John Irving Dixon was born on February 12th, 1898, in Pendelton, Ontario, Canada.

"Johnny" enlisted into the Canadian Engineers as Private, 507519, in Ottawa on January 2nd, 1917. His enlistment papers show him as being 5’8” tall with a dark complexion, gray eyes and dark hair. His occupation prior to enlistment shows his as a farmer.

Johnny sailed for England on the 29th of April, 1917, aboard the S.S. Olympic, arriving in England on the 7th of May, 1917, where he was taken on strength with the Canadian Engineers Training Depot (C.E.T.D) in Crowborough (East Sussex). He was with the the C.E.T.D until the 25th of September, 1917, assigned first to “B” Company and later being transferred to the Signals Company.

On the 25th of September, 1917, he was struck off strength with the CETD and transferred to the 3rd Canadian Reserve Battalion in West Sandling. He continued to serve there until 22nd February, 1918, when he was taken on strength with the 4th Canadian Mounted Rifles and sent to France, where he joined his unit on the 28th of March, 1918, in Neuville Saint Vass, where the 4CMR were in billets.

During the War's final One Hundred Days, John Irving Dixon, aged just 20 years, was killed on the 14th of August, 1918, in Follies, France. He is buried at Bouchoir New British Cemetery, Somme, France.

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Picture and biography credit: Ian Dixon