James and William Dickinson collection

This series contains letters and telegrams, written by James 'Harry' Dickinson, of the 2/10th Field Regiment as they were being deployed to Singapore, aboard HMT JJ (Sibajak).

They stopped briefly in Fremantle, passing through the Sunda Strait and arrived in Malaya 5 October 1941. They commenced manouevers at Mersing, through rice fields and rubber plantations, as the Imperial Japanese Army made its way down the peninsula. Harry visited Singapore on several occasions on leave exploring the food and entertainment with his comrades. By November 1941 some items had started to become scarce - razor blades, cigarettes and tobacco, and orders had been given to relinquish all cameras. Harry was attached to the General Base Depot, where he attended an Intelligence School where he was put to work making maps and learning the Malay language.  In December all leave had been stopped and they had their 'kits packed' ready to move at a moments notice. 

[Items 34140/1 to 34140/17]

This series contains letter cards, letters and a telegram, relating to James 'Harry' Dickinson, of the 2/10 Field Regiment. In the first two letters, Harry writes of being close to the 'action' having left headquarters and their camp being bombarded; enemy plains looking for them for days and keeping hidden in the jungle. Harry sent a telegram to his parents 16 February saying all was well, but soon after he was taken a prisoner of the Japanese.

The family was notified in April 1942 that he was missing, and the family and his sweetheart Allison, continued to write to him regardless without any word of his fate.

[Items 34140/18 to 34140/34]

This series contains letters and telegrams, relating to James 'Harry' Dickinson of the 2/10th Field Regiment, who had been taken prisoner by the Japanese in February 1942. In May 1943 the family was notified that he was now reported to be alive, a prisoner of war, located in Thailand.

In May 1942, as part of 'A Force', the first work party to be sent from Singapore, Harry travelled to Victoria Point, southern Burma, where they were put to work constructing airfields. Soon after they were sent to Thanbyuzayat to begin work on the Burmese end of the Burma-Thailand Railway. After the completion of the railway Harry was moved to a camp in Thailand.

Also included is a letter from Robert 'Bob' Dickinson, 2/4 AGH Redbank, to his mother.

[Items 34140/35 - 34140/66]

This series contains letters and prisoner-of-war letter cards, relating to James 'Harry' Dickinson of the 2/10th Field Regiment, who was a prisoner of the Japanese in Moulmein, Burma and Thai Camp, Thailand in 1944. Harry's mother and sweetheart Alison continued to write, not knowing whether he was receiving their letters. In May, prisoners were allowed to send pro-forma cards via the Japanese Red Cross, through which Harry was able to let them know he was still alive. He was also able to tell them of friends he was sharing camp with: Donald Frame Wilson (QX16090) and Charles Edward Thomas Hagger (QX17652) both men returned to Australia at the end of the war.

[Items 34140/67 to 34140/83]

This series contains cards, letters and a telegram relating to James 'Harry' Dickinson of the 2/10th Field Regiment, who was a prisoner of the Japanese, at No.3 Branch Thai War Prisoner's Camp, Nike, Thailand.

In August 1945 shortly after the surrender of the Imperial Japanese Army, the family was notified of his recovery. While the prisoners waited to be returned home, they were assisted by 2 Australian POW Reception Group, who were based in Singapore. Harry's family and friends, wrote to him continually until his return to Brisbane early November 1945. 

[Items 34140/84 to 34140/109]

This series contains notes, receipts, cards, certificates and several letters relating to the service of James 'Harry' Dickinson, during the Second World War. Included are two letters from former POW's known to Harry - one repaying the money he lent him - Jack Cross, of Thornbury; and another - Ernest Trice, a US Marine, from Mannville, Florida. The papers also include: typed IOU's made out to Harry Dickinson, from two other POW's, to be paid 6 months after the end of the war: Francis Tully (QX13797) and Charles Conway (QX13800) both members of the 2/10th Field Regiment who survived the war; and a note from [?] Croft who was leaving for Tavoy POW camp.
Letter from Gwen Beecham, Bardon to Margery Dickinson, relieved to hear news of Harry.

[3 letters, 1 certificate of discharge, 1 dance coupon - Singapore, 1 newspaper clipping, 1 enrolment card Queensland State Electoral Roll, 9 notes/statements, 1 greeting card, 1 license]

[Items 34140/110 to 34140/127] 

This series contains items relating to the wartime service of James 'Harry' Dickinson with the 2/10 Field Regiment during the Second World War. They include: a leather wallet which also contains: a colour photograph of his fiancee Alison Joyce Ozanne; a commemorative sweetheart brooche; as well as two membership badges for the Royal National Association, 1950.

[Items 34140/131 to 34140/136]

This series contains letters, receipts and greeting cards chiefly relating to James Harry Dickinson prior to his service during the Second World War. Included are letters of recommendation, and appointment to work in the insurance industry.

This series contains items relating to the wartime service of James 'Harry' Dickinson with the 2/10th Field Regiment during the Second World War. They include his Soldiers Paybook, Record of Service Book, and Demobilization Procedure Book. The paybook includes two photographs of Harry inside the rear cover.

This series contains photographs and photographic postcards of members of the Dickinson family including brothers Harry and William Dickinson, and Alison Ozanne.

This series contains letters, telegrams, papers and birth certificate relating William Stanley 'Stan' Dickenson who served with the AIF and RAAF during the Second World War.

Included are items to family while training at No.2 Initial Training School, Lindfield, NSW; enroute to Canada  where he attended the Commonwealth air-training program; in London attached to 500 Squadron (RAF) then from the Middle East attached to 459 Squadron (RAAF). Telegrams advise of his death on 9 December 1942, while flying in a Hudson F284 over RAF Gambut Airfield No.2 (RAF Kambut), east-south-east of Tobruk.

[Items 34140/155 to 34140/170]

This single item series, consists of a cloth bag stamped on the rear 'Loewe, London' to which is attached a commemorative RAAF pin, or sweetheart brooche, with chain. The bag contains a non-standard silver identity bracelet for William Dickinson, service number 405123.

[Item 34140/171]