From the Burnt Records

Born 27^th August 1889 - he lived at 94 Holly Road, Northampton when he signed up.

He was aged 25 years and 2 months, 5’ 5½” tall, chest 35” (2” expansion), when he signed up on 24^th Nov 1914 at Northampton.

He worked as a telegraphist, and was tested 26^th November 1914 at Chatham Post Office by A E Kimber – overseer, and was classed as Very Good.

Appointed to Royal Engineers 56964 9^th Divisional Signal Company.

He was the only child of Robert Watts & Jessie Emily Dykes of ‘Rostrevor’, Glassbrook Road, Rushden.

Embarked 9^th May 1915 with Expeditionary Force.

He was reported as having been killed on 24^th March 1918, by a fellow soldier Sapper L Key, now a prisoner of War, on 3^rd October 1918.

Mr and Mrs R Dykes, "Rostrevor," Glassbrook road, Rushden, have received official news that their son, Sapper Bert Dykes, Royal Engineers (Signal Company), has been missing from his unit since March 24th. Sapper Dykes, who voluntarily enlisted from Northampton in November, 1914, went to France on May 10th, 1915, and has once been gassed. As a lad he was employed at the Post Office, Rushden, subsequently being transferred to Northampton Post Office, where he remained right up to the time of enlistment.

Rushden's Casualty List

About three weeks ago we published the official news that Sapper "Bert" Dykes, of the Royal Engineers, only son of Mr and Mrs R W Dykes, of "Rostrevor," Glassbrook road, Rushden, was missing from his unit. Mr and Mrs Dykes have now heard from one of their son's comrades, who is a prisoner of war in Germany, that Sapper Dykes is dead, but up to the present have received no official confirmation of the sad news.