Pte
Dixon Overfield

Information about birth

Date of birth:
10/10/1883
Place of birth:
Filey, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

General information

Last known residence:
5 Carlton Road, Filey, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Profession:
Market Gardener
Religion:
Methodist

Army information

Country:
England, United Kingdom
Force:
British Expeditionary Force
Rank:
Private
Service number:
41782
Enlistment date:
01/10/1916
Enlistment place:
Filey, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom
Units:
 —  Alexandra Princess of Wales's Own (Yorkshire Regiment), 6th Bn.  (Last known unit)

Information about death

Date of death:
09/10/1917
Place of death:
Poelcapelle, Belgium
Cause of death:
Killed in action (K.I.A.)
Age:
33

Memorial

Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel: 53 A

Distinctions and medals 2

Points of interest 4

#1 Place of birth
#2 Last known residence
#3 Enlistment place
#4 Place of death (approximate)

My story

Dixon Overfield was born the 10th October 1883 in Filey, Yorkshire. He married Margaret Louise Dale at Folkton 4th August 1914. The newly married couple moved into a modern terraced house, 5 Carlton Road, Filey. Dixon earned his living from running a small holding in Filey. They had a daughter Madge Elizabeth Overfield.

Prior to his enlistment Dixon was a market gardener, a trustee of Muston chapel, a local preacher and Sunday school superintendent. Dixon was initially exempt from military service on the grounds of ‘family hardship’, but his certificate expired in September 1916.
Dixon was conscripted in October 1916 and was taken on by “D” Company of the 6th Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (Green Howards) which was part of the 32nd Brigade, 11th (North) Division.
In early October 1917 Dixon’s Battalion was involved in the Battle of Passchendaele.

On the 7th of October the 6th Yorkshires moved into the line. The relief was not completed till 3.40 am on the 8th October. On the 9th of October 1917 the 6th Yorkshires advanced at Zero Hour, 05.20 a.m. Advancing to the north of Poelcapelle, the Green Howards initially met little resistance, but on nearing the fork in the road opposite the Brewery they came under fire from Meunier House and from the direction of String Houses. Heavy German resistance forced, the battalion to dig in at 8 a.m. Whilst attempting to dig in, the battalion suffered heavy casualties from machine gun and rifle fire from both flanks. The Trench mortars that were attached to the battalion had all been knocked out by the German artillery, and the supporting tanks had become bogged down.

Dixon Overfield was killed on 9 October 1917, a day short his 34th Birthday. His remains weren’t identified and Dixon is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Files 1

Maps View

Sources 3

6 Battalion Yorkshire Regiment (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), British Army war diaries 1914-1922, WO 95/1809/4).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
Census Returns of England and Wales, 1911 (The National Archives, Kew (TNA), RG14).
https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/
Sources used
McCarthy, Chris. Passchendaele: the Day-by-Day Account. (Londen: Unicorn Publishing Group, 2018), 124-125.
Sources used

More information 3