John Dickinson was the adopted son of George and Mary Dickinson. In the 1901 census George (37) a builder, and Mary M Dickinson were living at Bolton upon Dearne with daughter Clara (21) a schoolteacher, and an adopted son John Adam aged 7, born in Sheffield. At the 1911 census George (47), an architect, and Mary Matilda Dickinson (43)

lived at 59 Wath Road, Bolton on Dearne with John (now called Dickinson) aged 17, an architectural student.

The admissions record for *****tone Grammar School, states that John’s father was George of Westholme, Bolton on Dearne, occupation: architectural surveyor. John’s date of birth was 16/11/1893; he was admitted to the school on 14/8/1905, and left on 31/7/1909. He was a day scholar, and left to become apprenticed to a firm of architects.

John’s military records have not survived, except for his medal roll. John Dickinson appears to have enlisted in the Notts and Derby regiment as a private, number 52946, then transferring at some stage to the 3rd Battalion Royal Scots (Lothian regiment) gaining promotion to 2nd Lieutenant.

John fought in the 3rd Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) with the Royal Scots who were part of the 15th Scottish Division under General Plumer who after earlier costly failures intended to capture the enemy held Gheluvelt plateau. John Dickinson was killed in action in the early stages of this operation on the 28th August 1917. As in earlier efforts this operation failed with heavy casualties due to German defence in depth and atrocious ground conditions giving the name of Passchendaele its grim reputation. The Germans continued to hold the Gheluvelt plateau until 28th September 1918 almost four years from taking it in 1914, and by which time the village was entirely destroyed.

John Dickinson was awarded the British and Victory medals but his medal rolls contain a mystery. Across the top of the file is written “See ADAM John {Identical}” The medal roll for John Adam has exactly the same details, but across the top is written “See DICKINSON, John {Identical}. It also states “medals issued as John Dickinson”. At the bottom of this file under correspondence is written “mother: Mrs J Adam, 118 Pomona St, Sheffield”. Why he has two medal rolls and under two names is mysterious, did he move back to his birth mother sometime after 1911, but why both names? However, the CWGC obviously had his next of kin details as the adopted son of George Dickinson, of Westholme. 

John Dickinson’s effects were sent to his adopted father George who received a payment of £76 15s 6d including War Gratuity on 1st May 1918. A further payment of £5 was made to George Dickinson on 13th November 1919.

John Dickinson is also remembered on the Bolton on Dearne Board School War Memorial  

Janet Dyson