Avery Benjamin Dickinson was born at Goodwood Park, South Australia, on February 25, 1890, the son of Avery Wilson Dickinson and Celia Lucy Dorman. His siblings were Victor (1893), Oressa (1886), Lucy (1895), Florence (1897) and Constance (1899). He attended the Goodwood Public School. He was for some years engaged in gardening pursuits on his father's property. Later he took up farming at Brentwood, on Yorke Peninsula. He exercised a considerable influence for good in that district, and was a member of the Holdfast Masonic Lodge. Previous to enlisting he returned to his home, and was engaged in studies with a view to becoming a candidate for the Methodist ministry. In his earlier years he was closely identified with the Unley Methodist Church, and held various offices in it and the Sunday-school.

Avery enlisted on the 21st October 1914 (SN 247), he was 24 years and 10 months old, 5’11”, 164 lbs, with a fair complexion, blue eyes and fair hair. He commenced as a Private in the 9th Light Horse. His occupation was recorded as Farmer. He embarked from Melbourne, Australia on the HMAT Karroo on the 11th February 1915. We know from a letter Avery sent to a friend in Honiton, YP, SA that Avery was in Egypt on the 24th April 1915. The letter was printed in the Register on Tuesday 20 July 1915. “It is now nearly six weeks since we arrived here (Cairo), being about 80 miles from Alexandra, and the country is wonderfully reproductive under Kitchener's irrigation scheme.” He marveled at the Pyramids, ancient mosques and Arabic buildings. He further stated that “Heliopolis is the European suburb of Cairo, and contains some fine buildings, including the largest hotel in the world. This building was intended as a casino, but the authorities would not allow it to be used for that purpose. At present it is used as a military hospital. We expect to leave shortly for the seat of action.” Avery proceeded to join Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli on 16th May 1915.

Avery received a shell wound to the back on the 21st July 1915 at Gallipoli and was transferred via the 1St Australian Clearing Station to the Hospital Ship. He embarked for Malta on HS “Sicilia” but died of his wounds on the 22nd July 1915 and was buried at sea. He is commemorated on the memorial at Lone Pine. His estate was valued at £367.

Victor Knowlton Dickinson (1893) was a student teacher who served with the Australia Army Medical Corp at Gallipoli and in Belguim & France. He then transferred to the 27th Bn AIF and was a casualty at the Battle of Pozières on 4th August 1916.

National Archives of Australia recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3505260

National Library of Australia - Trove

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article59416174 

http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article212161787 

Various Trove newspaper articles tagger Avery Benjamin Dickinson

Author: EE (Beth) Filmer

Note: Beth Filmer's Great Great Grandfather Thomas Stephen Filmer was the brother of Victor and Avery’s grandmother Eliza Filmer. Thomas Stephen Filmer and Eliza Filmer arrived in South Australia onboard the “Lloyds” on the 4th December 1838.