another Gainsborough boy, the son of Mr & Mrs H K Dixon of 3 Arthur Road and late of Gringley on the Hill. Pte Dixon was one of those brave lads who felt the call of his country in the early stages of the war and joined up in March 1915 when only 16 years of age. After 4 months training in the Lincolns he was sent to Gallipoli where he received a gunshot wound to the knee which invalided him to the Palace Hospital in Cairo.
In June 1916 he was called to France with many others and was present at Messines Ridge in 1917 and was gassed at Loos in March 1918 and was sent to England. On recovering he went to Ireland and to France in September last. Towards the end of October he was the victim of the influenza which turned to Bronchial Pneumonia and terminally fatal, in spite of the best nursing possible in the 45th Casualty clearing hospital on November 10th.
Pte N Dixon was educated at the Gainsborough Grammar school, finishing at the East Anglia School, Bury St Edmunds and afterwards was apprenticed with Mr H C Lee of Silver Street. He was a bright and cheery disposition which helped him through many depressing circumstances and his many friends will regret that a career so full of promise has been thus suddenly ended. In the midst of the great rejoicing it is exceptionally hard for the parents, who having been looking forward to their boy's safe return receive instead the notification of his death, we are sure that everyone's sympathy goes out to this and any such cases in the neighbourhood.






photo: Rodney Gibson



Neville Dixon is buried in Awoingt British Cemetery, grave 3:D:11

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


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