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.
