220172 Cpl. Roland Richard Dicker British Army 1/8th Btn. London Regiment from:Bristol Roland Dickerwas my Grandfather.
He volunteered and enlisted on 4th August 1915; . He served with the 1/8th Battalion, London Regiment on the Western Front from 06.07.1916 to 17.12.1917.
He was wounded twice, first shot and secondly gassed, the latter injuries bad enough to render him unfit to return to the front line. The gassing injuries, by deduction, occured during the Battle of Cambrai in an attack on Bourlon Wood between 3rd and 30th November 1917. His date of discharge was 5th November 1918
Below is a letter from Roland's CO, sent when he learnt of my Grandfather's death in 1964, he alludes to their time together in action during the Great War:
Cragside,
Rothbury,
Morpeth
Northumberland. 14th April 1964
14~ Downfield Road,
Clifton,
Bristol, 8,
Glouoestershire.
Dear Mr. Morris,
Many thanks for your kind letter of 25 March,
I fear there has been a little delay in answering your letter as I was away
from Cragside when it arrived.
It was with very great sorrow that I read of the passing
of your Father-in-Law Mr. Dicker (I always think of him as
Corporal Dicker) was one of the finest and nicest men I came across in World War I. Mr. Dicker was of the utmost help to me and I always enjoyed his oompany. We were in a corner of Belgium at the time, not far from the famous Yser Canal, and in those ditficult times I knew I could always rely to the utmost on Mr. Dicker. He was always so willing and cheerful and helpful.
I had the good fortune to be "Mentioned in Dispatches" in the salient and I always feel that the work which pleased the Generals was largely the work of Mr. Dicker.
I send you and all the family my deepest sympathy and
will always cherish his memory.
I am writing a 11ttle note now to Mrs. Dicker.
With kind regards, I remain,
Ever yours sincerely,
Armstrong
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