From what he says in Nurse Oliver’s album it appears that John Dicks was a career soldier.  Unless he extended his period of service with the Royal West Kent Regiment it would appear that he either re-enlisted from civilian life or joined as a Special Reservist (although his army number does not indicate the latter).  His number does not appear to fall within the sequence allocated to the 9th Essex one and in any event, this service battalion (formed at Warley, Essex in August 1914) did not arrive in France until May 1915 (and John Dicks states “1914” in his album entry).  The only Essex battalion fighting in France in 1914 was the 2nd Essex which had disembarked at Havre in the early morning of August 23rd.  John Dicks’s medal index card though, held at The National Archives, states that he arrived in France on 30th May 1915.  He was wounded in action in October 1915 and mentioned by name in The Essex Chronicle on 19th November 1915.

On Friday December 3rd he was mentioned in two articles published in The Sussex Daily News and The Sussex Express:

Friday December 3rd 1915 - Page 8 [Sussex Daily News]

WOUNDED SOLDIERS ENTERTAIN THEIR FRIENDS AT CHAILEY

The soldiers at Hickwells Relief Hospital at Chailey were ‘at home’ to their friends on Wednesday afternoon and by way of amusing them gave two excellent entertainments - one at 2:30 and the other at 4:30.  The bugle called the performers together and when the screens were withdrawn a nice little group of waxworks was disclosed, Bombardier Ryan shewing off their ‘beauties’ in his usual amusing way.  Corporal Nash (as St George) and Private Allen sang the ‘Tin Gee Gee’, Private Wise and Sergeant Calvert making two fascinating ‘Little Dolly Girls’.  Rifleman Collins, still on crutches, made a splendid broken doll.  Lance-Corporal Smith was a Japanese Lady, and, later on, although only having the use of one arm, cleverly ‘vamped’ some accompaniments.  While dresses were being changed, Private Hume and Private MacBride sang and danced, and then to the tune of ‘Here We Are Again’, Hickwells’ Pierrot troupe appeared and gave a spirited entertainment.  Driver Bradley and Private Allen made excellent ‘Corner Men’ and Bombardier Ryan was capital as the ‘Master of Ceremonies’.  The troupe included, besides those already mentioned, Sergeant Calvert, Sergeant Sheppard, Corporal Nash, Lance-Corporal Smith, Privates Wise and Holleran, Driver Cleary and Corporal Dicks, many of whom sang and recited.  Two of the nurses helped at the piano

December 3^rd 1915 - Page 12 - Chailey [Sussex Express]

CONCERT AT HICKWELLS WAR RELIEF HOSPITAL - On Wednesday afternoon an enjoyable entertainment was given by some of the wounded soldiers in residence at the above hospital.  It opened with a display of wax works exhibited by Mrs Jarley (otherwise Bombardier Ryan) whose antics and jokes caused great laughter.  The costumes of all were varied and humorous.  This was followed by a number of interesting items performed by Bombardier Ryan, Private McBride, Sergeant Nash, Private Allan, Driver Bradley, Corporal Dicks and Gunner Hume.  The parody on “The Village Blacksmith” by Driver Bradley and Private Allan and the song “Macnamara’s Band” by Bombardier Ryan, were specially worthy of notice.  Another performance was given later in the day.

Little is known of Corporal Dicks beyond this point.  His entry in the roll for the British War & Victory Medal, dated on 2nd June 1920 at Hanwell in West London, gives the additional information that he went on to serve with the 1/9th Middlesex Regiment (number G/92639) and latterly with the Regiment’s 3rd (Reserve) Battalion.  This would seem to suggest that after recuperating from his October 1915 wound he was transferred from the Essex Regiment to the Middlesex Regiment and then possibly, wounded again and sent to the reserve battalion.

Sources and Acknowledgements