Dixon, Arthur Rowland

2563 Private Arthur Rowland Dixon- 44th Battalion AIF

Arthur Rowland Dixon was born in Fremantle WA in 1897 to James and Susan Dixon. He was one of ten siblings born into the family.

His father died in 1904 at their house 113 Stephen street Fremantle after which the family moved to 4 Healey Street South Fremantle. (Later renumbered 2 Healey)

Arthur was educated in Fremantle and after leaving school he took up work as a farm hand.

On the 19th July 1916 Roland enlisted into the Australian Imperial Force in Fremantle. He was found to be fit for enlistment with the medical examiner recording his physical attributes as;

Height - 5 feet 4 & 1/2 inches tall;

Weight - 115lbs;

Chest Measurement - 30-33 inches;

Complexion - Fresh;

Eyes - Brown;

Hair - Brown.

After his successful enlistment Roland was sent to Blackboy Hill Camp where he was assigned to No.79 Depot. He was taken through the basics of infantry work at this training camp and then on the 1st August 1916 he was transferred into the 6th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion. Roland trained with this group for a month but on the 4th September 1916 was moved to the 5th Reinforcements to the 44th Battalion.

Roland then trained with this group for the next two months while they waited for their embarkation orders to come through. These finally arrived, and on the 9th November 1916 Roland and his group entrained for Fremantle Harbour where they boarded the transport ship HMAT Argyllshire.

This ship then set sail for England, reaching Devonport on the 10th January 1917. Roland and his group were then disembarked and sent to the 11th Training Battalion at Durrington Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He then began training here and except for a stint in Fargo Hospital, he remained with the 11th Training Battalion until the 25th April 1917.

Roland was then put into a draft of soldiers which headed for Folkestone Harbour where they boarded a transport ship for France. After arriving at Etaples Roland was sent into the 3rd Australian Division Base Depot Camp. He remained here for the next few weeks and then joined the 44th Battalion on the 14th May 1917.

The 44th Battalion were then situated at Ploegsteert Wood in Belgium on the Messines Front. They were taking part in patrols and took part in a trench raid on German lines just a few days prior to the Messines Advance of 7th June 1917.

The 44th Battalion did not take part in the first day advance at the Messines offensive on the 7th June but came into action in the following days when the Germans 2nd and 3rd (Oostaverne) lines were being fought over.

Roland survived the initial action at Messines unscathed. The 44th Battalion then remained on the Messines front through July and August 1917. They had to undergo heavy German artillery barrages and fire from the German snipers. On the 9th July 1917 Roland was accidentally shot in the foot and was evacuated for medical care, firstly to the 11th Field Ambulance and then to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station. His wound was treated and dressed and he was then forwarded onto the 2nd Australian General Hospital at Wimereux.

No disciplinary action was taken against Roland, so the wound was deemed an accident, most likely caused by another soldier cleaning a rifle had accidentally shot Roland in the foot.

On the 12th August 1917 Roland was sent to England where he was admitted to Horton War Hospital in Epsom. He remained a patient here till the 16th October 1917 when he was transferred to the 1st Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Harefield. He spent a week here and on the 23rd October 1917 was transferred to No.2 Command Depot Camp at Weymouth. Roland would remain here while he waited to be assigned a berth on a transport ship home.

On the 20th December 1917 Roland boarded the transport ship Runic and set sail for home, arriving at Fremantle on the 6th February 1918. After being disembarked Roland was sent to No.8 Australian General Hospital in South Terrace Fremantle for a thorough medical examination.

On the 28th February 1919 Roland was discharged from the AIF. He then returned home to Healey Road South Fremantle.

Roland married in 1923 to Lorna Joan Scudds and a son Roland born in Beverley WA in 1924.

Roland lived in Beverley from the 1920's onwards where he worked as a butcher.

Roland's mother died in 1935 in Fremantle.

By 1943 Roland was living at Eighth Avenue in Bayswater and was working as a slaughterman.

Roland died on the 15th November 1956 in Bayswater. He was cremated at Karrakatta Cemetery.