Medal Card
Derek Johnstone has provided the following:
John William Dickinson was born in 1890 at West End, Newcastle upon Tyne, to parents John Dickinson from Penrith, Cumberland and Kate Dickinson from Leeds in Yorkshire. Records in 1891 show John was eight months old and his family lived at Elswick, Newcastle.
In 1901 the Dickinson family lived at 30 South View, Elswick, where John’s father was employed as a tailor. Also in the house at this time were siblings Fred 18, Jane 15, Kate 12, Elizabeth 8, Thomas 7, Lilly 4 and James, aged 3. John was aged 10 at this time.
The 1911 Census shows his family living at 6, Stratford Road, Heaton, when John was 20, single and employed as a bagman. Siblings in the house at this time included Jennie 25, Kate 22, Lizzie 18, Thomas 17, Lilly 14, James 1 and Emily aged 8.
Military records show John enlisted at Newcastle-on-Tyne and his middle name is recorded as John Wilson Dickinson. His Pension Index Card also uses the name John Wilson Dickinson and his mother's entry recorded as K. L. Dickinson. John first served as No. 140413 in the Royal Field Artillery.
John William Dickinson is remembered in Heaton on H91.24 and H91.25
