Sgt Walter A Dixon

Sgt Walter A. Dixon

Today, Remembrance Day 2021, I was looking through old photos and remembering my uncle Walter Alexander Dixon (1919-1943, older brother to my mother Margaret Ellen Dixon 1920-1997) who served and died in England during World War II. That was long before I was even born. 

In amongst my parents collection of photos is a clipping from the "Formby Times", dated 8th April, 1993:

Veterans in tribute

Pilot is remembered

A group of RAF veterans gathered in a Formby churchyard yesterday to pay their respects to an unknown comrade who died fifty years ago.

The simple ceremony, organized by members of the Southport and District Aircrew Association, took place in the cemetery of St Peter's Church, in Green Lane, where a young Canadian pilot, Sergeant Walter A. Dixon, was laid to rest after his death on April 9th, 1943.

Sgt Dixon, a member of the 195 Squadron stationed at Woodvale during World War Two, was killed when the engine of his Typhoon aircraft cut out on take off.

He was buried a few days later with full military honours.

Spokesman Mr. Brian Marshall explained that the association had decided to mark the anniversary of the pilot's death after a colleague had come across the tombstone quite by chance.

The grave, which had clearly not being visited for a number of years, contains a poignant epitaph which reads, "A young Airman from far from home."

Presiding over the 15 minute service where the veterans' own chaplain, Ron Charlton, and the vicar of St Peter's, Reverend Mark Boyling. The Association standard bearer was present and chairman Bill Armstrong came forward to lay a wreath.

Mr. Marshall commented: "We thought this would be a fitting testimonial for a comrade who died fifty years ago."

And he added: "No-one had been to see the grave and I suppose there was a degree of nostalgia. 

"I would like to think that if any of ours had been killed in some distant land, there would at least be somebody to remember us."

Mr. Marshall also revealed that the association's secretary had written to his counterpart in Toronto to see if he could help trace any surviving relatives of Canadian pilot. 

He said: "If we can get in contact with the next of kin, it would make this tribute even more worthwhile."

It's a lovely romantic little story, even a little sad — the "forgotten sacrifice". We certainly appreciate the comrades from the RAF honoring our uncle and it's nice to have the story written up so that Walter is not forgotten. However, the story needs some work.

Formby is a small English town on the coast just a short bike road north of Liverpool. The "Formby Times" is/was a local newspaper. At my mother's urging, she never forgot her brother, I had visited Walter's grave in May of 1979 on my first visit to the country — I had taken a train to Liverpool and bicycled out to Formby. 

So my first issue is the romantic notion that the grave site had never been visited. I have photos of my parents visiting in the summer of 1988 (after their 50th anniversary) with my brother David and his wife Gail. My brother Larry visited, two years before he died in 2018, and I know that many others in the Dixon family have visited the grave as well. So, although these RAF veterans may have believed that the grave had never been visited, it surely had. And Walter had not been forgotten by any of his kin.

The epitaph on Walter's grave stone reads "He sleeps so far from Canada his native land" and not "A young Airman from far from home." That's easily verified, check the photo album. But perhaps there's something on the other side.

The last issue is his manner of death. The newspaper article says ".. the engine of his Typhoon aircraft cut out on take off." In other places I've read that he died returning from battle. My understanding of military records is that neither is correct.  

My brother Dale Quinton writes (Nov 19, 2019):

I have acquired Uncle Walter's “relevant documents” from his Military Service Records. The documents include the Investigative Report on the Flying Accident, Records of Service, Attestation Paper, Airman's Record Sheet (Active Service), Nature of Casualty Document, Courses of Instruction Results and Percentage of Marks, and Royal Air Force Officer or Airman Report on Accidental or Self-Inflicted Injuries or Immediate Death Therefrom Report.

The documents show:

Pilot: DIXON, Walter Alexander DOB: 14 January1919, No. R109932, Flight Sergeant, Fighter Command, 195 Sqn. Group 9.

Aircraft: Typhoon Sabre, RAF No. 424, Engine Serial No.S1288/A257770.

Date of Incident: 9-4-43 at 10:45hrs.

Location of Incident: New Lane Station, Burscough, Lancashire.

Mission: Training – Quote from Report, “Aircraft Involved – Typhoon DT 424 Piloted by R.109932 Sgt/Pilot Dixon, W.A. On 9th April, 1943, who was killed through coming in contact with Railway Signal Arm while carrying out cine camera gun exercises on ground targets in low flying area.”

Report by Appropriate Specialist Officers : “Inspection of engine gave no indication that engine failure had occurred. The large area over which the wreckage was scattered indicated that the aircraft was flying at considerable speed when collision with the signal took place, the engine being found approx. 500 yards from the remainder of the fuselage. Testimonies of eye witnesses verify that the engine was functioning normally at the time of the collision.”

Remarks by Unit Commander: “The pilot was carrying out very low flying along a railway line immediately prior to the accident. He was too low to have been carrying out cine gun attacks on ground targets. The railway signal was up, otherwise the aircraft might not have hit it.”

Remarks by Station Commander: “This is a clear case of a pilot killing himself as a result of unauthorized low flying. An investigation has been held.”

Description of Injuries: Multiple fractures and lacerations causing instantaneous death.

Investigator: F/L. Griffiths

It would appear that Uncle Walter was still in training when he was killed. Cine Camera gun exercises involve cameras where the guns would be mounted. They are used for targeting training and are reviewed afterward to improve accuracy for live fire. The documents have a considerable amount of other information, such as where and when he was posted, the training and courses he took and his results. 

No matter how he died, it was a family tragedy with lasting impact on his parents and siblings who have kept his memory alive in those, like me, who never met the man. On this day we remember those who have fallen no matter how they may have fallen.

See also

• Government of Canada War Service Records: Dixon, Walter Alexander R109932
• The Typhoon Project: Walter Alexander Dixon
• This Blog: William (Mac) Dixon