Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 50123 Robert Dinning

Age: 23
From: Gateshead, Durham
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
K.I.A Monday 29th April 1918
Commemorated at: Tyne Cot Memorial
Panel Ref: Panel 31-34

Robert Dinning was born on 02nd August 1894 in Gateshead and was the son of George Dinning and his wife Margaret (nee Scott) who married 1890 in Gateshead. He was baptised on the 27th August 1894 at Holy Trinity Parish Church, Gateshead.

On the 1891 Census his parents are living at 84 Railway Terrace, Gateshead, George aged 30, is a general labourer, wife Margaret is 30.

On the 1901 census parents have moved to 75 Southey Street, Gateshead, George aged 40, a general labourer, wife Margaret is 40 b.Felling-on-Tyne.

Robert was a patient in the Fever Hospital, Gateshead.

His father, George, died in the June quarter of 1903, aged 42.

His mother, Margaret, remarried in 1906 to James Armstrong.

On the 1911 Census the family are living at 55 Regent Street, Gateshead. Head of the household is James Armstrong, a 45 year old shipyard painter, his mother Margaret Armstrong is 51. They have been married for four years. Robert Dinning is aged 16 and a moulder at chemical factory. All isted were born in Gateshead.

Robert enlisted in Gateshead and was serving in the 17^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 50123 when he was killed in action on the 29^th April 1918 aged 23 during the German Spring Offensive. Details of the action were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Robert has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

Soldiers Effects and Pension to mother Margaret Armstrong, Elswick Street, Gateshead.

His mother died in the December quarter of 1932, aged 71.

His step-father died in the December quarter of 1936, aged 69.

We currently have no further information on Robert Dinning, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.

Killed On This Day.

(110 Years this day)
Monday 31st January 1916.
Pte 25751 George Francis Pearson
32 years old