Robert Henry Charles Dixon was born on 13 October 1889 in Walworth, London, one of the five children of Robert Dixon (b.1862) and Annie Dixon née Cromwell (b. c1869). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1889 in the St Saviour Southwark Registration District, London. He was baptised on 10 November 1889 at St. Stephen's Church, Walworth, where the baptismal register confirms his date of birth, that the family were living at 147 Westmoreland Road, Walworth and that his father was a publican.
In the April 1891 census he is shown as aged 1 year, living in two rooms at 10 Bentinck Street, Westminster, with his parents and his elder sister, Annie Lillian Dixon (1887-1932). His father was described as a potman.
He was shown as aged 11 years in the March 1901 census, living in two rooms at 45 Hampden Street, Paddington with his parents and three siblings: Annie Lillian Dixon; William Edward Dixon (1896-1932) and Rosa Mary Dixon (1890-1966). His father was described as a house painter.
In November 1908 he was appointed as an Assistant Postman in North West London and in November 1910 he was promoted to Postman in London’s Western District Office.
When his father completed the April 1911 census return form, he was described as aged 21 years and a postman living at 6 Norfolk Crescent, Hyde Park, London, with his parents and both of his brothers: William Edward Dixon, who was a telegraph messenger and Charles Matthew Dixon (1904-1970) who was shown as 'at school'. His father continued to be listed as a house painter.
In April 1915 he joined the 1st/9th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment, (Queen Victoria’s Rifles), service number 4472. He was serving in his Battalion's 'D' Company when he died of wounds in the field, aged 27 years, on 7 October 1916 and is buried in Plot 1, Row N, Grave 16, at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, Somme, France.
By 28 April 1917 his army effects totalling £7-0s-3d had been sent to his father who was also sent his £6-0s-0d war gratuity on 2 October 1919. He was posthumously awarded the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Probate records show that his address had been 22 Bravington Road, Maida Hill, Middlesex (now Greater London) but it was not until 25 May 1925 that administration with a will was granted to his widowed mother when his effects totalled £149-19s-1d.
He is shown as DIXON, R. H. C. on the Western Postal District war memorial in Mount Pleasant, London, WC1. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website, on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website, on the A Street Near You website and on Page 102 in the Post Office Fellowship of Remembrance's Book of Remembrance 1914-1920.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
