Introduction

In 2014 the centenary of the outbreak of World War One, Cumnock History Group began researching the names on the Cumnock War Memorial plus other men and women with Cumnock connections mentioned on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in the Cumnock Chronicle of the time. The research is not limited to those who died but also to men and women who served, using family history information.

The group would like to appeal to individuals with knowledge of family members for photographs of the soldier, either in uniform or not, and photos of medals or other memorabilia eg letters sent home from the Front. If you would be prepared to share these on this site, please email the web manager info@cumnockhistorygroup.org The group is willing to share any copies of documents found with the soldier's descendants.

Friday 21 March 2014

Aaron Dickens died 3 days before the Armistice

Aaron Dickens was born in Kirkintilloch about 1897 but his family lived in Cumnock for many years.

His father was Charles Dickens who was born in Warwickshire but appears as a lodger with Emanual Rolinson (my great grand uncle) in 1881 census at 7 Glengyron Row, Cumnock. He married a relation of the family he lodged with, Fanny Price, in 1883.

In 1891 they lived at Glaisnock Street
Charles Dickens 28 coal miner b England
Fanny Dickens 24 b Dalry
Thomas Dickens 5
Joseph Dickens 3
Emma G Dickens 1
children born Cumnock

1901 census
6 Freeland Place, Kirkintilloch
Charles Dickens 38
Fanny Dickens 34
Thomas Dickens 15
Joseph Dickens 13
Emma Goodman Dickens 11
James Hancock Dickens 9 b Cumnock
Aaron Dickens 4 b Kirkintilloch
George Dickens 1 b Kirkintilloch

Aaron was a private in the Highland Light Infantry when he died  on 7th November 1918, just 4 days before the Armistice.  He is buried at Valenciennes St Roch Cemetery in France. He was 21. He had previously been wounded in April 1918.

Kirkintilloch Herald Nov 1918
He is remembered on a stained glass window in the YMCA in Kirkintilloch
Kirkintilloch Gazette 4 Jun 1920
See him on
Cumnock Connections tree
He was my second cousin 2x removed

Here is his entry on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission site

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