DICKINSON, George Arthur
| Service Numbers: | NX114320, NX700205 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Major |
| Last Unit: | 56th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 25 July 1896 |
| Home Town: | Manly, Manly Vale, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Sydney Church of England Grammar School and the University of Sydney, New South Wales, Australia |
| Occupation: | University Student - later Barrister |
| Died: | Natural causes, Darwin, Northern Territory, Australia, 7 December 1981, aged 85 years |
| Cemetery: |
Darwin General Cemetery, N.T. Church of England 1243 |
| Memorials: | Northbridge (Shore) Sydney Church of England Grammar School Memorial Cricket Ground Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 14 Apr 1916: | Involvement 54th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Ceramic embarkation_ship_number: A40 public_note: '' | |
| 14 Apr 1916: | Embarked 54th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ceramic, Sydney | |
| 1 Aug 1916: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 54th Infantry Battalion | |
| 11 Oct 1918: | Transferred AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion | |
| 15 May 1919: | Embarked AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion, HT Orontes, England for return to Australia - disembarking Sydney 1 July 1919 | |
| 15 Aug 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 56th Infantry Battalion |
World War 2 Service
| 19 Feb 1940: | Involvement Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), NX114320 | |
|---|---|---|
| 7 Jun 1944: | Discharged Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Major, NX700205 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Michael Silver
George Arthur Dickinson was born George Arthur Ryan in Sydney in 1896 - one of two children to Sidney James Ryan and Alice Maud Dickinson. His sister Elma was born in 1899.
The children endured an unsettled childhood, with their father leaving the family in 1903 and their parents' divorcing in 1905. From that point their mother, Maudie had custody of the children, with George adopting his mother's maiden name.
A bright young man, his mother ensured he received a high quality education, with George attending the Sydney Church of England Grammar School and then the University of Sydney. After 12 months of Arts 1 he enlisted in the A.I.F serving as a Lieutenant with the 54th Battalion in 1916, rising to the role of Adjutant.
Discharged in 1919, he continued his strong involvement in military matters in the 1920s. He subsequently completed his Bachelor of Laws at the University of Sydney and worked in the NSW justice system in various administrative capacities, being Clerk of Arraings to several NSW Supreme Court judges, including Sir David Ferguson and Sir Thomas Bavin. In 1939 he was appointed a Barrister of the Supreme Court of NSW.
George Dickinson did not marry, although he was engaged to marry in 1929.
Maintaining his military interest during the 1930s, he served during World War II in various adminstrative capacities with the armoured corps, rising to the rank of Major.
Following his discharge he was added to the retired list of officers and granted the honorary rank of Lieutenant Colonel.
George Dickinson was one of the prosecutors appointed to the War Crimes Tribunal that tried Japanese prisoners at Manus Island, north of New Guinea in 1950.
In 1954 he moved to Darwin and worked for the Crown Law Office of the Northern Territory as a Crown Law Officer until 1965.
He came out of retirement to take a position as the legal advisor to the Darwin City Council from 1970 to 1977. In that role, he was instrumental in the development of local government in the Northern Territory.
His contribution to the establishment of local government and the community of Darwin was recognised in 1983 with the naming of Dickinson Park at Karama, a north eastern suburb of Darwin.
Lieutenant Colonel George Arthur Dickinson VD LLB, died in Darwin in 1981 at the age of 85.
References:
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article231852893
http://www.ntlis.nt.gov.au/placenames/view.jsp?id=3059
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