Collingwood Dickson
| Collingwood Dickson | |
|---|---|
 Depiction of the Siege of Sebastopol | |
| Born |
20 November 1817 Valenciennes, France |
| Died |
28 November 1904 (aged 87) London, England |
| Buried at | Kensal Green Cemetery, London |
| Allegiance |
 United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
 British Army |
| Years of service | 1835-1877 |
| Rank | General |
| Unit | Royal Artillery |
| Battles/wars | Crimean War |
| Awards |
Victoria Cross Knight Grand Cross of the Order of the Bath Order of Charles III Order of Isabella the Catholic Order of the Medjidie |
General Sir Collingwood Dickson VC GCB (20 November 1817 – 28 November 1904) was a British Army officer who was awarded the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Early life and career
Collingwood Dickson was a son of Alexander Dickson, a Royal Artillery officer, later General Sir Alexander Dickson. He was educated at the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, and followed his father into the Royal Artillery in 1835. He served in the First Carlist War, in which the United Kingdom supported Queen Isabella II. After that war Queen Isabella awarded him three Spanish decorations: the Order of Charles the Third, the Order of San Fernando and the Order of Isabella the Catholic.[1]
VC action
At the siege of Sebastopol during the Crimean War, Dickson was a Lieutenant colonel on the staff of Lord Raglan. Following an incident during the siege, Dickson was awarded the VC:
For having, on the 17th October, 1854, when the batteries of the Right Attack had run short of powder, displayed the greatest coolness and contempt of danger, in directing the unloading of several wagons of the Field-Battery, which were brought up to the trenches to supply the want; and having personally assisted in carrying the powder barrels under a severe fire from the enemy.[2]
Dickson was appointed CB in 1855,[3] and in 1856, along with many other British soldiers, he was appointed chevalier of the French Legion of Honour;[4] shortly before the publication of his VC award in 1957 he was promoted to the next higher rank of the Legion, officier.[5]
Later life
From September 1855 till the end of the Crimean War Dickson was employed with the Turkish contingent, and the Sultan awarded him (and other officers) the Order of the Medjidie (third class).[6]
Later in his army service Dickson was Inspector-General of Artillery 1870–75. He was made Colonel commandant of the Royal Artillery in 1875[7] and was promoted to full General in 1877. He officially retired in 1884[8] but remained Colnel Commandant until hsi death in 1904.[9] He is buried at Kensal Green Cemetery; his Victoria Cross and his many other medals are on display at the Royal Artillery Museum.[10]
References
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Lee, Sidney, ed. (1912). "Dickson, Collingwood". Dictionary of National Biography, 1912 supplement. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
- DICKSON, Gen. Sir Collingwood, Who Was Who, A & C Black, 1920–2016 (online edition, Oxford University Press, 2014)
- Obituary, The Times, London, 30 November 1904, page 6
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 20240. pp. 2303–2304. 7 July 1843.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22014. p. 2165. 23 June 1857.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 21743. p. 2654. 10 July 1855.
- ↑ The Times, London, 17 July 1856, page 9
- ↑ The Times, London, 23 April 1857, page 6
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 22107. p. 1252. 2 March 1858.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 24273. p. 6300. 7 December 1875.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 25431. p. 122. 9 January 1885.
- ↑ The London Gazette: no. 27747. p. 8793. 23 December 1904.
- ↑ Collingwood Dickson at Find a Grave
| Honorary titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Sir John St George |
Master Gunner, St James's Park 1891–1904 |
Succeeded by Earl Roberts |
|