William Frederick Dines was born on 10 September 1878, the youngest of the six children of Esau Dines (1842-1924) and Laura Jemima Dines née Angus (1843-1901). His birth was registered in the 4th quarter of 1878 in the Hackney registration district, Middlesex (now Greater London).
The 1881 census shows him, aged 2 years, having been born in Hackney, living at 6 Edward Place, Bethnal Green, with his parents and his four surviving siblings: Laura Elizabeth Dines (1866-1933); Alice Mary Dines (1868-1902); Rose Jane Dines (1873-1945) and Charles George Dines (1876-1954). His fifth sibling had died in infancy, Esau Thomas Dines (1871-1872). His father was described as a wood carver; his eldest sister was shown as a cigar maker whilst the other siblings were listed as scholars.
When the 1891 census was undertaken he was shown as aged 14 years and giving his place of birth as Old Ford, London. He was residing at 24 Hobbs Place, Shoreditch, London, with his parents and three of his siblings: Laura - a cigar leaf stripper; Rose - a laundress ironer and Charles - an errand boy. His father was still listed as a wood carver.
In the 1901 census he is recorded as aged 23 years, having been born in Old Ford, London, a wood carver at 9 Clinger Street, Hoxton, with just his parents. His father was also shown as a wood carver.
On 24 August 1902 he married Annie Elizabeth Draper (1879-1951) at the St John the Baptist Church, Hoxton, London. The marriage register states that he was a bachelor and a chair maker of 14 Clinger Street, Hoxton, whilst his wife was shown as a spinster living at 3 Brunswick Place, Hoxton, the daughter of George Alexander Draper (1854-1903), a wood turner.
They had four children: Annie Alice Dines (1902-1903), who was born on 22 December 1902 and when baptised on 1 March 1903 at St John's Church, Hoxton, the baptismal register showed the family living at 96 Murray Street, Hoxton and that her father was a chair maker. She sadly died in infancy on or around 16 December 1903 and was buried on 23 December 1903 in Newham, London; Florence Elizabeth Dines (1904-1991) was born on 6 September 1904; William Horace Dines (1907-1997) was born on 8 February 1907 and when baptised on 24 February 1907 at St John's Church, Hoxton, the baptismal register showed the family residing at 40 Alma Street, Hoxton and that his father was a chair maker. Albert Dines (1910-1935) was born on 25 October 1910 and when he was baptised on 13 November 1910 at St John's Church, Hoxton, the baptismal register showed the family living at 44 Bridport Place, Hoxton and that his father was a chair maker.
When he completed his 1911 census return form, he described himself as a wood carver who had been born in St Luke's, London and that he was living in two rooms at 44 Bridport Place, Hoxton, with his wife, who was a box maker, together with their three children: Florence, William and Albert. He claimed on the form that he and his wife had been married for 10 years and that she had three children all of whom were still alive and none had died. This seems to be at variance with the records found for Annie Alice Dines who had died in 1903.
When he enlisted on 31 August 1914 at Finsbury Barracks as a Rifleman in the 7th Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, he claimed that he had previously served in the regiment and had been discharged at the termination of his ten year engagement on 4 March 1905 as a territorial soldier. He gave his age as 37 years, that he was a cabinet maker and had been born in Bethnal Green. His home address was recorded as 20 Crondall Street, Hoxton. He was allocated the service number B/2660. He was later transferred to the regiment's 3rd Battalion and entered France on 29 November 1914.
On 16 September 1918 he suffered a gun-shot wound to the left side of his neck and was returned to England on 28 September 1918. He died from his injury and septic pneumonia on 10 October 1918 at Wharncliffe War Hospital, Wadsley, Sheffield, Yorkshire and his name appears on their Roll of Honour. His death was registered in the 4th quarter of 1918 in the Wortley registration district, Yorkshire West Riding.
He was buried in Plot O.7, Row 1, Grave RN20269 in the Abney Park Cemetery, 215 Stoke Newington High Street, London, N16 0LH and as he has no headstone, he is commemorated there on Panel 3 of the Screen Wall located near the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's Cross of Sacrifice.
On 15 March 1919 his army effects totalling £14-5s-3d were sent to his widow who was also awarded a pension for herself and three children of £1-9s-7d per week with effect from 14 April 1919. On 14 November 1919 she was sent his £19-0s-0d war gratuity. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
He is shown as FREDK. DINES on the Hoxton war memorial at Holy Trinity Church, 3 Bletchley Street, London, N1 7QG. He is also commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission's website and as William Dines on the Imperial War Museum's Lives of the First World War website.
In October 2023 we were contacted by his grand-daughter, Veronica Johnson, who pointed out some discrepancies in our résumé of this man which we have corrected. She was also able to supply his date of birth and two images of her grand-father for which we are very grateful. We have used one that was taken during his World War One service.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
