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William John (Bill) DICKENS MC Update Details

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4987

DICKENS, William John

• Personal Details
• Service History
• Personal Stories

Step 1: Personal Details

Service Numbers:	548, VX114291, V159785
Enlisted:	4 March 1915, Keswick, South Australia
Last Rank:	Major
Last Unit:	Headquarters Staff
Born:	Mount Browne, New South Wales, 26 October 1893
Home Town:	Cowell, Franklin Harbour, South Australia
Schooling:	Not yet discovered
Occupation:	Farmer
Died:	Natural causes, Barmera, South Australia, 16 October 1976, aged 82 years
Cemetery:	Barmera (Upper Murray) Garden of Memory Cemetery
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Step 2: Service History

World War 1 Service

4 Mar 1915:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 548, Keswick, South Australia
31 May 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 548, 27th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '15' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Geelong embarkation_ship_number: A2 public_note: ''
31 May 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 548, 27th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Geelong, Adelaide
16 Aug 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion
18 Jan 1917:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion
17 Oct 1919:	Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, 27th Infantry Battalion

World War 2 Service

16 Nov 1942:	Enlisted Captain, VX114291, Volunteer Defence Corps (SA), Royal Park, Victoria
16 Nov 1942:	Enlisted Australian Military Forces (WW2) , Major, VX114291
17 Nov 1942:	Involvement V159785
14 May 1946:	Discharged Major, VX114291, Headquarters Staff

Step 3: Personal Stories

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Biography contributed by John Edwards

"THE MILITARY CROSS

Second-Lieut. W. J. Dickens, Australian Infantry.— For conspicuous gallantry in action, he, with a portion of his company, entered the enemy's trench and held it for 24 hours against several desperate counter-attacks. He set a fine example of courage and determination throughout." - from the Adelaide Observer 24 Mar 1917 (nla.gov.au)

"THE MILITARY CROSS

Second-Lieut. W. J. Dickens, Australian Infantry.— For conspicuous gallantry in action, he, with a portion of his company, entered the enemy's trench and held it for 24 hours against several desperate counter-attacks. He set a fine example of courage and determination throughout." - from the Adelaide Observer 24 Mar 1917 (nla.gov.au)

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Links and Documents

• Research Links

• AWM Honours and Awards - Awarded MC
• AWM Honours and Awards - Recommendation DSO
• NAA - Attestation Paper and Service Record
• WW2 - Nominal Roll

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