A Second War Group To Wing Commander Walter Dicks; Royal Canadian Air Force

Defence Medal; Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp; War Medal 1939-1945; Canadian Forces' Decoration with Ten Years' Additional Service Clasp, George VI (W/C W.A. DICKS); and Czechoslovakia (Socialist Republic): Military Merit Medal, 1st Class (silvered bronze, 31 mm x 41 mm inclusive of its crossed swords suspension). Naming is officially engraved on the reverse of the CANADA suspension bar on the CFD, the other medals are un-named. Court-mounted with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, the silver medals are plated, the CFD is lacquered, silvering wear evident on the Czech medal, light contact and surface wear, very fine. Miniature Group of Same: Defence Medal (silver, 18.7 mm); Canadian Volunteer Service Medal with Overseas Clasp (silver, 18.3 mm); War Medal 1939-1945 (silver, 18.5 mm); Canadian Forces' Decoration with Ten Years' Additional Service Clasp, George VI (bronze, 18 mm); and Czechoslovakia (Socialist Republic): Military Merit Medal, 1st Class Grade (silver, 17 mm x 22.2 mm inclusive of its crossed swords suspension). Court-mounted with swing bar pinback, as worn by the veteran, original ribbons, light contact, better than very fine. Accompanied by copies of his Attestation Paper, Service Records, Service Award Computer Card, Application for the Award of the Canadian Forces' Decoration and State of Florida Certificate of Death. Footnote: Walter Allan Dicks was born on December 6, 1909 (although his State of Florida Certificate of Death states the year as 1908), the son of Thomas James Dicks and Elizabeth Dicks (nee Bailey). His sporting pursuits included Hockey, Tennis, Softball and Basketball. He followed his high school education with three years taking a Commercial Course at a Technical School and at Gowling Business College in 1927, taking an Advanced Course in Accounting. He followed his formal education by entering the work world, taking his first job with J.H. Connor & Son as a Bookkeeper and Stenographer, from 1928 to 1929. While working, he took a correspondence course with Lasalle College in Chicago, Illinois, then sought employment with Gibson's Garage, where he was in complete charge of the office, again employed as a Bookkeeper and Stenographer, from 1929 to 1931. Dicks signed his Royal Canadian Air Force Permament Active Service Force Attestation Paper (C1116), enlisting for three years' service, on April 1, 1931, in Ottawa, Ontario, at the age of 21, naming his next-of-kin as his mother, Mrs. T.J. Dicks of Ottawa, which was later changed to his wife, Mrs. W.A. Dicks of Ottawa, stating that he had no previous military service, that he was Single, that his trade was that of Clerk Stenographer and that his religion was Anglican. He began service as an Aircraftman 2nd Class and designated "S" (Clerk), then re-mustered as an ACH Clerk on January 1, 1932. By the Fall and having been employed by the RCAF for almost a year and half, he married Bertha Vernon Dicks (nee Manners) on September 24, 1932 in Ottawa, the couple later having two daughters together: Marna Gail Dicks and Andrea Dicks. He was promoted to Aircraftman 1st Class on December 1, 1932, re-mustered as Clerk B and promoted to Leading Aircraftman on May 1, 1934. He was promoted to Flight Sergean, Administrative, and held that position from April 1, 1931 to September 15, 1939, at which point he was designated Permanent NFL Administration with the RCAF Records Office in Ottawa. One month later, on October 13th, Dicks was declared Category "A" (Unfit for Aircrew). As the Second World War raged, Dicks was transferred to the Aircraft Repair Organization on September 17, 1941, followed by a brief stop in Trenton, Ontario beginning on April 9, 1942, before being transferred to No. 3 Training Command in Montreal, Quebec as Acting Wing Commander on June 1, 1942. He was posted for three days to No. 5 Service Flying Training School in Brantford, Ontario, from August 12 to 14, 1942. Dicks returned to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa before being transferred to Eastern Air Command in Halifax, Nova Scotia on December 1, 1942. He was sent to the United States, arriving in New York on June 17, 1943 but the nature of his visit is not documented in his service records, then returned to Eastern Air Command in Halifax. Wing Commander W.A. Dicks