DINGLEY Norman Oliver Lieut

SKR/DAT/IP/20580

DINGLEY Norman Oliver Lieut

2000-2024

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Surname: DINGLEY;

Forename(s): Norman Oliver;

Initials: NO;

Rank: Lieut;

Previous Battalion: 6 of;

Previous Regiment: Worcs Regt;

MGC Branch: Infantry;

MGC Unit: 93 Coy;

How killed: DOW;

Where: France;

When killed: 05-May-1917;

Other Data: Roll of Honour Vol II, Sect 3, p 47 - Portrait: Yr son of Richard John Dingley 330 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, Manufacturer, by his wife Emma, d. of William Cookes; born Edgbaston 7/10/1894; educ Solihull- Rev Dr Wm Wilson & Rev Dr Cooper;member of OTC;joined father's busines; enlisted 1st B'ham City Bn Aug 1914; gazetted 2Lt 2 Worcs R. 30/1/15; Lt on 1/8/16. Served MEF at Gallipoli from Aug 1915 - taken ill with dysentry; ret to Gallipoli and took part in the evacuation from Suvla and Heeles; later served Egypt and with BEF in F&F from Feb 1916; transf MGC 1/3/17; took part in battle of the Somme; invalided home Sept; ret to front 9/4/17 and died at 8 CCS 5/5/17 of wounds rec in action at Arras. Buried Duisans. Capt AC York wrote;" our Coy were in action on morning of 3/5/17 and Lt Dingley was I/c 4 guns in a forward position. He was slightly wounded in the morning and although wounded he kep his guns in action until he was again wounded (severely) and his body was not recovered until the same evening.when he was still conscious and taken to CCS" Cpl F Woodman wrote: " He came to us at a time when the spirits of the lads had been dampened by some heavy casualties. The way in which he cheered & bred confidence in our section was wonderful. He was indeed a gallant gentleman……it was duriong the battle of 3/5/17 we occupied an advanced post in front of our infantry. A few hours before the battle opened he gave us a fine example of his mettle. He stood by the side of my gun giving me some orders, when we heard a faint cry for help out in the front. Without a moment's hesitation he jumped out of the trench ran forward and brought in a wounded man who was lying quite close to the enemy's lines. During the actual battle his cheerfulness and utter lack of fear put heart in all of us…..to get to 2 of the guns under his charge he had to get out of the trench and cross about 20 yds of open ground and was continually going to and fro to chher and encourage the men. It was while returniong from one of these journeys that a bullet struck him in the abdomen the wound to which he subsequently succumbed. Even while lying in the trench his great pluck asserted itself and he continually smiled encouragement to his men. I believe even then the last thing he thought about was himself." Unmarried

War diary 3/5/1917 - badly wounded
Photo: GS Archives
Born Edgbaston, Birmingham. Son of Richard John Dingley of 330 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham. Originally enlisted in Birmingham on 8/9/14 as No 14/335 in 14 Battalion Warwicks Regt [1st Birmingham Battalion]. Aged 19 years 11 months, occupation tailor - he served an apprenticeship with Dingley and Pickard 155 Hockley Hill, address 330 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham, height 5' 10", weight 145lbs with good physical development, complexion dark, eyes light hazel, hair black, religion CofE. Discharged to commission 29/1/15. Promoted Lt August 1916. Treated at Military Hospital Devonport in Nov 1916 for a bad case of boils (on his arm and neck) which started in early Sep 1916. He left 4 Worcs Regt 12/9/16 and embarked on the HS St David 24/12/16 (Boulogne - Dover) he did not recover until 25/11/16. Wounded 3/5/17. Died of wounds 5/5/17 in No 8 Casualty Clearing Station - listed as 6 Worcs attd 93 Company MGC. There is an In Memoriam card in his file. He left estate valued £709 2s 9d. (Officers Papers - National Archives)

Norman Oliver Dingley was born 7/10/94 and was baptised on 30/10/94 in All Saints Church, Hockley, Birmingham. He was the son of Richard John Dingley (tailor) and Emma Dingley of 294 Hagley Rd, Birmingham. (Birmingham Baptisms - Ancestry)

