Obituary for GDH Dicks MC
George David Henry Dicks MC of Stanmore, Middlesex, on 9 Jul 11, aged 97. A pre-war TA soldier, George was called to the colours in 1939, in command of an AA gun crew on a paddle boat during the Dunkirk evacuation. As a Battery Sgt Major, he was chosen for training as an officer in 1943. During this training, in anticipation of heavy losses in junior officers in the landings on the Continent, he, as an artilleryman, together with many others, was asked to retrain as an infantryman. George was commissioned to the Bedfs and Herts Regt. He joined B Coy, 1 R Norfolk as a reinforcement in Normandy on 4 Aug 1944, serving as a platoon commander until severely wounded twice in the assault on Kervenheim on 1 Mar 1945. For his actions at Kervenheim he was awarded the Military Cross. The citation states:
‘In the battle for Kervenheim on 1 Mar 1945, Lt Dicks commanded the right forward platoon of B Coy. A frontal attack was made under murderous cross-fire from at least five spandaus. In spite of heavy casualties, Lt Dicks kept his men going by his drive and his own example. Within 50 yards of the objective he was wounded in the groin, but in spite of this he was the first man to reach the heavily held building which was his first objective. He started to organise the assault on the nearest houses when he was again wounded in the chest. Still undaunted, Lt Dicks issued orders and encouragement to his men, planning their assault and directing it from the ditch in which he lay. His great gallantry was largely responsible for the Company gaining its objective under the most difficult conditions and extremely strong opposition.’
After his recovery he was invalided out of the Army in Nov 1945 and returned to his work in London. He did not suffer fools gladly but always recognised and respected the many merits of his fellow soldiers. George is sadly missed.
JL