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| George Frederick Dickens [CFT #10603] Born: 1891-Nov-5 Died: 1965-Jul-17 |
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| b Pill, Somerset d Weston-super-Mare, Somerset Lived in Pill, Somerset. George was the youngest recipient of the DSC, aged only 19. He was the son of George Frederick Dickens born 1841 Pill, Somerset and died 03 06 1912 Pill, Somerset and Mary Anne Ball born 1852, Leicestershire and died 24 01 1922 Pill. George had been married previously 06 09 1863 Bristol, Gloucestershire to Elizabeth Yeatman Gilmore born 1843 Somerset and died 25 09 1890 Pill. They had eight children. George and Margaret had 3 children, 2 of whom died young; Margaret #13592 at 28 and Nigel #13596 at just 8 RETIRED NAVAL COMMANDER'S DEATH The death occurred last Saturday at his home,38 Bristol Road, Weston-super-Mare, of Lt-Commander George Frederick Dickens, who during a distinguished Naval career won the DSC for his bravery and devotion to duty in a famous sea battle in the 1914-18 War. He had been in ill-health for six years. Born at Lodway, near Bristol, in 1891, the son of Captain and Mrs.Dickens, he came of seataring ancestry dating back some five centuries. Thus it was not surprising that he chose to follow the sea as a career. He joined HMS Worcester as a cadet in 1907, excelling in boat-pulling, cricket, football and boxing. At boxing he became champion at his weight and was runner-up for the king's gold medal. Graduating in 1909 he was gazetted Midshipman Royal Naval Reserve and proceeded to sea. Shortly after obtaining his first officer-grade certificate, the 1914-18 War broke out and, a Sub-Lieutenant he was appointed to HMS Aquitania. But, by a peculiar stroke of chance he did not sail in that ship but instead joined HMS Carmania, an armed merchant cruiser attached to the South Atlantic Squadron. Within a few weeks his ship gained lasting fame as a result of her epic and unique duel with the German merchant cruiser, Cap Trafalgar, off Trinidad. It was in this action, for his bravery and devotion to duty, he was awarded the DSC and was also Mentioned in Despatches. Later he served for over two years in Grecian and Turkish waters. After demobilisation he resumed his career as a seagoing officer of the Mercantile Marine with a view to becoming ultimately principal of the Nautical Department of the Merchant Venturers' College in Bristol. He served in many parts of the world and obtained his Extra Master's Certificate. With a young family and qualifications of the highest degree, he left the sea to pursue his goal but was one of those involved in the shipping slump of the early thirties and with the closing of the Nautical Department he was forced to take employment in fields far removed fro his sphere. A few days after the outbreak of the 1939-45 War, he was again mobilised in the rank of Lt.-Commander and served through the war being chiefly engaged in the fitting of defensive equipment for merchant ships. During this time he gained his reserve decoration. In June 1942 while Lt.-Commander Dickens was away on duty his home received a direct hit from a bomb during an air raid. His eight-year-old son, Nigel was killed and his wife severely shaken after being buried for many hours beneath rubble. In 1947 further tragedy struck in the accidental drowning of their daughter Joan, in Sweden. During retirement he became interested in several local properties and through the business work entailed, he came into contact with many, each of whom was struck by his enthusiasm, attending to detail, and intolerant of anything which did not confirm to the best standard. He was a familiar figure as he walked the sea front - one of his greatest pleasures.Extracted from a local paper - probably the Bristol Evening Post |
1: 1919 Margaret Joan Dickensc 2: 1924 Desmond Anthony George (Dag) Dickensc W/C 3: 1933 Nigel George Dickensc | ||||||||||
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