Alfred John DICKSON

DICKSON, Alfred John

Service Number: 3304
Enlisted: 21 July 1915, Geelong, Vic.
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 5th Pioneer Battalion
Born: Yering, Victoria, Australia , 20 October 1892
Home Town: Newtown, Greater Geelong, Victoria
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Carpenter
Died: Kew, Victoria, Australia, 19 December 1957, aged 65 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: Boroondara (Kew) General Cemetery, Victoria
MAUS NW 04 06 007
Memorials: Newtown All Saints Church Honour Roll
Show Relationships

World War 1 Service

21 Jul 1915: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3304, 7th Infantry Battalion, Geelong, Vic.
11 Oct 1915: Involvement Private, 3304, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Nestor embarkation_ship_number: A71 public_note: ''
11 Oct 1915: Embarked Private, 3304, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Nestor, Melbourne
14 Jun 1919: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3304, 5th Pioneer Battalion

Help us honour Alfred John Dickson's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Faithe Jones

The son of David Alfred Dickson, deceased 1897 and Mary Ellen Dickson, nee Freeman, of 81 Aphrasia Street Newtown. At the time of his enlistment on 21 July 1915, Alfred stated that he was employed by the Home Affairs Department Melbourne as a carpenter at the rate of 1/7 per hour.  Alfred’s older brother, Archibald David Dickson had previously enlisted on 29 May 1915.

Alfred  was appointed to the 7th Battalion,11th Reinforcements, however in August was transferred to the 8th Battalion.  Alfred embarked on the ship Nestor on 11 October 1915, and initially disembarked in Egypt. Recognising his trade as a carpenter, Alfred was taken on strength to the 5th Pioneer Battalion on 26 February 1916 where he remained till his discharge in 1919.

Alfred finally arrived in France in June 1916.  In August 1917, Alfred was penalised 3 days pay for ‘failing to clean billets as directed’. After the Armistice, Alfred was returned to England in February 1919, prior to departing for Australia, arriving in April, then discharged on 14 June 1919.

Sadly, Alfred’s older brother, Archibald died in France of a lung disease on 21 August 1917, aged 26.

Later Alfred married Ella Grace Phillips.

Read more...