Below are three more stories of WW1 Winterton soldiers whose names have been approved by Winterton Town Council, for addition to the war memorial. Sadly, more will appear in forthcoming issues of the Out 'n About magazine.
27828 Private Walter Dixon - 1st Battalion, East Yorkshire Regiment
Walter was born on 4th October 1875, in Winterton, and was the son of Robert & Ann Elizabeth DIXON. The 1881 census shows the family had moved to Hull.
Walter’s service record hasn’t survived, but he enlisted in Hull and was killed in action on 9th April 1917 at Adinfer Wood, aged 41. At the time he was described as being the brother of Mrs Florence Williamson, of Howsham, Lincolnshire. He is buried in Cojeul British Cemetery, St Martin-sur-Cojeul, France. The war diary reads: “9th April – Details remained in Adinfer Wood. Btn: attacked in afternoon. High wind and occasional snow. Btn: carried 1st objective, but not 2nd and proceeded to consolidate.”
The battalion took part in the Arras Battle. “The Battalion had the distinction of being the right of the whole line. It was temporarily held up by the wire of the Hindenburg line, which, on our brigade front, had been very slightly damaged. But Lieut. Pisa and his gallant trench mortar men blew a gap, and the Battalion got through and seized the front German line, Pisa was killed in this fine bit of work. The Division on our left failed, and consequently the Brigade front was an island in the Hindenburg line; but it took the Germans twenty-four hours to turn us out, after constant bombing, which ended with a tornado of “pineapple” shells from mortars, specially brought up for a big counter-attack.”
Walter Dixon was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
UPDATE - After publishing Walter Dixon's story in the last issue, our Editor was contacted by his family who have kindly supplied the only known photo of Walter. His service record has since come to light.
Walter’s service record hasn’t survived, but he enlisted in Hull and was killed in action on 9th April 1917 at Adinfer Wood, aged 41. At the time he was described as being the brother of Mrs Florence Williamson, of Howsham, Lincolnshire. He is buried in Cojeul British Cemetery, St Martin-sur-Cojeul, France. The war diary reads: “9th April – Details remained in Adinfer Wood. Btn: attacked in afternoon. High wind and occasional snow. Btn: carried 1st objective, but not 2nd and proceeded to consolidate.”
The battalion took part in the Arras Battle. “The Battalion had the distinction of being the right of the whole line. It was temporarily held up by the wire of the Hindenburg line, which, on our brigade front, had been very slightly damaged. But Lieut. Pisa and his gallant trench mortar men blew a gap, and the Battalion got through and seized the front German line, Pisa was killed in this fine bit of work. The Division on our left failed, and consequently the Brigade front was an island in the Hindenburg line; but it took the Germans twenty-four hours to turn us out, after constant bombing, which ended with a tornado of “pineapple” shells from mortars, specially brought up for a big counter-attack.”
Walter Dixon was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
UPDATE - After publishing Walter Dixon's story in the last issue, our Editor was contacted by his family who have kindly supplied the only known photo of Walter. His service record has since come to light.
267839 Rifleman Arthur John Rhodes - 1st/7th Battalion, Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Arthur was born on 27th May 1888, King Street, Winterton, Lincolnshire, and was the son of Thomas & Martha RHODES. The 1891 census shows that he was living with his parents in King Street, Winterton and by 1901 had moved to Sculcoates, Hull. In 1911 Arthur was living with his mother at 166 Newland Avenue, Hull.
Arthur’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Hull. The Red Cross Enquiry List of Dec 1st 1918, records “267839 A J Rhodes of A Coy, 7th West Yorks posted missing between April 14th and April 16th 1918”. The battalion at that point was in the vicinity of Wytschaete (now called Wijtschate), Belgium, and this was captured by the Germans on 16th April 1918. Arthur died of wounds on 18th April 1918, aged 29, as a prisoner of war at Wervicq-Sud, France and is buried in Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Arthur’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Hull. The Red Cross Enquiry List of Dec 1st 1918, records “267839 A J Rhodes of A Coy, 7th West Yorks posted missing between April 14th and April 16th 1918”. The battalion at that point was in the vicinity of Wytschaete (now called Wijtschate), Belgium, and this was captured by the Germans on 16th April 1918. Arthur died of wounds on 18th April 1918, aged 29, as a prisoner of war at Wervicq-Sud, France and is buried in Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
12986 Gunner Henry Clegg - “C” Bty, 307th Bde, Royal Field Artillery
Henry was born on 1st February 1883, Park Street, Winterton, Lincolnshire, and was the son of Charles and Hannah CLEGG. In 1891 the family had moved to Doncaster, and by 1901 Henry was living with his mother in Wheatley, Doncaster. The 1911 census shows Henry residing at 87 Wheatley Lane, Doncaster.
Henry’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Wakefield and entered Egypt on 1st July 1915. He was killed in action on 6th May 1918, aged 35. At the time he was described as being the son of Mrs Hannah Town, of 87, Wheatley Lane, Doncaster, Yorks. Henry is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
The war diary reads: “6th May 1918 - In the field MAP REF 36 A SE 1,20,000. Our fire was considerable, besides usual harassing fire, three concentration shorts were carried out during the day on selected areas. Hostile artillery active V6 about C/301 position being subjected to 3 different areas. Shorts during this day causing 5 casualties to C/307. B/317 did not fire owing to another gun going out of action.”
Henry was posthumously awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Henry’s service record hasn’t survived but he enlisted in Wakefield and entered Egypt on 1st July 1915. He was killed in action on 6th May 1918, aged 35. At the time he was described as being the son of Mrs Hannah Town, of 87, Wheatley Lane, Doncaster, Yorks. Henry is buried in Lillers Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
The war diary reads: “6th May 1918 - In the field MAP REF 36 A SE 1,20,000. Our fire was considerable, besides usual harassing fire, three concentration shorts were carried out during the day on selected areas. Hostile artillery active V6 about C/301 position being subjected to 3 different areas. Shorts during this day causing 5 casualties to C/307. B/317 did not fire owing to another gun going out of action.”
Henry was posthumously awarded the 1915 Star, British War Medal and the Victory Medal.