Private David Collie Dillon

17th (Service) Battalion (3rd Glasgow) Highland Light Infantry Service No: 28859

Born / Resided

Coatbridge / 239 Main St, Coatbridge.

Died

Killed in Action on the 18/11/1916 on the last day of the Battle of the Ancre (part of the Battles of the Somme, 1916)

Enlisted

Coatbridge 1914

Employed

Iron Works Labourer / Reservist.

Age

22 / DOB - 22/07/1894

Buried / Remembered

Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 15 C), Somme, France.

Family Information

Son of William and Margaret Craig Dillon of 49b Coatbank St, Coatbridge. Husband of Elizabeth Burns Dillon (18/11/1892- ) of 239 Main St, Coatbridge. Father of David (14/03/1917- ). David also had a stepdaughter Elizabeth Martin (28/01/1915- ) and stepson Hugh Martin Dillon (09/01/1913-1920). Their father Private John James Martin died on the 21/05/1915 and is buried in Airdrie (St Josephs) R.C Cemetery. His young son Hugh sadly joined him there in 1920. From the 1901 Census - Address - 2h East Stewart St, Coatbridge - William Dillon aged 40, Margaret Dillon aged 34, Elizabeth Dillon aged 15, Patrick Dillon aged 13, William Dillon aged 11, Margaret Collie Dillon aged 10 (27/01/1891-04/04/1983), Lillias Dillon aged 8, David Collie Dillon aged 7, James Dillon aged 4, Agnes Dillon aged 3 and Janet Craig Dillon aged 1. David's Pension was awarded to his wife Elizabeth on the 07/06/1917. Both David and his brother William are listed on Pension awarded to their mother Margaret.

Additional Information

David arrived at Marseilles on the 02/12/1914 with the 1st Battalion Highland Light Infantry who were part of the Sirhind Brigade, 3rd (Lahore) Division. David was wounded in France in 1915 and when he recovered he joined the 17th (Service) Battalion who arrived at Boulogne on the 23/09/1915 and were part of the 97th Brigade, 32nd Division. David is listed as DILLION on the Thiepval Memorial and with the CWGC. David was Killed in Action at the Battle of the Ancre on the last day of the Battles of the Somme, one of 253 Highland Light Infantry men who fell that day. His elder brother William of the Seaforth Highlanders was killed 6 months later. His cousin William of the Royal Scots Fusiliers was killed in 1914 (see Directory for both mens pages). The Battle of the Ancre, 13th – 18th November 1916 : The Battle was now extended northwards across to the far side of he River Ancre. The British force attacked in fog and snow on the 13th November from the very same front lines from which the attack had failed so badly on the 1st July. Beaumont-Hamel was finally captured but Serre once again proved an objective too far. Considerable casualties were sustained before the battle was called off. David is also remembered in the St Patrick's Roll of Honour (book) (see photos for more Family information x 2). A huge thank you to Robert D Corrins for sending me a copy of his St Patrick's and the Great War book. See photos for David's Medal Index Card, his Newspaper clippings x 2, his Army Register of Soldiers Effects, his Service Medal and Award Rolls, his CWGC Grave Registration, his name on the Thiepval Memorial x 2, the Highland Light Infantry Cap Badge and David's and his brother William's Pension Records x 6.

Likeness

Medal Index Card

Coatbridge Express 13/12/1916

Coatbridge Leader 16/12/1916

Grave

David's Army Register of Soldiers Effects

David's Service Medal and Award Rolls (1)

David's Service Medal and Award Rolls (2)

David's CWGC Grave Registration

David's name on the Thiepval Memorial (1)

Cap Badge

David's name on the Thiepval Memorial (2)

Family information from the St Patrick's book (1)

Family information from the St Patrick's book (2)

David's Pension Record (1)

David and his brother William's Pension Record (2)

David's Pension Record (3)

David and his brother William's Pension Record (4)

David and his brother William's Pension Record (5)

David's Pension Record (6)

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