Orders, Decorations and Medals

A Great War ‘Battle of Amiens’ M.M. group of three awarded to Acting Sergeant J. L. Dickson, Tank Corps

Military Medal, G.V.R. (91643 Pte., 5/Tank C.); British War and Victory Medals (91643 Pte., Tank Corps) nearly extremely fine (3) £600-800

M.M. London Gazette 24 January 1919. ‘91643 Pte. Dickson, J.L., 5th Bn. Tank Corps (Glasgow)’.

Recommendation states: ‘Near Demuin, August 8, 1918, this man was actiing as first driver of the tank commanded by 2nd Lieut. Birch. This tank engaged a hostile field battery at close range. Pte. Dickson was wounded early in the engagement, but continued to drive his tank, which he manoeuvred with such skill that one gun of the battery was knocked out and many of the gunners killed or wounded before the tank received two direct hits which put it out of action. His courage and coolness on this occasion were worthy of the highest praise’ (Lieutenant Birch was awarded the Military Cross for the same action).

James Lockhead Dickson, of 24 Woodcroft Avenue, Broomhill, Glasgow, a Cashier by occupation, entered into the Army Service Corps (Motor Transport) at Glasgow on 20 October 1916, aged 29 years, 6 months. He was transferred to the M.G.C. (Tanks) in December 1916 and entered the France/Flanders theatre of war in June 1917 and was posted to the 5th Battalion Tank Corps in July 1917, graded as a 1st Class Tank Mechanic. The 5th Battalion formed part of the 4th Brigade of the 4th Army. He was wounded and awarded the M.M. for bravery in the action near Demuin during the battle of Amiens in August 1918. Dickson was promoted to Lance-Corporal in June 1918 and Acting Sergeant in November the same year. He was discharged on 31 March 1920. Sold with copied services papers, m.i.c., gazette extracts and War Diary extracts.