Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Boer War D.S.O. group of three awarded to Captain J. Q. Dickson, Field Intelligence Department, late Nesbitt’s Horse, who subsequently served as Colonial Secretary of the Falkland Islands 1913-14, and as Sub-Commandant of the Prisoners of War and Aliens Detention Camp at Knockaloe, Isle of Man, during the Great War

Distinguished Service Order, V.R., silver-gilt and enamel, with integral top riband bar, in Garrard, London, case of issue; Queen’s South Africa 1899-1902, 2 clasps, Cape Colony, Orange Free State (Capt: J. Q. Dickson, D.S.O., F.I.D.) engraved naming; King’s South Africa 1901-1902, 2 clasps, South Africa 1901, South Africa 1902 (Capt: J. Q. Dickson, D.S.O., F.I.D.) engraved naming; together with the recipient’s original riband bar, light contact marks to the campaign medals, these generally very fine, the DSO nearly extremely fine (3) £2,600-£3,000

Dreweatt Neate, October 2007.

D.S.O. London Gazette 31 October 1902:
‘In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa.’

John Quayle Dickson was born on 20 November 1860, the son of Major General E. J. Dickson, 91st Foot, of The Green, Castletown, Isle of Man, and Lucy Mylrea Quayle. Educated at King William’s College, Isle of Man, he served in the Boer War initially as a Lieutenant with Nesbitt’s Horse between May and August 1900, but then, presumably having shown talent as a scout and guide, he joined Colonel Henderson’s Field Intelligence Department in September that year, which recruited largely from the various mounted regiments. As an Intelligence Officer, he would have been attached to a particular column, and given a small team of native scouts for reconnaissance and information gathering. He remained with the F.I.D. until 22 July 1902, when he was discharged, and for his services in South Africa he was both Mentioned in Despatches (London Gazette 23 June 1902) and awarded the Distinguished Service Order.

Following the cessation of hostilities Dickson was appointed a member of the South Africa Native Affairs Commission and served as an Adviser in Native Affairs to the Orange River Colony Government. Considered a ‘haughty old man from the Veldt’ by some, he later took the position of Resident Commissioner to the Gilbert and Ellice Islands Protectorate between 1909 and 1913. In this role he struggled to strike what was considered an ‘appropriate’ balance between giving genuine support and technical advice to the local Banaban inhabitants concerning the new interest in phosphate mining taking place on the island, and promoting the commercial interests of the Crown and other agents. Soon after posted to become Colonial Secretary of the Falkland Islands in 1913, he was for a time Administrator (essentially Acting Governor), but again ruffled the feathers of local characters of influence in the Falkland Island Volunteers and elsewhere. Returning home during the Great War, he served as Sub-Commandant at the ‘Aliens Detention Centre’ at Knockaloe, Isle of Man, with the rank of temporary Major, where he eventually relinquished his commission upon demobilisation in 1922. He died in Kent in January 1945.

Sold with copied research, including various photographic images.

For the medals awarded to the recipient’s brother and son, see Lots 236 and 191.