John James Dickeson (1877-1917)
Plawsworth man served with 5th DLI commemorated on Arras memorial
John James Dickeson, was born in Cox Green in the year 1877. He worked as a gamekeeper before the war. In 1903 he married Elizabeth Ann, with whom he had two children, Herbert and Harry. The family lived at Black Deme Cottage at Plawsworth. It is likely that he was conscripted into the army after the amendments to the Military Service Act in May 1916. He enlisted in the 5th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry (DLI) at Consett and was shipped to France where he would be killed fighting at the Battle of Arras.
The Battle of Arras was fought as part of a combined offensive plan that the British and French devised to break through the German Hindenburg line. By the Battle of Arras the 5 DLI had been assigned to the 150th Brigade of the 50th Northumbrian Division, and its objectives were located south of the Scarpe river which ran through the centre of the battlefield. John was likely killed in the action on the 23 April, when 5 DLI were caught in an artillery attack, and then outflanked by German attackers.
For his service John was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal, he is also commemorated on the Arras memorial in France.
See also, North East War Memorial Project “Every Name a Story”:
http://www.newmp.org.uk/article.php?categoryid=99&articleid=1116&displayorder=71
Civil Parish: Plawsworth
Birth date: 1877
Death date: 23-Apr-1917
Armed force/civilian: Army
Residence: Cox Green (Birthplace)
Black Deme Cottage, Plawsworth (1911 Census)
Employment: Gamekeeper (1911 Census)
Family: Wife: Elizabeth Ann Dickeson
Sons: Herbert Dickeson, Harry Dickeson
Military service:
5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry
Regimental Number: 200866
Private
Enlisted: Consett
Medal(s): Victory Medal
British War Medal
Memorial(s): Arras Memorial Bay 8
DLI Book of Remembrance, Durham Cathedral
Saint George’s Church, Park Road, South Moor, plaque
Craghead statue, Edward Street
Saint Thomas’s Church, Lowry Lane, Craghead, roll of honour (now at DLI Collections, Seven Hills, Spennymoor)
All Saints Church, Penshaw, stained glass window
Gender: Male
Contributed by Daniel Hyatt
