Pte 15239 William Dix

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Sunday 30th July 1916
• Commemorated at: Guillemont Rd Cem
  Panel Ref: VI.E.8

William Dix was born on 05th January 1895 in Liverpool and he was baptised at Our Lady of Immaculate Conception in Everton on 19th January 1895. He was the son of William Henry Dix and his wife Margaret (nee Kelly) who were married on the 04th August 1889 at St Francis Xavier's Church, Liverpool, William was of 73 Eastbourne Street, father George, whilst Margaret was of 10 Linnet Lane, father Thomas. 

William was the third of their four children.  He had an elder brother Henry John, and an elder sister Annie, and a younger brother Joseph.

At the time of the 1901 Census the family were living at 44 Scotland Road, Liverpool. William senior was a gas meter inspector, he was 37 years old and was born in Shrewsbury. His wife Margaret was also 37 years old and was born in Ireland. They had four children: Henry aged 10, Annie aged 8, William 6 and Joseph 3.

The family had moved to 33 St Andrews Road, Anfield by the time of the 1911 census. William senior is still working for Liverpool Gas Co, Margaret is aged 46, born in Birr, King’s County. They advise that they have been married for 21 years. They have four children declared in the home; Henry, aged 20 is working as a clerk for Liverpool Gas Co, Annie is an 18 year old dressmaker, William aged 16 and Joseph aged 13 are at school.

William enlisted at St George's Hall, Liverpool joining the 17th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 15239.

He was billeted at Prescot Watch Factory from 14th 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. William arrived in France on 7th November 1915.

He was killed in action on the 30th July 1916 at the village of Guillemont, France, aged 21, during the Somme Offensive. 

17th Battalion Diary 

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.

Originally reported as Missing his family were anguished at the thought and sent a request for information in the Liverpool Echo on 28th August 1916:

"Mr. Dix of 33, St. Andrew-road. Anfield, will be glad to receive any information with regard to his son, Private William Dix, of the " Pals,'" who has been reported missing since July 30".

William was buried close to where he fell and after the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

Guillemont was an important point in the German defences at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was taken by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on 30 July but the battalion was obliged to fall back, and it was again entered for a short time by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 8 August. On 18 August, the village was reached by the 2nd Division, and on 3 September (in the Battle of Guillemont) it was captured and cleared by the 20th (Light) and part of the 16th (Irish) Divisions. It was lost in March 1918 during the German advance, but retaken on 29 August by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.

The cemetery was begun by fighting units (mainly of the Guards Division) and field ambulances after the Battle of Guillemont, and was closed in March 1917, when it contained 121 burials. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves (almost all of July-September 1916) were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the village and certain smaller cemeteries, including:-

HARDECOURT FRENCH MILITARY CEMETERY. The village of Hardecourt-au-Bois was captured by French troops on the 8th July 1916, and again by the 58th (London) and 12th (Eastern) Divisions on 28 August 1918. Five British Artillerymen were buried by their unit in the French Military Cemetery, in the middle of the village, in September 1916; and in 1918 the 12th Division buried in the same cemetery 14 men of the 9th Royal Fusiliers and two of the 7th Royal Sussex.

Guillemont Road Cemetery now contains 2,263 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,523 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

He earned his three medals.

Soldiers Effects to his father William H and pension to William H. and Margaret, including a War Gratuity of £8-10.

William was remembered a year later in the Liverpool Echo on 30th July 1917, under the heading, “Lost at Battle of Guillemont”:

“In loving memory of Private W. Dix (Pals) killed in action July 30, 1916. - Fondly remembered by Mother, Father, Sister, and Brothers, 33, St. Andrew Road, Anfield. R.I.P.”

“In loving memory of Private W. Dix (Bill), killed in action July 30, 1916. - Always remembered by Harry and Edie.”

He is also remembered on the following Memorials:

Catholic Institute  - as William J. Dix

Hall of Remembrance in Liverpool Town Hall at Panel 7 Left and Right

Liverpool Cotton Association