5670406 Lance Corporal John William Dickson was born on 20^th October 1911 in Poulton-Le-Fylde, Lancashire to parents George Dickson and Sarah Ann (née Kitson) Dickson. In 1921 he was living with his parents and two older siblings in Poulton-Le-Fylde. He enlisted into The Devonshire Regiment on the 20th March 1933.

He was serving with the 1st Battalion, The Devonshire Regiment in India when he volunteered for Airborne Forces.

He did Parachute Course No 8 at New Delhi, which commenced on the 26^th January 1942 as a Corporal, and completed the five parachute descents to qualify as an Army Parachutist.

Later he was promoted to Sergeant and served in ‘B’ Company, 156 Parachute Battalion, in the Middle East in 1942 - 43.

On the 21st March 1943 he was transferred back to The Devonshire Regiment, but on the 21st March 1944, he re-transferred back to the Army Air Corps and was posted to the 11th Parachute Battalion.

He did Parachute Course 110 at R.A.F. Ringway, 1st to 16th April 1944 (he had been demoted to Private), where he completed a further eight descents. His Parachute Instructors comments: ‘Keen, reliable – should make good N.C.O.’ He was promoted to Lance Corporal by the time of Arnhem.

Shortly before being deployed to Arnhem, in 1944, John married Constance M. Godley in Melton Mowbray. Constance was originally from Yorkshire.

Wounded and taken prisoner at Arnhem, he was held at Stalag XIB at Falling bostel, Germany. There he got his prisoner of war number 118144.

John was discharged from the army on Class A discharge on 17^th October 1945. He initially returned to Lancashire, and in 1948 was living at Little Birks Cottage, Ballam Road, West Lytham. John died in 1991 in the Westminster District of Greater London