Tipton

Corporal 11936 John Dyke

Killed in Action on Monday, 19th November 1917, age 35.
Buried in Grave II. B. 24. at Solferino Farm Cemetery, Ieper, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium.

8th Bn., South Staffordshire Regiment. 51st Brigade of 17th Division.

Born: Tipton, Enlisted: Wednesbury, Resident: Darlaston.

First landed France & Flanders, post 31st December 1915.
Medal entitlement: British War Medal, Victory Medal.
Soldier's Papers at National Archives did not survive.

Commemorated on the Dudley Clock Tower Memorial.
Commemorated here because identified as Tipton on 'Soldiers Died in the Great War'.

Link to Commonwealth War Graves Site: www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/157190/

Genealogical Data

Birth of John Dyke registered in March quarter 1882 at Dudley.

1891 Census
45 Moat Road, Tipton, Staffs.
William Dyke (33, Blacksmith, born Tipton), his wife Emily (32, born Tipton), and their 5 children: Elizabeth (11, born Tipton), John (9, born Tipton), Florry (6, born Tipton), Ellen (4, born Tipton), and Kate (1, born Tipton).

1901 Census
30 Queen Street, Wednesbury, Staffs.
William Dyke (42, Coal Miner - Hewer, born Summerhill), his wife Emily (41, born Summerhill), and their 4 children: John (19, Labourer at Tube Works, born Summerhill), Nellie (13, born Summerhill), Catherine (10, born Summerhill), and Betsy (7, born Summerhill).

1911 Census
63 Hall Street, Dudley, Worcs.
William Dyke (53, Blacksmith at Colliery, born Summerhill), his wife Emily (52, born Summerhill), and 6 of their 7 surviving children of 8: Elizabeth Ann Dyke (31, Married 4 years, Servant, born Summerhill), John (27, Labourer at Patent Shaft, born Summerhill), Florrie (26, Married 1 year, Servant, born Summerhill), Nellie (24, Servant, born Summerhill), Kate (21, Servant, born Summerhill), and Beatrice (17, Servant, born Wednesbury).

Personal Data

John was admitted to No. 51 Field Ambulance on 15th August 1917 with an absess on his Right Thigh. This necessitated 9 days treatment in hospital before being released back to duty.

After Horaces's death his outstanding Army pay and allowances amounted to £3/7/10d (3 pounds, 7 shillings and 10 pence); this was paid to his father, Harry, in November 1918. His War Gratuity amounted to £3/0/0d (3 pounds exactly), this was also paid to his father in October 1919. The value of the War Gratuity suggests that Horace enlisted in the 12 months prior to his death.

Action resulting in his death

On the 12th and 13th October 1917, the 8th South Staffs had over 100 men killed during an attack at Namur Crossings, near Langemarck, about 5 miles north of Ypres. They were then relieved from the line for over a month, receiving reinforcements and training in a number of camps behind the lines.

On the 19th November the battalion marched from Bridge Camp, Elverdinghe, to relieve the 10th West Yorkshires in the front line, once again near Langemarck. The War Diary records: "Heavy barrage on the tracks & roads in the neighbourhood of Langemarck during relief. any casulaties were received in passing through this barrage.".

"Soldiers Died in the Great War" records 14 men of the 8th South Staffs killed on this day, most presumably during this heavy barrage. It is likely that John Dyke was one of the men killed in the barrage, he is buried in Solferino Farm Cemetery

Newspaper Cuttings

None.