DICKINSON, Avery Benjamin
| Service Number: | 247 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 21 October 1914, Morphettville, South Australia |
| Last Rank: | Lance Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 9th Light Horse Regiment |
| Born: | Goodwood Park, South Australia, 11 February 1890 |
| Home Town: | Black Forest, Unley, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Farrier |
| Died: | Died of wounds received at Gallipoli, "At Sea" aboard H.S. Sicilia, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey, 22 July 1915, aged 25 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Grand Masonic Lodge WW1 Honour Board (2), Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Goodwood Public School WW1 Roll of Honor, Goodwood St George Anglican Church Memorial Tower, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing, Unley Arch of Remembrance, Unley Town Hall WW1 Honour Board, Yorketown and District of Melville Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 21 Oct 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Morphettville, South Australia | |
|---|---|---|
| 11 Feb 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 247, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '2' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Karroo embarkation_ship_number: A10 public_note: '' | |
| 11 Feb 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 247, 9th Light Horse Regiment, HMAT Karroo, Melbourne | |
| 22 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 247, 9th Light Horse Regiment, ANZAC / Gallipoli, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 247 awm_unit: 9th Australian Light Horse Regiment awm_rank: Lance Corporal awm_died_date: 1915-07-22 |
Biography
Early Life
Avery Benjamin Dickinson was born at Goodwood Park, South Australia, on February 25, 1890, the son of Avery Wilson Dickinson and Celia Lucy Dorman.
His siblings were Victor (1893), Oressa (1886), Lucy (1895), Florence (1897) and Constance (1899)
He attended the Goodwood Public School.
He was for some years engaged in gardening pursuits on his father's property. Later he took up farming at Brentwood, on Yorke Peninsula. He exercised a considerable influence for good in that district, and was a member of the Holdfast Masonic Lodge. Previous to enlisting he returned to his home, and was engaged in studies with a view to becoming a candidate for the Methodist ministry. In his earlier years he was closely identified with the Unley Methodist Church, and held various offices in it and the Sunday-school.
World War I
Avery enlisted on the 21st October 1914 (SN 247), he was 24 years and 10 months old, 5’11”, 164 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He commenced as a Private in the 9th Light Horse. His occupation was recorded as Farmer.
He embarked from Melbourne, Australia on the HMAT Karroo on the 11th February 1915.
We know from a letter Avery sent to a friend in Honiton, YP that Avery was in Egypt on the 24th April 1915. The letter was printed in the Register on Tuesday 20 July 1915.
“It is now nearly six weeks since we arrived here (Cairo), being about 80 miles from Alexandra, and the country is wonderfully reproductive under Kitchener's irrigation scheme.” He marveled at the Pyramids, ancient mosques and Arabic buildings. He further stated that “Heliopolis is the European suburb of Cairo, and contains some fine buildings, including the largest hotel in the world. This building was intended as a casino, but the authorities would not allow it to be used for that purpose. At present it is used as a military hospital. We expect to leave shortly for the seat of action.”
Avery proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 16th May 1915.
Death
Avery received a shell wound to the back on the 21st July 1915 and was transferred via the 1St Australian Clearing Station to the Hospital Ship. He embarked for Malta on HS “Sicilia” but died of his wounds on the 22nd July 1915 and was buried at sea.
He is commemorated on the memorial at Lone Pine.
His estate was valued at £367.
Brother
Victor Knowlton Dickinson (1893) was a student teacher who served with the Australia Army Medical Corp at Gallipoli and in France. He then transferred to the 27th Bn AIF and was a casualty at the Battle of Pozières on 4th August 1916.
Sources
National Archives of Australia
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3505260
National Library of Australia - Trove
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59416174
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212161787
Various Trove newspaper articles tagger Avery Benjamin Dickinson
Author: EE (Beth) Filmer
Note: Beth Filmer's Great Great Grandfather Thomas Stephen Filmer was the brother of Victor and Avery’s grandmother Eliza Filmer. Thomas Stephen Filmer and Eliza Filmer arrived in South Australia onboard the “Lloyds” on the 4th December 1838.
Submitted 28 May 2025 by Eleanor Filmer
Biography
"THE LATE CORPORAL A. B. DICKINSON.
Corporal A. B. Dickinson, who joined the second contingent as a member of the 3rd Brigade of the 9th Light Horse, was wounded in action in the Dardanelles and died on the hospital ship on July 22, and was buried at sea. He was the son of Mr. Avery Dickinson, of Black Forest. Born at Goodwood Park on February 25, 1890, he early developed a fine physique, and for some years engaged in gardening
on his father's property. Later he took up farming at Brentwood, on Yorke Peninsula. Previous to enlisting he had returned to his home, and was engaged in studies, with a view to becoming a candidate for the Methodist ministry. As a preacher he gave promise of much success. In his earlier years he was closely identified with the Unley Methodist Church, and held various offices in both church and Sunday-school. He was the first of the many young men who have gone from that church to fall, and the tidings of this death has caused much sadness in the church and Sunday-school. At the centenary celebration on Saturday last the large assemblige stood in silence as an expression of respect for the fallen hero and of sympathy with the bereaved family. A brother, Victor Dickinson, who was in the Education Department, is a member of the 27th Battalion." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 14 Aug 1915 (nla.gov.au)
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