| Matthew Charles Dixon | |
|---|---|
Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol |
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| Born | 5 February 1821 Avranches, Basse-Normandie |
| Died | 8 January 1905 (aged 83) Pembury, Kent |
| Buried at | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch | British Army |
| Rank | Major General |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards | Victoria Cross Order of the Bath Légion d'honneur |
Major General Matthew Charles Dixon VC CB (5 February 1821 – 8 January 1905) was a recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
He was the eldest son of Major-General Matthew Charles Dixon RE (1791–1860) and his 2nd wife Emma Dalton (1794–1853) and was born in France on the 5th Feb 1821.
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He entered the British Army in 1839, was promoted to Lieutenant in 1841, Captain in 1848.
He was 34 years old, and a Captain in the Royal Regiment of Artillery, British Army during the Crimean War when the following deed took place for which he was awarded the VC.
On 17 April 1855 at Sebastopol, the Crimea, at about 2pm the battery commanded by Captain Dixon was blown up by a shell from the enemy which burst in the magazine, destroying the parapets, killing or wounding 10 men, disabling five guns and covering a sixth with earth. The captain reopened fire with the remaining gun and continued firing it until sunset, despite the heavy concentration of fire from the enemy's batteries and the ruined state of his own.
As well as the VC, he received the 5th class of the Medjidie and the Turkish Medal and was made a Knight of the Légion d'honneur.
He was promoted to Major and Lt-Colonel in 1855, Colonel in 1862 and retired from the Royal Artillery in 1869 with the honorary rank of Major-General.He later achieved the rank of Major General.
On the 13th May 1862 he married Henrietta Letitia Eliza Bosanquet (1834–1926), daughter of Admiral C.J. Bosanquet of Wildwood. They had no family and his medal is in the possession of a descendant of his sister, Frances Maria Clarke née Dixon.
On leaving the army he took up residence at "Woodgate", Pembury near Tonbridge and lived there until he died on the 7th Jan 1905 aged 84yrs and was buried at Kensal Green Cemetery on the 12th Jan 1905. His wife survived him by 21 years.