Gerald Charles Dickens

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Admiral SIR Gerald Charles Dickens, K.C.V.O., C.B., C.M.G., (13 October, 1879 – 19 November, 1962) was an officer in the Royal Navy.

Life & Career

Dickens was the grandson of the noted author Charles Dickens, and the son of Henry Fielding Dickens, Barrister-at-Law.[1]

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1901.[2] In August, 1905, he went abroad to study the French language. By 1909, he would be qualified as an interpreter. By 1911, he would be an acting interpreter in German.[3]

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Commander on 31 December, 1909.[4]

Dickens was appointed in command of the destroyer Chelmer in November, 1911.[5]

He was appointed in command of the destroyer Harpy on 20 November, 1913.[6]

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Commander on 30 June, 1914.[7]

Dickens married Kathleen Pearl Birch on 29 March, 1915 at Brompton Oratory.[8]

Post-War

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Captain on 31 December, 1919.[9]

In August, 1922, he was appointed in command of the light cruiser Carlisle.

In November, 1929, he was appointed in command of the battlecruiser Repulse.

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Rear-Admiral on 15 February, 1932.[10]

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Vice-Admiral on 2 January, 1936.[11]

World War II

On 8 February, 1940, Dickens was appointed as Naval Attaché to the Hague vice Schofield. This appointment was seemingly augmented on 16 May to Naval Attaché to the British Minister to the Netherlands Government in England and as Liaison Officer with the Royal Netherlands Navy.[12]

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Admiral on 8 May, 1940. On 2 July, 1940 he was appointed for duty in the Admiralty. On 23 March, 1942, he was appointed as Principal Naval Liaison to Allied Navies. On 12 May, 1943, he was made Flag Officer in Charge, Bizerta, serving with an effective rank of Rear-Admiral. On 7 July, he was made Flag Officer in Charge, Tunisia. This appointment was terminated on 12 September, 1944.[13]

Dickens was the third Editor of The Naval Review from May, 1950 until February, 1954.

See Also

Naval Appointments
Preceded by
Reginald Henniker-Heaton
Captain of H.M.S. Hart
26 Mar, 1907[14] – 26 Feb, 1909[15]
Succeeded by
Hubert S. Monroe
Preceded by
Ernest L. Cardale
Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer
21 Apr, 1910[16][17] – 9 May, 1911[18]
Succeeded by
George W. Taylor
Preceded by
George W. Taylor
Captain of H.M.S. Garry
9 May, 1911[19] – 21 Jun, 1911[20]
Succeeded by
Henry W. Osburn
Preceded by
Valentine E. B. Phillimore
Captain of H.M.S. Foam
21 Jun, 1911[21] – Nov, 1911[22]
Succeeded by
Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by
Berwick Curtis
Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer
Nov, 1911[23] – 10 Nov, 1913[24]
Succeeded by
Hugh T. England
Preceded by
Hugh T. England
Captain of H.M.S. Albatross
11 Oct, 1913[25] – 20 Nov, 1913[26]
Succeeded by
Henry C. D. Field
Preceded by
Henry C. D. Field
Captain of H.M.S. Harpy
20 Nov, 1913[27][28] – 11 Mar, 1916[29]
Succeeded by
Hugh T. England
Preceded by
Alfred F. B. Carpenter
Assistant Director of Plans
15 Mar, 1920[30] – 1 May, 1920[31]
Succeeded by
George H. D'O. Lyon
Preceded by
?
Deputy Director of Plans
1 May, 1920[32] – 15 Jun, 1922[33]
Succeeded by
Wilfrid A. Egerton
Preceded by
Edward R. G. R. Evans
Captain of H.M.S. Carlisle
1 Aug, 1922[34] – Sep, 1924[35]
Succeeded by
Robert S. MacFarlan
Preceded by
Edward R. G. R. Evans
Captain of H.M.S. Harebell
15 Aug, 1925[36] – 15 Sep, 1926[37]
Succeeded by
Archibald Cochrane
Preceded by
Edward R. G. R. Evans
Captain of Fishery Protection and Minesweeping Flotilla
15 Aug, 1925[38] – 15 Sep, 1926[39]
Succeeded by
Malcolm L. Goldsmith
Preceded by
Francis G. G. Chilton
Captain of H.M.S. Repulse
26 Nov, 1929[40] – 17 Aug, 1931[41]
Succeeded by
Edward O. Cochrane
Preceded by
Cecil V. Usborne
Director of Naval Intelligence
15 Aug, 1932[42] – 9 Sep, 1935[43]
Succeeded by
James A. G. Troup
Preceded by
Sir Reginald G. O. Tupper
as Vice-Admiral Commanding, Tenth Cruiser Squadron
Rear-Admiral Commanding, Tenth Cruiser Squadron
1 Jul, 1935[44]c. Aug, 1935[45]
Succeeded by
Percy L. H. Noble
Preceded by
Edward A. Astley-Rushton
Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet
19 Jul, 1935[46] – 26 Jul, 1937[47]
Succeeded by
Max K. Horton
Preceded by
Henry C. R. Brocklebank
Royal Navy Naval Attaché at The Hague
8 Feb, 1940[48] – 16 May, 1940[49]
Succeeded by
Gerald C. Dickens
Preceded by
Gerald C. Dickens
Royal Navy Naval Attaché at The Hague
8 Feb, 1940[50] – 16 May, 1940[51]
Succeeded by
?

Footnotes

  1. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  2. The Navy List. (March, 1913). p. 21.
  3. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  4. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  5. The Navy List. (July, 1913). p. 292.
  6. The Navy List. (January, 1915). p. 327.
  7. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  8. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  9. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  10. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  11. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  12. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  13. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  14. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  15. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  16. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  17. The Navy List. (April, 1911). p. 292.
  18. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  19. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  20. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  21. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  22. The Navy List. (September, 1913). p. 292.
  23. The Navy List. (September, 1913). p. 292.
  24. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  25. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  26. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  27. The Navy List. (October, 1915). p. 394m.
  28. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  29. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  30. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  31. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  32. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  33. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  34. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  35. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  36. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  37. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  38. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  39. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  40. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  41. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  42. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  43. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  44. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  45. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  46. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  47. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  48. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  49. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  50. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.
  51. Dickens Service Record. The National Archives. ADM 196/45. f. 138.