Matthew Charles Dixon VC

Name: Matthew Charles Dixon

Conflict: Crimean War

Gazetted: February 24, 1857

Service: Army

Place/date of birth: Avranches, Brittany, France/February 5, 1821

Rank when awarded VC (and later highest rank): Captain (later Major General)

Date of bravery: April 17, 1855

London Gazette citation:

On the 17^th April, 1855, about 2 P.M., when the battery he commanded was blown up by a shell from the enemy, which burst in the Magazine, destroyed the parapets, killed and wounded ten men, disabled five guns, and covered a sixth with earth; for most gallantly re-opening fire with the remaining gun before the enemy had ceased cheering from their parapets (on which they had mounted) and fighting it until sunset, despite the heavy concentrated fire of the enemy’s batteries, and the ruined state of his own.

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Other decorations: N/A

Place/date of death: Pembury, Kent/January 7, 1905

Grave/memorials: Kensal Green Cemetery, London; Plaque in Pembury Church, Kent; Royal Artillery Memorial, Woolwich, London

Origin of VC to the Lord Ashcroft collection: Purchased privately, 2014

Current location of VC: Displayed on rotation at The Lord Ashcroft Gallery: Extraordinary Heroes exhibition, Imperial War Museum