Darlington Library Collection
Reference: D/DL 24 Catalogue Title: Darlington Library Collection Area: Catalogue Category: Antiquarian and Composite Records Description: Colonel Mark Dillon M.C. 1896-1997
Covering Dates: 1992-1997
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- Darlington Library Collection
Catalogue Contents
Educated at Haileybury, Hertford from the age of 14, Mark Dillon joined the Officer Training Corps. He started work as a mining engineer at Seaham Colliery, but at the outbreak of the First World War in 1914, he joined the 14th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers, as a 2nd Lieutenant. After a year's training they went to France and took part in the Battle of Loos. While in France, he transferred to the 2nd Battalion Heavy Branch Machine Gun Corps (which later became the Tank Corps) on 25 December 1916.
He fought at Cambrai in 1917, where he was twice mentioned in despatches and was awarded the Military Cross for diverting a tank attack, which he realised was heading for a German artillery position.
Following the First World War, he instructed at Bovington, then was posted to India. Returning to England in 1934, he was then posted to Egypt. At the outbreak of the Second World War, he worked at the War Office assessing new weapons, including the Canal Defence Light.
Colonel Dillon retired in 1947, became a farmer and was later involved in local politics.
He died in 1997 at the age of 101.
