Dickson, John Hamilton ( - 1914)

Second Lieutenant, 1st Bn. Cameron Highlanders

Buried at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial

Commemorated at Hillhead High School

J. Hamilton Dickson was a pupil of rare promise. Nature had showered her gifts upon him-vigour of body, strength of character, keenness of mind. To these he added industry and perseverance. At School he was an enthusiastic Cadet, and has left the reputation of being the best bugler the corps ever had. He had, indeed, a passion for music, and for many years was rarely found absent from the orchestral concerts.

On leaving School he enrolled as a student at the University and the Dental Hospital, and at the close of the session 1914-15 he graduated as L.D.S.

Immediately war broke out and he was posted to the 1st Camerons, and was probably the first of all our boys to see actual fighting in France. His career there was short but glorious, and the end was in entire keeping with his whole life. The story of it cannot be better told than in the simple words of a private soldier of his company--"I saw Mr. Dickson early in the fight advance from the firing line and carry private of the regiment on his back, under fire, to cover behind a haystack. He was then wounded slightly on the head. I saw him later bandaging a lieutenant in the Coldstream Guards who was wounded on the right forearm. He then advanced with about a dozen men, and I saw him get wounded with a bit of shell." This happened on the 14th September, 1914, and the gallant J. Hamilton Dickson is still posted as "wounded and missing."