FRANCIS JAMES DICKSON
Born: 1891, Bombay, India.
Died: 26th October 1914; age 23; KiA.
Enlistment Location: Woolwich, Kent; Date: 10th January 1907.
Date of Entry Therein: 15th August 1914.
Rank: Acting Bombardier: Service Number: 43920.
Regiment: Royal Horse Artillery, ‘E’ Battery.
Medals Awarded: Victory, British War & 1914 Star + Clasp.
Memorial Reference:
Panel 5 & 9.
West Vlaanderen,
Belgium.
Relatives Notified & Address: Son of Mrs. Dickson, of 438, Lower Addiscombe Road, Croydon, Surrey.
CENSUS
1911 India.
Francis was 19 years old, a Trumpeter in the Royal Horse Artillery, ‘G’ Battery.
Francis’s family:
Father – John Dickson, born 1850, Devonport, Devon. A Captain in the Indian Army – Ordnance Depot.
Mother – Esther Dickson (nee Murch), born 1861, Woolwich, Kent.
Brother – William John Dickson, born 1879, Bombay, India.
Brother – George Henry Dickson, born August 1888, Aden, Bombay, India.
Brother – Alfred Charles Dickson, born 1899, Quetta Resident, Bengal.
Leicester Evening Mail – Saturday, 28th April 1917 – DEATH OF CAPTAIN JOHN DICKSON – Captain John Dickson was 69 years old. He joined the Army at an early ag, and served in various parts of the Empire. In all, he was 43 years’ service, including 37 years in India, retiring from the Indin Ordnance Department with the rank of captain. Desiring to do his bit in the present war, he offered his services to the War Office, and some six months ago, he went to St. Austell to assist Colonel William Thomas Lovering at the recruiting office. During his stay in the town, he earned the respect and esteem of those with whom he came into contact. Captain Dickson, whose home was in Southampton, was well known in Leicester. He leaves a widow, daughters, and three sons in the Army.
The Coroner’s inquiry into the circumstances of his death was held at the residence of Mr. and Mrs. William Skinfill Giddey, of Ranelagh Road, Mount Charles, where the deceased lodged. Colonel Lovering, who said that Captain Dickson, on the previous evening, worked with the other members of the staff up to 10 o’clock, when he said he felt very tired, but this was only regarded as a natural remark after the strenuous work that was done.
Bessie Stephens, a washerwoman, said she was at the house when Captain Dickson arrived for lunch. On entering deceased mentioned to Mrs. Gidney that he had walked homewards with a young lady and that she had nearly run him off his legs. He left his topcoat in the hall and went to the lavatory at the bottom of the back garden. After some 15 minutes, Mrs. Blanche Hollie Gidney remarked on the absence of the deceased and twice sent Bessie Stephens to call him to lunch. No response being forthcoming, a neighbour, Mr. Edmund Gill, a captain in the merchant service, was called, and he burst open the door and found Captain John Dickson dead lying on the floor with his back against the door.
Dr. Shaw said he arrived a few minutes after being called. Judging from the history of the case and the circumstances of the death, he was of the opinion that Captain Dickson died from syncope. The deceased appeared to him as one prematurely old. The Coroner said the evidence pointed to death from natural causes, and the Jury returned a verdict to that effect.
The body was laid to rest in St. Austell Cemetery. The St. Austell Volunteers turned out in large numbers to pay the last tribute of respect to one who had been ever ready to give them a kindly word of encouragement in their drills. The Company formed a guard of honour at the house and cemetery. The R.G.A. at Falmouth sent a firing party of 20 men, who led the procession with arms reversed, and from the hearse to the graveside, the Union Jack covering the coffin was borne shoulder high by R.G.A. men. The coffin was interred in a brick grave, and on either side, V.T.C. men and soldiers stood at “attention.” The last rites being said, three volleys were fired, and the “Last Post” was sounded by the buglers from Falmouth.
Soldiers’ Effects and Will in favour of Miss Mabel Reeve – of 191, Ranelagh Road, Ipswich.
Francis is also remembered on the St. Nicholas Congregational Church war memorial, once sited at St. Nicholas Street, Ipswich.
E.A.D.T. – Tuesday, 11th March 1913 – WERE HIS DISCHARGE PAPERS THE OBJECT? At the Ipswich Police Court on Monday, 10th March 1913, Driver Leonard Clarence Pritchard, of G Battery, Royal Horse Artillery, Ipswich Barracks, was before the Mayor of Ipswich, Mr. Edward Colby Ransome, in the chair, Messrs. Alexander Gibb, Alfred Sizer, William Harry Calver, and Francis Alfred Cobbold, charged with stealing a gold finger ring, valued at 25s.
Bombardier Francis James Dickson, of the same Battery as the defendant, said they were quartered together. On Thursday night, they slept in the same room; the next morning, Francis missed a gold ring, which he had left in the room the previous night. Later in the day, he went to Messrs. Brown and Bradbrook, pawnbrokers, and recovered the ring.
Detective James said Leonard Pritchard had told him the ring had been pawned at Messrs. Brown and Bradbrook’s in his name, whereupon he admitted the theft. Leonard said he was a married man “off the strength,” and being badly in want of money to meet some debt, he pawned the ring and paid it.
Detective James, in giving further evidence, said Leonard Pritchard told him in conversation that he committed the theft in order to get his discharge papers.
The Mayor, Edward Colby Ransome, said if they convicted, it would mean the defendant’s discharge from the Army, so they would discharge him, binding him over in the sum of 40s. to be of good behaviour for twelve months, and to come up if called upon.
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