William Smith Dixon

From Gateshead, he was born in April 1903 and served in the 9th Battalion DLI's Carrier Platoon during the Second World War. He was awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in May 1940 during the retreat to Dunkirk, when he rescued a wounded officer, Richard Forbes, under fire "with a total disregard for his own safety".

He later served in the Middle East with his battalion and was so badly wounded in action that his right arm was amputated and he was discharged from the Army in August 1943. William Dixon died in August 1965.