DICKINSON, Vincent Robert
| Service Numbers: | 3, V146021 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Essendon, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Captain |
| Last Unit: | Echelon & Records |
| Born: | Thorpdale, Victoria, Australia , 29 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Shepparton, Greater Shepparton, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Thorpdale State School (2966), Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Dingley, Victoria, Australia , 9 March 1964, aged 69 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Springvale Botanical Cemetery, Melbourne Cremated at Springvale Cemetery, 11 March 1964 |
| Memorials: | Moonee Ponds Methodist Church HB |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3, Essendon, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 3, 7th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion | |
| 20 Aug 1916: | Wounded AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 7th Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , GSW (face) | |
| 22 Mar 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Headquarters Staff | |
| 28 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, Headquarters Staff |
World War 2 Service
| 22 Jan 1942: | Enlisted Lieutenant, V146021, Echelon & Records, Royal Park, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 22 Jan 1942: | Enlisted V146021 | |
| 26 Nov 1942: | Promoted Captain, Echelon & Records | |
| 20 Sep 1946: | Discharged Captain, V146021, Echelon & Records |
Help us honour Vincent Robert Dickinson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Malcolm Duffield
Discharged from WW1 service 28/03/1919, but re-enlisted during WW2.
Service in records unit 2/02/1942 to 21/09/1946 rising from rank Lieutenant to Captain.
Biography contributed by Peter Sunners
Vincent Robert Dickinson was born on 29 Dec 1894 in Thorpdale, Victoria.
Vincent was the third child of Francis Dickinson, and Louisa Shove Miller. Vincent, his parents and the family lived in Thorpdale until 1910 when they all moved to Melbourne. Initially they lived in the suburb of Northcote and later in Moonee Ponds.
Australia entered World War 1 on 5 Aug 1914, two weeks later Vincent on 17 Aug 1914, aged 19 years 8 months enlisted. He was the first of the three Dickinson brothers to enlist. On his application form he cited his military experience as currently serving in the 58th Infantry Regiment but had spent one year in junior cadets and another year in senior cadets. The cadet experience harked back to Thorpdale which had an active cadet program for the children at that time. Vincent was assigned to the 7th Battalion, under Lt. Col. H.E. "Pompey" Elliot, as were many enlistees from Essendon and Moonee Ponds.
He took part in the Anzac Landing and saw service in Egypt, Belgium and France. He was wounded on Sunday 20th August 1916 just north of Pozières and was evacuated to England. He returned to his Unit three months later.
Vincent returned to Australia on 16th January 1919 and his A.I.F. appointment was terminated on 23 Mar 1919. He was reunited with his brothers in Melbourne and they entered the menswear business They opened a series of shops around Melbourne, the first store in Northcote, followed by another store in Glenhuntly Road, Elsternwick and then finally a store in Chapel Street, Prahran.
In 1920 he married Dorothy Dickinson.
The Argus, Saturday 11 December 1920, page 13
DICKINSON - DICKINSON. - On the 6th November 1920, at Methodist Church, Northcote, by Rev. J.F. Warren, Vincent Robert, youngest son of the late Francis and Mrs. Dickinson, 9 Auburn avenue, Northcote, to Dorothy, youngest daughter of the late William and Mrs. Dickinson, Ashby-de-la-Zouch, England.
Vincent and Dorothy were to have four children, three daughters and one son: Dorothy Haidee Dickinson b. 6 Oct 1921, Northcote; Margaret Thelma Dickinson b. 3 Oct 1925, Malvern; Francis John Dickinson b. 25 Jun 1927, Malvern; Betty Jean Dickinson b. 9 Aug 1929, Malvern.
Vincent enlisted for the Second World War on 22 Jan 1942, shortly after the Americans entered the war as a result of Pearl Harbour. Aged 47 at the time he enlisted, his role was no longer active duty on the front line but was purely administrative, working in the records department for the 2nd Echelon of the Australian Army Headquarters.
After the war Vincent maintained a close contact working with the RSL and in 1950 secured a contract with them which took him to London for two years sponsoring British migrants at Australia House. On his return to Australia in late 1953, Vincent took on new roles with the RSL. The electoral rolls simply listed Vincent with the occupation of 'manager'.
In 1954 he finished his job with the RSL and took on the job as manager of Kingswood Golf Club in Dingley.
Vincent never retired, he continued working but there were some health issues, in particular suffering from high blood pressure. Vincent Robert Dickinson died suddenly on 9 Mar 1964 at Dingley RSL during a game of lawn bowls at the age of 69.
( Reference:Dickinson Family by Richard Walls, August 2018, ISBN 978-0-9806571-1-1)
Click images to start slideshow.