Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Life

Victor Knowlton Dickinson was born on the 3rd August 1893, at Goodwood, Adelaide, South Australia, the son of Avery Wilson Dickinson and Celia Lucy Dorman. Victor’s middle name is sometimes recorded as Knowelton.

His siblings were Oressa (1886), Lucy (1895), Florence (1897), Constance (1899) and Avery (1890).

Schooling

Victor attended school at Goodwood and in December 1908 he passed the Junior Examination in Algebra and the Pupil Teacher Entrance Examination.

He then became a student at Adelaide High School where in 1909. He passed Junior Examinations in English Literature, English History, Geography, Algebra, Geometry & Physics. In December 1910 he passed Senior Examinations in English Literature and Modern History and Junior Examination in Latin.

University

Victor was studying toward a Bachelor of Arts at The University of Adelaide, passing Education in November 1913 and History of the UK & Physics I in November 1914.

From November 16th to December 10th 1914 he attended the School of Instruction in Junior Cadet Training at Jubilee Oval, Adelaide.

World War I

Victor was a 21 years and 6 months old student when he enlisted on the 25th February 1915. He was 5’11½“, 160 lbs, with fair hair, blue eyes and brown hair. He became a Private in the Australian Army Medical Corp (SN 1080).
In May 1915 Mr. and Mrs. A. E. DeLaine, of Edwardstown, entertained a large company of friends at their residence to bid farewell to Victor.

He embarked on the HMAT “Geelong” on the 31st May 1915 and was in Egypt before embarking from Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 4th September 1915. Victor was sick in late December 1916 and was onboard the “Mudros” which arrived in Alexandria on the 16th January 1916.
On the 15th March 1916 he proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Force disembarking at Marseilles, France on the 21st March.

Victor had two weeks leave in England in early June 1916 and had two brief periods sick with “defective teeth”.

It is unclear when Victor became a Corporal, but Victor transferred to the 27th Battalion 27th July 1916 and retained his rank as a Corporal.

Death

On August 4th 1916 the 27th Battalion AIF were engaged in the Battle of Pozières in northern France and Victor was reported wounded and missing.

A Court of Enquiry on the 30 July 1917 determined that Victor was Killed in Action on August 4th 1916.

He is commemorated at the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article60472746

Register (Adelaide, SA : 1901 - 1929), Tuesday 28 August 1917, page 6

"LATE CPL. V. K. DICKINSON.

Mr. and Mrs. Avery Dickinson, of Black Forest, have received official intimation of the death of their son, Cpl. Victor Knowlton Dickinson, who 12 months ago was reported wounded and missing.

Cpl Dickinson was at the time of his enlistment in training in the State Educational Department. He was an exceptionally promising student, and was granted an extension of time at the University for the B.A. degree.

He enlisted in the Army Medical Service. He was at Gallipoli until the evacuation, when he accompanied his battalion to Belgium. In July of last year he obtained a transfer to the infantry, and was killed, in action at Pozieres on August 4, 1916.
Cpl. Dickinson was in his 23rd year. He was closely identified with the Unley Methodist Church and Sunday school. His brother, Cpl Avery Dickinson was wounded at Gallipoli, and died at sea.

Victor left an estate worth £170.

Brother

Avery Benjamin Dickinson (b 1890) was a farmer. He joined the 9th Light Horse, AIF and served at Gallipoli. He received a shell wound to the back on the 21st July 1915 and embarked for Malta on HS “Sicilia” but died of his wounds on the 22nd July 1915 and was buried at sea.

Sources
National Archives of Australia
recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3505401
National Library of Australia https://trove.nla.gov.au
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article164136031
Trove items tagged Victor Knowlton Dickinson
GenealogySA https://www.genealogysa.org.au
The University of Adelaide Calandars 1914 & 1915

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.