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Dickinson's story is an absorbing one - from almost humble beginnings as a Trooper with the Natal Police he went on to earn the Military Cross in WWI and later command the Northern Rhodesia Police. His complete group sold at City Coins in January 1994 and, I must hasten to add, he applied for and was granted, many years ago, a duplicate group of medals which I suspect the QSA, whilst officially issued in 1919 and authentic in every respect, to be part of. This account confines itself to his early history as it pertains to his Boer War service in the main.

Edward Griffith Dickinson

Trooper, Natal Police

- Queens South Africa Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 to 2530 Tpr. E.G Dickinson, Natal Police.

Griffith Dickinson, this being the name he went by, was born on 30 May 1883 in Simla, India to Daniel Dickinson, a Major in the Norfolk Regiment, and his wife Elizabeth Isabella. He was baptised in that city on 4 August 1883. Tragedy struck very early in Griffith’s life with his father succumbing to Cholera whilst at Bengal at the age of 40 on 2 November 1884 when he was a mere 18 months old.

The family returned to England and a 7 year old Griffith was sent to Boarding School - according to the 1891 census he was a pupil under the watchful eye of Mrs Emily Mary Worsfold at her school in 23 Liverpool Street, Dover.

At the young age of 17 he answered the call for recruits for the Natal Police and journeyed to South Africa where, after disembarking from the Arundel Castle, he made his way to Pietermaritzburg where he enlisted on 15 March 1901 and was assigned the rank of Trooper with no. 2530. As his next of kin he provided his mother’s particulars – this lady had, after her bereavement, married a William Oliver and taken up residence at The Mansell’s, Minety in Malmesbury, Wiltshire.

By the time Dickinson had donned his uniform the best of the fighting in Natal was over – Spioenkop and the Siege, followed by the Relief, of Ladysmith had come and gone and Buller and his army had succeeded in driving out the remaining Boer forces from the region. Granted there were the odd incidents in the north of the Colony especially when General Botha tried valiantly to make his presence felt once more but these were few and far between. Nevertheless, Dickinson qualified for and was awarded the Queens Medal with clasps South Africa 1901 & 1902 for his efforts.


The "thriving" police camp at Knoxwood"

The war over on 31 May 1902 the Natal Police returned to their normal duties. Dickinson was stationed in the very rural area of Knoxwood to the south of Natal where he would have lived and roamed in almost splendid isolation. Quite apart from the humdrum of police activity there was also the chance for sport and hunting and there are many photographs in existence showing such scenes of rural bliss. On 1 January 1904 he did, however, blot his copybook – he was Severely Reprimanded by Sub Inspector Ottley for “Releasing or suffering to escape a European prisoner.” This was taboo of course and one can only wonder what tale of hardship and woe the inmate offered up to an impressionable Dickinson to earn his freedom. No mention is made if he was ever re-arrested.

That incident behind him Dickinson continued on with his promotion to Lance Sergeant being recommended on 13 September 1906. This was after the end of the Bambatha Rebellion in which he had also played a role earning for himself the Natal Medal with 1906 clasp. It is not always apparent what the Natal Police chaps did in this conflict as they were widely spread and attached to various commands making the tracking of their movements difficult. On 15 March 1910 he was re-engaged after 9 years service but he wasn’t destined to stay on for much longer – on 31 January 1911 he purchased his discharge for £5 and was free to go about his business.

Where did he go? He joined the ranks of the Barotseland Police. This police force situated in the western stretches of what is now Zambia was formed in 1902 and it was to this part of the world he headed. The Barotse people, up to this day, are fiercely independent and resistant to the national government’s rule so Dickinson must have had quite a time of it all those years ago. Not long after he found a home for himself in the Northern Rhodesia Police and it was here, during the Great War of 1914 that he experienced his finest hour. General Northey, in Routine Orders published on 23 October 1917, announced the following prompt awards:

“Military Cross – Lieutenant (Temporary Captain) Edward Griffith Dickinson, Northern Rhodesia Police. For conspicuous gallantry in action at Likassa, near Mpepo-Ruhudji River, on the 30th August 1917. During an attack on the enemy this officer was compelled to withdraw his force and take up position from whence he drove off determined attacks, inflicting heavy casualties on the enemy, completely disorganising him and compelling him to retire. This action compelled the evacuation of the Mpepo area, which had long been held by the enemy.”

Dickinson continued on after garnering this award – the Story of the Northern Rhodesia Regiment by W.V. Brelsford mentions, on page 46 that,

“Meanwhile Colonel Dickinson (he had been granted a field promotion), who was now in command of the field companies of the Northern Rhodesia Police, had been following by forced marches from Lake Nyasa. On the 4th November (1918) a telegraphist told him that the enemy had captured Fife and were making for Kasama. He started south to intercept them, but an old headman met him and told him that Fife had not fallen, so he went north again. The enemy had gone. Colonel Dickinson was ordered to march to Abercorn.” Dickinson was at Abercorn when General Von Lettow-Vorbeck came in to surrender on 18 November – 7 days after the rest of the world had laid down their arms. For his efforts he was awarded the 1914/15 Star, War Medal and Victory Medal.

Dickinson was later – between the years 1930 and 1933 – the Commandant of the Northern Rhodesia Police operating out of Lusaka. He returned home at least twice – in 1925 and 1928 – to visit his family who were still at “The Mansell’s” in Malmesbury, Wiltshire; sailing into Southampton on both occasions. At some point after his retirement from the force he returned to live in England permanently at “The Higher Farm”, Seaborough near Crewkerne in Somersetshire. He passed away on 12 February 1947 at Whatmer Lodge in Canterbury at the age of 60. His estate left a considerable amount of £15 811. There were no beneficiaries and he had never married.






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A fascinating history, Rory - thank you.

Was Knoxwood one of the first buildings to have a living roof I wonder?