Ralph Taylor DIXON

DIXON, Ralph Taylor

Service Number: 886
Enlisted: 18 August 1914, Sydney, NSW
Last Rank: Lance Sergeant
Last Unit: 3rd Infantry Battalion
Born: Waradgery, Hay, New South Wales, Australia, 18 August 1894
Home Town: Narrandera, Narrandera, New South Wales
Schooling: Hay and Narrandera Public Schools, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Killed in Action, Gallipoli, 24 May 1915, aged 20 years
Cemetery: No known grave - "Known Unto God"
No known grave, originally buried but grave was lost Panel 19 Rev. J. McKenzie officiated, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey
Memorials: Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, Narrandera WW1 War Memorial
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Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of George Huntley Dixon and Mary Dixon of 68 O'Connor Street, Haberfield, NSW formerly of Hay, NSW

Brother of William Ewart Dixon who was killed in action on 2 May 1917 while serving with the 20th Battlion and has no known grave. His name appears on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

Served his carpentary apprenticeship with his father

Biography contributed by Stephen Brooks

Sergeant Ralph Dixon killed in action at the Dardanelles was born at Hay, and went to Narrandera with his parents during 1910. He was apprenticed to the carpentry trade. He was one of the first to enlist entering camp on 18 August 1914. He was promoted to the rank of Corporal, and was attached to the 3rd Battalion of the First Infantry Brigade. Prior to embarking from Alexandria for the Dardanelles he was placed in charge of a machine gun section, with the rank of sergeant. He took part in the landing at Gaba Tepe on April 25 1915. He was killed in action 24 May 1915; this was the day of the ceasefire to bury the dead in no man's land. Ralph was the only man from the 3rd Battalion who was killed that day.

His younger brother, 6077 Pte. William Ewart Dixon 20th Battalion AIF was killed in action 2 May 1917, age 19.

Another brother Lieutenant George Norman Dixon 5th Divisional Signal Company was awarded the Military Cross for conspicuous gallantry during the Battle of Menin Road in 1917.

A nephew Ralph Huntley Dixon 2/18th Battalion died at Singapore during WW2.

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