DINGLEY, NORMAN OLIVER, Lieut., (Acting Capt.), Machine Gun Corps, late Worcestershire Regt., yr. s. of Richard John Dingley, of 330, Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham, manufacturer, by his wife, Emma, dau. of the late William Cookes; b. Edgbaston, 7 Oct. 1894; educ. Solihull (Rev. Dr. Robert Wilson and Rev. Dr. Cooper), where he was a member of the O.T.C.: subsequently, on leaving school, joined his father’s business: enlisted in the 1st Birmingham City Battn. on the outbreak of war in Aug. 1914; gazetted 2nd Lieut. The Worcestershire Regt. 30 Jan. 1915; promoted Lieut. 1 Aug. 1916; served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli from Aug. 1915, where he was taken ill with dysentery; returned to the Peninsula, and took part in the evacuations of Suvla Bay and Helles Point; later served in Egypt, also with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from Feb. 1916; transferred to the Machine Gun Corps 1 March following; took part in the Battle of the Somme; was invalided home in Sept.; returned to the front on Easter Monday, 9 April, 1917. and died at No. 8 Casualty Clearing Station 5 May following, from wounds received in action at Arras. Buried at Duisans. Lieut-Col. F. Moore wrote: "He was a good and conscientious worker, and just the type to make a good officer," and Major Stokes-Roberts: "I set great store on his services. As a Company Commander, I could never wish to have a better officer under me than Nod. He was, without exception, the best platoon officer I have ever had. ... I very deeply deplore his loss." Capt. A. C. York also wrote : "Our company were in action on the morning of 3 May. 1917, and Lieut. Dingley was in charge of four guns in a forward position. He was slightly wounded in the early morning, and, although wounded, he kept his guns in action until he was again wounded (severely), and his body was not recovered until the same evening, when he was still conscious, and taken to the casualty clearing station. Lieut. Dingley had only been with this unit a week or so, but during the short time he was with us, we had the greatest admiration for him. . . . He was absolutely fearless and died doing his duty," and Corpl. F. Woodman; "He came to us at a time when the spirits of the lads had been damped by some heavy casualties, and the way in which he cheered and bred confidence in our section was wonderful. . . . He was, indeed, a gallant gentleman, and I pray that your terrible sense of loss may be also tempered with pride, that you have been able to give a son so fine to the country. . . . It was during the battle of 3 May we occupied an advance post in the front of our infantry. A few hours before the battle opened he gave us a fine example of his mettle, he stood by the side of my gun giving me some orders, when we heard a faint cry for help out in the front. Without a moment's hesitation he jumped out of the trench, ran forward, and brought in a wounded man who was lying quite close to the enemy’s lines. During the actual battle his cheerfulness and utter lack of fear put heart in all of us. . . . To get to two of the guns under his charge, he had to get out of the trench and cross about 20 yards of open ground, and he was continually going to and from these guns to cheer and encourage the men. It was while returning from one of these journeys that a bullet struck him in the abdomen, causing the wound to which he eventually succumbed. . . . Even while lying in the trench his great pluck asserted itself, and he continually smiled encouragement to his men. I believe even then the last tiling he thought about was himself." Unm. Photo (De Ruvigny Roll of Honour)

DINGLEY NORMAN OLIVER - 30 January 1915 2/Lieut Worc. R. and posted to 6th Battalion at Fort Tregantle, Plymouth. 1 March 1916 Lieut with the Machine Gun Corps. He died of wounds on 5 May 1917 while attached to 93rd Coy M.G. C. (Officers Pen Pictures RHQ)

DINGLEY Norman Oliver of 330 Hagley-road Edgbaston Birmingham a lieutenant in H.M. Army died 5 May 1917 at No. 8 Clearing Station France Administration Birmingham 24 December to Richard John Dingley manufacturer. Effects £709 2s. 9d. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

Photo Great War (Wilson & Hammerton) 11/557

DINGLEY Richard John of 330 Hagley-road Edgbaston Birmingham died 11 July 1944 Probate Birmingham 29 September to Adelaide Hilda Hodgson married woman and Donald Clive Dingley manufacturer. Effects £163880 17s. 11d. (National Probate Calendar - Index of Wills and Administrations)

1911 Census
Norman Oliver Dingley
Age: 16
Occupation: Tailor
Address: 330 Hagley Road, Edgbaston, Birmingham - the dwelling had 13 rooms
Estimated Birth Year: 1895
Where born: Birmingham
Father's Name: Richard John Dingley 49, married, jeweller, b. Birmingham
Donald Clive Dingley 18, jeweller, b. Birmingham
Edith Maud Dingley 25, b. Birmingham - totally deaf from birth
Minnie Kate Collins 36, housekeeper
Sarah Elizabeth Rose 25, servant
His parents had been married for 26 years - 4 of their 6 children had survived.

In the 1901 Census Norman is listed as a boarder at Solihull Grammar School

1901 Census
Richard J Dingley
Age: 39
Address: 294 Hagley Rd, Edgbaston, Birmingham
Estimated birth year: abt 1862
Spouse: Emma Dingley, 42, tailor - employer, b. Birmingham
Birth Place: Birmingham
Edith M Dingley 15, b. Birmingham
Adelaide H Dingley 11, b. Birmingham
Minnie K Collins 26, mother's help
Polly Read Hughes 20, servant

He is commemorated on the war memorial in St. Augustine's Church, Edgbaston, Birmingham.;

Other Notes: DINGLEY, Lieutenant, NORMAN OLIVER, 6th Bn. Worcestershire Regiment and 93rd Coy. Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 5th May 1917. Age 22. Son of Richard John Dingley, of 330, Hagley Rd., Edgbaston, Birmingham. Also served at Gallipoli. IV. K. 49. Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun - Pas De Calais, France.;

Is photo available? Yes, see VMGCRA Patreon

END OF RECORD.

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