Frederick Johnson Dickinson

Frederick Johnson was the son of Joseph Dickinson and his second wife Georgina (née Johnson) His father Joseph Dickinson was born in 1842 at Farndon, near Newark. He married first Isabella Crampton (b. Kelham 1847) in 1868 and they had at least eight children, all of whom were born in Kelham: Harry, Emma Pawson, Annie Lois, Sarah Ellen, George Henry, Kate Emma, Florence and William. The family was living in Kelham at the time of the 1871 and 1881 Census; Joseph was employed as an agricultural labourer. isabella Dickinson died in 1881 aged about 33 and Joseph married Georgina Johnson the following year. Georgina Johnson was born at Witchampton, Dorset, in 1864. She and Joseph were married in Witchampton on 26 June 1882; Joseph was 34 and Georgina 19. Joseph and Georgina had at least five children who were born between 1883 and 1900: Mary Elizabeth/Eliza, Edith Matilda, Frederick Johnson birth registered 1890 (J/F/M), Harold and Alice Victoria. In 1891 Joseph, an agricultural worker, and Georgina were living on Clay Lane, Kelham, with his three children by his first marriage, George (14), Florence (11) and William (9), and their three children Mary (8), Edith (5) and Frederick (1). By 1901 only four children, William (19), Frederick (11), Harold (6) and Alice (10 months), were in the home on the night of the census. Georgina died in 1910 aged about 46. Joseph, now working as a labourer, was still living in Kelham in 1911 with four of his children; Annie Lois a cook domestic, George a groom/gardener, Frederick a domestic gardener, and Haroldof no occupation ('home'). Harold may have died in 1914. Joseph died in 1925 aged about 80. Frederick's half-brother, George Henry Dickinson, also served in the war. He and his wife Annie Elizabeth (née Kirton) were living on Northgate, Newark, when he attested in 1915. George was 40 years old and working as a gardener. He transferred to the Army Reserve on 11 December 1915 and issued with armlet number 2084025. He was mobilised on 14 August 1916 and posted on 17 August 1916 to the Royal Scots Fusiliers (9972) but was discharged on 29 September the same year 'on account of disability.'

He was a gardener

Private Frederick Johnson Dickinson enlisted on 10th November 1915 in Newark and was transferred to the Army Reserve the following day. He gave his age as 25 yrs and 311 days and his occupation as gardener. Frederick lived in Kelham, Newark, and gave his next of kin as his father Joseph of the same address. He was not mobilised until 11th February 1916 and transferred to the 2/8 Royal Scots on 14th April 1916. He embarked at Folkstone on 25th July 1917, disembarking at Boulogne the same day, joining at the Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on 27th July 1917. He was posted to the 13th battalion Royal Scots on 9th August 1917. Frederick was reported missing 'in the field' on 22 August 1917, less than a month after arriving in France. His death in action, 'on or since' 22 August 1917, was not confirmed until June 1918. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Zonnebeke, Belgium.

Report published 19th December 1917 in the Newark Advertiser :- 'Son of Mr & Mrs Joseph Dickinson of Kelham. Employed as a gardener before enlisting on November 10th, 1915 (then aged 25). Mobilised in February 1916 and transferred to 2/8 Royal Scots on April 14th, 1916. Embarked from Folkestone for Boulogne on March 25th, 1917 and arrived at Etaples on March 27th. Posted to 13th Battalion on August 9th, joined the following day. Reported missing on August 22nd.''