Private Robert Dyson MM
14937 7th Royal Lancaster Regiment

London Gazette 23rd August 1916

Born on the 7 March 1896.

The Lancashire Daily Post of 19 August 1916 reported, HONOUR FOR BURNLEY BROTHERS. Two Burnley brothers have won military honours. L/Corporal Robert Dyson of the King's Own Royal Lancaster's, has been awarded the Military Medal, and his brother, Sergeant W. Dyson was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal early last year. The latter has been discharged seriously wounded. Their home is on Leyland Road.

I have been unable to find anything regarding the award of the Distinguished Conduct Medal reported above, the Burnley Express carried a report on a Sergeant W. Dyson (10948, East Lancashire Regiment) of 54, Leyland Road, Burnley being wounded. This report also mentioned he had been awarded the D.C.M., again nothing found regarding an award to Sergeant Dyson.

An extract from the Burnley Express of 8 September 1917, SAVED MANY LIVES. Recognition of Burnley L/Corporal's Bravery. L/Corporal Dyson, whose mother lives at 1, Anne Street, Burnley, joined the army in October 1914, being previously employed at Smith & Nephew, Sandygate. He has seen at lot of heavy fighting and has had one or two narrow escapes. Whilst at the head of a communication trench in July, 1916, the position was attacked by the Germans, and L/Corporal Dyson, though loosing the assistance of his comrades, kept up a continuous bombig assault on the enemy for over nine hours and was directly responsable for the saving of many lives. The soldier has just completed four days leave from the front, and the advantage was taken of his presence in Burnley to hand him his Military Medal which he has valently won. Dyson won the noble distinction for his bravery on the 6 July, 1916 on the Somme.

Before enlisting, Robert was a member of St. Mary's Catholic Boys Brigade and was a drummer and had won two medals for football. The family is a military one, he has a brother, Henry who was in the East Lancashire's for fourteen months, a second brother, Thomas, who is serving in the 1/5th East Lancashire's. A third brother, Willie who has been discharged wounded was in the 1st East Lancashire's. His father is an old volunteer.

On the 15 January 1920 he married Dora Kearns.

Robert died on the 19 October 1967, aged 71.

(Courtesy of Dave Ingham)