Stories
People make a family tree, not just names in boxes. This section has a mix of documents, narratives, stories, and photographs that give a glimpse into the lives of the people in the family tree.
The Dixon Brothers
These are my granduncles (colorized from black and white photo) – the Dixon brothers of my grandmother Grace Bousfield (Dixon). I wanted to try to date this photograph. On the back of the photograph is written Tom, Harry, George, and Sidney but after investigation and finding some other photos, I think it is (left to right) Sidney, George, Harry, and Tom Dixon.
I have not included the cardboard frame, which has the logo R J Watson 70, Anlaby Road, Hull
Let’s look at George and Harry first. They are in Royal Navy Uniforms. They both have four chevrons at the bottom of their right sleeves; these are war service chevrons, one for each year of service during World War One, so they have both served at least four years during the war. This would put the picture as 1918 or later. The propellor on George’s right sleeve indicates that he was a stoker (he worked in the engine room). It looks like he has a single good service stripe, given for three years of good service, on his left arm, but it is hard to make out (a second stripe is given out after eight years). In his right hand, he is holding a book. With a magnifying glass and much squinting, it appears that the book is Ben Hur! Most likely a prop from the photo studio
Unfortunately, we cannot see Harry’s sleeves clearly, but I believe he was a stoker, too, so that may be a bit of the stoker badge on his right arm. From records, I know that George was demobbed from the Navy in May 1919 and Harry in January 1920.
The Germans captured Sidney on the Western Front in November 1916, and it appears that he wasn’t repatriated until 14th January 1919 (just in time to marry Mabel Blenkin on the 25th of January 1919). He looks thin, and it was the case that many prisoners of war held by the Germans complained that they did not get enough to eat. I am unsure what badge he has on his lapel, but it could be war-related.
Thomas was severely wounded in Gallipoli (possibly at the battle of Sulva in August) in the summer of 1915, and by 1917 he was shown as a military pensioner. I don’t have the exact dates, but I expect he was discharged as early as 1915 with his wounds. This is why Sidney and Thomas are in civilian clothes.
So, based on what the brothers are wearing, the picture was taken between January 1919 (Sidney’s return) and May 1919, George’s demob date. Looking at Sidney’s left hand, there does not appear to be a wedding ring. So assuming he wore a wedding ring, this picture was taken at or before his wedding, between the 14th and 25th of January 1919. It looks like a marriage registry in front of them, but it could be another photographer’s prop as it is a staged photograph. He is not wearing a boutonnière, so this is probably not his wedding day. But I still would hazard a guess that this photo was taken around the time of Sidney’s wedding, probably a few days before, most likely between the 14th and 25th of January 1919.
Silver War Badge
This photo was taken at the studio of
J J Payne 106, Anlaby Road, Hull
Another picture of Tom Dixon showing his World War One Silver Badge indicating that he had served during World War One and had been discharged, in his case, because of his wounds. This photo was taken at a different studio than the group photo, and Tom is wearing a boutonniere. The Payne Studio was still operating until at least 1921 (census), so this photo is a little more difficult to date. It is certainly after 1915. Tom looks about the same age as he does in the group photo, so it is probably around this time. Because of the boutonniere, it is possible that he is at Sidney’s wedding in 1919 and the wedding photos were in a different studio. But Harry married in 1918 and George in 1920, so it could be Harry or George’s weddings. A range of 1918 to 1920 seems reasonable.