Brian Vernon Dillon

Sergeant

Conflict:

WW1

Additional Information:

Son of Thomas and Francis Lily Dillon, of 20, Manor Place, Dunedin. Native of Blackstone Hill, Otago. Also served in Egypt and Gallipoli.

References:

CWGC

Archives New Zealand

NZ WAR GRAVES

CONTRIBUTED

Public Contributions:

Brian Vernon Dillon : The details about the relatively short life of Brian Dillon: D.O.B. April 25th 1893 at Blackstone Hill, Central Otago. (strangely enough he was born on the date - 25th April - t...hat is now celebrated as ANZAC DAY in New Zealand and Australia). D.O.D. September 15th 1916 (killed in action in the Battle of the Somme). Brian was the third child in a family of 4 boys and 3 girls. He was raised around Blackstone Hill and Kyeburn Diggings with his mother, Frances Elizabeth (Lily) Dillon (nee Mackin) teaching at those schools. In his early teens he came to Dunedin to join his father, Thomas Dillon, who was establishing a Dunedin base for the family and a few of his older siblings. He spent one year at Otago Boys' High School. Then he left and worked for a further year at the warehouse of Ross and Glendining in Dunedin. It was said that being a country boy at heart he did not like city life and decided to head off and went to Wyndham (Menzies Ferry), Southland and became an apprentice cheesemaker at the factory down there. On August 14th 1914 (aged 21) he enlisted in the army and became a Private in the Otago Infantry. He trained in NZ for a couple of months. On October 15th 1914 he set sail and arrived in Alexandria, Egypt on December 3rd, 1914 to receive further training. On April 12th, 1915 he embarked from Alexandria to head to the Dardenelles (Gallipoli). On April 25th, 1915 for his 22nd birthday present he was landed in Gallipoli at the start of the invasion of Gallipoli. On May 5th he was admitted to hospital in Alexandria with dysentery. On May 26th he was sent off again and rejoined his unit at Gallipoli on June 6th. On August 26th Brian was wounded, receiving a hand wound which again sees him sent off to hospital. The wound turned septic. It appears that he is sent to Bristol, England for hospitalisation and recuperation. He is not discharged from hospital until November 1st 1915 and eventually sent off to rejoin his unit which he doesn't get back to until January 23rd 1916. He disembarks at Alexandria and rejoins his unit at Ismalia. April 1st, 1916 he is promoted to the rank of Corporal. April 9th, 1916 he embarks with his unit for France from Alexandria. May 10th, 1916 he is promoted to the rank of Sergeant. September 15th, 1916; killed in action leading a charge on the first morning of the Battle of the Somme and reported shot in the head by machine gun fire. He was killed aged 23. He was buried on the battlefield. As reported in official document. "Buried in one of several scattered graves 1/4 miles North of Longueval and 3 miles WestNorthWest of Combles." Consequently his exact grave site is unknown. He was just buried on the battlefield. This description was given by his Commanding officer in a letter to his older brother (Stephen Owen Dillon who was back in Egypt training new recruits). Transcript of letter follows : - France 28 Nov 1916 To Sapper S O Dillon Signal Troop NZMR Bde (NZ Mounted Rifles Brigade I presume) Sgt Dillon met his death in the first advance NZ made at the Somme. I was not with the Company at the time but the following are the particulars. He was killed by a machine gun bullet in the head after he had advanced about 200 yds. Death was instantaneous. He was buried where he fell about 200 yds behind SWITCH trench, the German trench which we took. He was buried by our own burial party under 9/443 (not sure about the first number in the 443) Sgt G W Smith- Hubert with a dozen or twenty of his battalion, principally of his company and his mates. Captain McLean, the padre, attached to us, 2 Batt Otago Reg, read the burial service. A cross was made 24/627 Corp N J Woods & put up with his particulars cut into the wood and Killed in Action & RIP as is usual with all denominations in France. A fence of rifles was made around the grave. I cannot tell you more except that he met his death in an action that has brought fame to the NZ Division. It is said that we have received in orders (unsure of that word?) more praise than any other division at the Somme and if a man has to die, no better death could be have than leading his platoon in a great advance. If I can find anyone who can give a more personal narrative I will hand him your letter. (Signed but indecipherable) OC 14 ( S O ) C. 2 Battn Otago Reg. So there is no formal grave. Nothing marked. No known exact position. Just a vague location in the middle of what is probably now farmland again. His death and memory is recorded on a memorial wall for soldiers killed with no known grave site at the New Zealand war cemetery at Caterpillar Valley near the battlefield near Longueval. [His name is also recorded on the war memorial plaques set on the left wall (as you enter) of the entrance gate structure into the grounds of Otago Boys' High School, Dunedin. (NOTE: This is as accurate as I have managed to compile at this stage [15/09/2016]. Hopefully further research will add further information about his brief life.) [Record since amended - NZWGT] Read More

Add a Story or Photo

Casualty

Service Number:

8/190

Name:

Brian Vernon Dillon

Rank:

Sergeant

Date of Birth:

25 April 1893

Next of Kin:

Thomas Dillon (father), 42 Manor Place, Dunedin, New Zealand

Date of Enlistment:

Not known

Enlistment Address:

Wyndbam, Otago, New Zealand

Armed Force:

Army

Unit:

NZEF, Otago Regiment, 2 Battalion

Casualty Details

Cause of Death:

Killed in action

Date of Death:

15 September 1916

Day of Death:

Friday

Age at Death:

Conflict:

WW1

Embarkation Details

Embarkation Body:

Main Body

Embarkation Place:

Port Chalmers, New Zealand

Embarkment Date:

16 October 1914

Transport:

HMNZT 5
HMNZT 9

Vessel:

Ruapehu or Hawkes Bay

Destination:

Suez, Egypt

Text in italics supplied by Cenotaph Online, Auckland War Memorial Museum

Cemetery

Cemetery:

Caterpillar Valley (New Zealand) Memorial

Cemetery Location:

France