Month: July 1915

The 33rd Canadian Infantry Battalion begins recruiting men from across southwestern Ontario in February 1915. Robert Dixon does indeed enlist and agrees to join the Canadian Expeditionary Forces on Saturday February 27, 1915. His Regimental number is 400724. The war is now 6 months old. The Allies and the Germans are in a stalemate, dug into the trenches along the Western Front. Already the casualties, the loss of life is staggering. Robert was needed. And, being attracted by adventure – he is ready to go. He wasn’t required to sign up. Conscription wouldn’t be introduced in Canada for another two and a half years.

Roberts attestation papers are shown below. We learn a few things about Robert that we didn’t know before. We learn he is 5’8 inches tall and has a 35 inch chest size. His eyes are grey , his hair is brown – and he has a tatoo of a cross on his left arm. We learn he is still working as a teamster in London, Ontario. He is willing to be vaccinated and he has some military experience in Britain’s Testimonial army. We learn that he is all of 136 pounds soaking wet.

And we learn that he and his wife Deborah live on Central Avenue in London at the same address that Gordon Beaton gives as his address on his attestation papers. But there is one thing rather important that we don’t learn . It isn’t mentioned anywhere in Robert’s attestation papers. It isn’t mention in any of his personnel records either. And it may be the one thing that has held Robert back. Prevented him from enlisting earlier. No, it is never mentioned at all. Robert and Deborah are going to have a family. And whether Robert returns from the war or not, Robert and Deborah will have created something special. Deborah is four months pregnant.

William James Dixon arrives right on time on July 31, 1915. About a year after the marriage of his parents and the start of the Great War. Despite having enlisted Robert is still in London, Ontario to welcome his son into the world. His birth certificate is shown below. You will note that William’s father no longer identifies himself as a teamster. No, now for the first time Robert gives his profession as SOLDIER.

The emotions must have been extremely mixed on that day. The wonder of new life. The wonder of a new family. A family that would grow and have a descendant like you reading this post today over one hundred years later. This wonder contrasted with the beginning of the horror of the Great Gruesome War. A war that Robert somehow still fell duty bound to head to. A war that would separate him not only from his son but from his beautiful wife. Deborah would be raising William by herself with some help from sister Isabella. Isabella had just returned from Bermuda in time to see her sister give birth to her new Canadian nephew. And thank goodness Robert hadn’t left yet. He wouldn’t be leaving for a a few months. And then surely, once he left, he wouldn’t be gone for long? Probably just a few months and he would be back. The enemy would surely taste defeat soon. Then Robert would surely be back for his son’s first birthday. Surely to see his first steps, his first words. Surely.