1914-1915 Trio.
To:
2/Lt C.H. DICKERSON. 11th Bn,. ARGYLL & SUTHERLAND HIGHLANDERS.
KILLED-IN-ACTION
(Somme)
14th JULY 1916.
Charles Henry Dickerson,
Born 1885, Greenwich, London, in the 1901 Census aged 16 is recorded as a Commercial Clerk. 
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Charles Henry Dickerson was commissioned into the infantry as a Temporary Second Lieutenant on 10th March 1915. 2Lt Dickerson took part in the Battle of Loos which took place between 25 September -18 October 1915. The 11th Argyle & Sutherland Highlanders, who had only arrived in France on 9 July 1915 as a K2 battalion, were very badly knocked about during this battle and needed time to reconstitute. Although 11th remained in the Loos sector until July 1916, most of the Battalion moved with 45th Brigade in 15th (Scottish) Division to the Somme and were next committed to the attack on Pozieres 22-23 July 1916. The earlier action of 14th July 1916 in which 2Lt Dickerson was almost certainly killed, although not necessarily while fighting with his battalion, was the surprise 'Dawn Attack' at 3.25am on Bazentin Ridge. This well known action by XIII Corps of 4th Army, captured Bazentin-le-Petit and penetrated to the German 2nd Line along a 6,000 yard front down to Longueval. This included the attack by 9th (Scottish) Division out of Caterpillar Valley on Delville Wood near Longueval. This success and the opportunity to capture 'High Wood' (Bois de Foureaux) was slow to be exploited and the German line was re-sealed.
His parents were James Dickerson and Isabel Smith. He was born at Greenwich on 26th December 1884 and baptised at St Mark's United Reformed Church on 25th March 1885. His father's occupation was given as Verger. The church is now combined with the Methodist church. The 1891 census shows that he was the youngest of 5 children still living at home with siblings aged between 10-18. His father James was a Labourer in a vitualling Yard. His mother was shown as being born in Scotland (and the 1911 census adds the detail of Tankerness on Orkney). Margaret Mowat, a 23yr old niece from Scotland, was kept as a Domestic Servant. They were living at The Cottage, Ashburnham Villas, Greenwich. By 1901 the cottage had acquired a name: St Mark's Cottage, Ashburnham Road, Greenwich. 59yr old James was working as a Church Caretaker whilst 16yr old Charles was employed as a Commercial Clerk. Also living with them was his married sister Isabella A Tomsett, her husband George E Tomsett (Driver, Royal Horse Artillery) and 1yr old daughter. In 1911 the cottage had lost its name and acquired a number: 43 Ashburnham Road, Greenwich. James and Isabella had been married for 39yrs and all 5 of their children were living. James was still Church Caretaker at the Presbyterian Church and Charles was a Commercial Clerk at a Galvanized Iron Manufactory. Isabella's son, Archibald Tomsett, had been with them on the night of the census. The family occupied 4 rooms. Ashburnham Triangle probably gives a clue as to how the area looked when the Dickersons lived in the area.
AN IMPORTANT OFFICER CASUALTY
£995