Pte 16069 William Dickinson

• Age: 19
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• D.O.W Monday 24th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Abbeville Cc
  Panel Ref: VI.A.4

William Dickinson was born 3rd September 1896 in Liverpool and baptised 9th November 1896 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool. He was the second son of William Dickinson and his wife Mary Ellen (nee McCormack) of 26 Sudley Road, Aigburth. His parents had married 3rd August 1891 in Walton.

1901 Census - 50 Domby Street, Toxteth Park - Parents Willam and Mary E with children Ethel, Archibald, William and Robert C.

1911 Census - 25 Lisbuyrn Street, Aigburth - Parents with children Ethel, Archibald, William, Robert C and Thomas Leslie.

He was educated at Sudley Road School and Oulton Secondary School.

On leaving school he was employed by Messrs WB Sinclair & Co and later by Union Marine Insurance Company. He was a member of Mossley Hill Choir Old Boys FC and also Aigburth Baptist Cricket Club.

William enlisted on 31st August 1914 at St George's Hall in Liverpool, joining the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 16069. He gave his age as 18 years and his occupation as a clerk. He was five feet six and half inches tall, weighed 12lbs, fresh complexion, hazel coloured eyes and light brown hair.  

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14^th September 1914, he trained there and also at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 17th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. 

He embarked for France with his battalion on the 07th November 1915.

He was wounded between 10-12/07/1916, and was admitted to 96 Field Ambulance with shotgun wounds to the skull, back and buttocks on 13/07/16.

He died of wounds, aged 20, on the 24th July 1916 at 2 Stationary Hospital (Abbeville) and is buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery in France where his headstone bears the epitaph:

"FIGHTING FOR GOD AND RIGHT AND LIBERTY SUCH A DEATH IS IMMORTALITY".

For much of the First World War, Abbeville was headquarters of the Commonwealth lines of communication and No.3 BRCS, No.5 and No.2 Stationary Hospitals were stationed there variously from October 1914 to January 1920. The communal cemetery was used for burials from November 1914 to September 1916, the earliest being made among the French military graves. The extension was begun in September 1916. During the early part of the Second World War, Abbeville was a major operational aerodrome, but the town fell to the Germans at the end of May 1940. On 4 June, an attempt was made by the 51st Division, in conjunction with the French, to break the German bridgehead, but without success. Towards the end of 1943, eight large ski shaped buildings appeared near Abbeville. These proved to be storage units for flying bomb components an they were heavily bombed by Commonwealth air forces. Abbeville was retaken on 4 September 1944 by Canadian and Polish units. Abbeville Communal Cemetery contains 774 Commonwealth burials of First World War and 30 from the Second. 

A report on his death appeared in the Liverpool Daily Post on the 29th July 1916. 

AIGBURTH MAN'S FATAL WOUNDS.

Private William Dickinson, second son of Mr. and Mrs. Dickinson, 26, Sudley-road, Aigburth, died at

Abbeville Hospital from wounds. Private Dickinson was in his 20th year, and was educated at Sudley-

road Council School and the Oulton Secondary School. He began his business career with Messrs. W.P.

Sinclair and Co., and before joining the "Pals," on formation, was employed by the Union Marine

Insurance Co., Limited. He was a member of the Mossley-hill Choir Old Boys' Football Club and of the

Aigburth Baptist Cricket Club. A memorial service will be held at 6.30 p.m. on Sunday next, at

Aigburth Baptist Church.

William’s death was also reported in the Liverpool Echo on 28/7/1916:

DIED FROM WOUNDS

DICKINSON – July 24 at Abbeville Hospital from wounds received in action age 19 years. Private William Dickinson (Pals) second son of Mr. & Mrs. Dickinson, 26 Sudley Road, Aigburth. (Loved by all and sadly missed by Father, Mother, Sister and Brothers) Memorial Service 8.30 Sunday next 30th inst. At Aigburth Baptist Church.

Dickinson – July 24 at Abbeville Hospital from wounds received in action age 19 years. Private William Dickinson (Pals) affectionately remembered by Grandfather, Gran, Auntie Katie and Uncle Tom.

Dickinson - – July 24 at Abbeville Hospital from wounds received in action age 19 years. Private William Dickinson (Pals) Deeply mourned by his Friend May.

The same three mentions are also in Liverpool Echo 31st July 1916.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to his father William.

On the first anniversary of his death his loved ones placed notices in the local paper:

"In loving remembrance of Private William Dickinson (Willie), 1st Pals, who died of wounds July 24, 1916, and was buried in Abbeville Communal Cemetery. - Never forgotten by Mother, Father, Sister, and Brothers, 26, Sudley Road, Aigburth."

"In loving memory of Willie (1st Pals), who died from wounds at Abbeville July 24, 1916. (Always remembered.) - May."

William Dickinson is commemorated on the following local memorials

Garston Roll of Honour

St.Anne's C.of E. Church, Aigburth

His mother, Mary Ellen Dickinson, died in 1920.

We currently have no further information on William Dickinson. If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.