MINIATURE MEDALS
In the following month, on 12 July, Hobbs and Dickey attacked another Zeppelin, this time without success: ‘Zeppelin patrol to Texel, north to Terschillng, then east to Borkum. At 10.10 a.m. sighted Zepp. escorting 12 enemy destroyers. Opened out and climbed to 10,000 feet. Zepp. then at 13,000 feet throwing out sand ballast. We climbed to 11,000 but as we had no air controls were unable to get higher. Chased Zepp. at this height till we had to return owing to petrol. 16.20 Had engine trouble and landed at 12.45. Completed repairs and got off, landing at Felixstowe at 2.25 p.m.’ (his flying log book refers).
Having then completed around 20 further sorties, Hobbs and Dickey had their next run-in with an enemy submarine on 3 September: ‘Patrol around N. Hinder when sighted a hostile submarine which we attacked with one 230lb. bomb. Bomb dropped and exploded within five feet of starboard tail. Second machine then passed over and dropped one 230lb. bomb which fell by port bow. We then passed over again as conning tower was just showing and dropped our second 230lb. which fell in place where conning tower disappeared. When submarine sank we could clearly see two men on top, but though we searched spot for 15 minutes we could not see them. The three bombs fell within a circle of 20 yards diameter. Submarine believed to have been destroyed’ (his flying log book refers).
This was followed by yet another encounter ten days later: ‘When at N. Hinder sighted conning tower of hostile submarine which was just rising. Submarine saw us at once and started to dive but we fired recognition signal and dropped two 230lb. bombs from a height of 1000 feet. One bomb hit submarine aside conning tower on front side and exploded. Submarine commenced to sink and we circled about and in about two minutes saw a large upheaval in water when air came up in great quantities with oil and wreckage which spread all over vicinity’ (his flying log book refers).
Finally, and whatever the outcome of their previous actions, Hobbs and Dickey were officially credited with the destruction of the UC -6 on 28 September: ‘Before we left we were told hostile submarine was 25-30 miles S. of North Hinder. We went to N. Hinder and set a course S. and when on this course after 20 minutes, the W./T. operator received (indications of) a hostile wireless. These signals got stronger and at 8.30 we sighted a hostile submarine in full buoyancy. We attacked and dropped one 230lb. bomb which got a direct hit on tail. Before bomb hit he fired one shell at us which went 25 feet in front of us and burst above us. We turned to drop the other bomb and saw three more hostile submarines and three destroyers, escorted by two seaplanes. Destroyers and subs all opened fire on us with shrapnel but we managed to drop our second bomb which fell 15 feet in front of the same submarine. Submarine sank with a large hole in tail and made a large upheaval in water. We got a photograph’ (his flying log book refers). For his gallantry against these enemy submarines, Dickey was awarded a Third Award Bar to his D.S.C.
As verified by his flying log books, he was grounded and placed on the Sick List between October 1917 to March 1918, but he quickly got back into his stride on returning to operations in the latter month - in fact, on 30 April, he shot down an enemy aircraft in flames. But while employed in an operation off Holland in early June 1918, he was forced down and interned: ‘When on course north-east from Ameland petrol pipes on starboard engine broke in two at carburettor. Landed 2.12 p.m. Started repairs. Thirteen enemy aircraft from Borkum came to the attack. Three shot down by other four machines. At. 4.45 our machine had to return and as we could not get off in such heavy sea taxied towards Terschelling fishing boats. Enemy destroyer came out and opened fire on us, shooting off part of wing float, starboard. Enemy aircraft kept diving and firing but Lieutenant Hodgson and A.M. Russell shot one down in flames and another by killing pilot. Enemy destroyer got too close and forced us into Dutch waters. Once there he would not let us out. Arrested on Terschelling at 9.42 p.m. All safe. Destroyed machine.’
Carr’s Good Hunting reveals an entertaining tale from Dickey’s time in Holland: ‘While walking in a quiet street of a Dutch town at dusk a huge German elbowed him into the roadway. He seized the coat-tails of the Hun and demanded an apology. The Hun swore in German, not a pretty exhibition. Dickey was small, but he carried a big stick, and when the stick came in contact with the skull of the German the latter fell senseless. Informing the police that a man had been found unconscious in the roadway, the little fire-eater obtained an ambulance and tenderly removed his fallen foe to hospital. Such was Dickey.’
Dickey managed to obtain a passport to the U.K. in August 1918, on account of sickness, and was granted a permanent commission as a Flight Lieutenant in the Royal Air Force in August 1919. He subsequently served at Hinaidi, Iraq, from February 1923 until being placed on half-pay back in the U.K. in January 1924.
Among other posts held between the Wars, Dickey was employed by Sir Sefton Branker and by the Marquis of Londonderry, the latter while serving as Manager of the Municipal Airport at Speke. Called-up on the renewal of hostilities in September 1939, Dickey was appointed a Lieutenant in the R.N.V.R. and posted to Gosport for Boom Defence duties, but of his subsequent services little is known, although he attained the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on the Retired List in March 1941.
Sold together with a quantity of copied research details. Not entitled to either the 1914 Star or the General Service Medal.
www.dnw.co.uk
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