is on record as having given testimony of the actions of J/17256 Pilot Officer James Oliver Christie, No. 50 Squadron, recommending Christie for the Distinguished Flying Cross: "Pilot Officer Christie has taken part in many operational sorties against most of the enemy's heavily defended German targets. His aircraft has been severely damaged on several occasions but this had not diminished his enthusiasm for operational flying. At all times this officer's technical ability and devotion to duty have been outstanding", the award announced in the Fourth Supplement to the London Gazette 36170 of Friday, September 10, 1943, on Tuesday, September 14, 1943, page 4078. In a cruel twist of fate, Pilot Officer Christie did not live long to enjoy his DFC, as he met his death in the performance of Air Force duty during a training flight, as a result of the crash of Cornell 10880 at approximately 1720 hrs, on April 3, 1944, on the Canadian Pacific Railway right of way, one quarter mile south of Azure, Alberta. Dicks was transferred to No. 4 Training Command Headquarters in Regina, Saskatchewan on October 28, 1943, followed by a promotion to Acting Group Captain on January 1, 1944, then promoted to Temporary Group Captain on October 1, 1944, before being transferred to No. 4 Training Command in Calgary, Alberta on November 30, 1944, then returning to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa soon after. In a Recommendation for Honours and Awards, dated July 24, 1945, Dicks was recommended for the Order of the British Empire, Officer or alternately, the Order of the British Empire, Member, the citation stating: "Group Captain Dicks has served in key positions at R.C.A.F. Headquarters in Canada and Overseas, as well as in the field, and at all times his leadership, determination and devotion to duty has set an excellent example to those associated with him. In the past year, he has completed the difficult task of organizing a new Statistics Branch with outstanding success. His superiors place the utmost confidence in his decisions due to his past records and the success of his present undertaking." It appears though that he was never awarded either. Post-war, he was promoted to Wing Commander, Administrative on October 1, 1946. In 1947, RCAF Records Officer Dicks was involved in a controversy, that involved two men that had been awarded Polish medals by the Free Polish Government in Exile in London. The communist Warsaw government that had been established in 1945 by the Soviets objected, saying that they were the only government authorized to issue Polish awards. In a Memo from Dicks to Air Personnel, dated February 19, 1947, he expressed the views of those at RCAF Headquarters in Ottawa: "In view of the possible embarrassment involved, it is recommended that the RCAF does not take any official cognizance of the Polish awards in question, and if you concur the CLO (Chief Liaison Officer) will be requested to inform the Central Honours Committee accordingly." In a follow up Memo from Dicks to the Chief Liaison Officer, RCAF Overseas Headquarters in London, dated March 1, 1947, Dicks stated that the RCAF decided not to take official cognizance of the Polish awards with which the men had been issued and advised the Central Honours Committee accordingly. He extended his service on September 30, 1947 and was then posted to Maintenance Command Headquarters in Ottawa on the following December 15th. He was transferred to General Administration on November 1, 1948, then, in the new year, took a Service Management Course in Trenton from January 24 to February 4, 1949, followed two years hence by a transfer back to Air Force Headquarters in Ottawa on March 14, 1951. While employed at RCAF Headquarters, Dicks applied for the Canadian Forces' Decoration and Clasp, claiming twenty-two years' total service, from April 1, 1931 to March 31, 1953 and was awarded the CFD accordingly. In the latter stages of his career and nearing retirement, he was transferred to Uplands Station on August 4, 1958. In a letter from G/C. C.H. Mussels at Uplands to RCAF Headquarters, regarding Wing Commander Dicks, dated March 10, 1959, Mussels expressed his sentiments towards the soon to be retired Dicks: "I am very pleased that the Service saw fit to transfer this officer to be a member of my staff. Although in the twilight of his Service career, he is performing his duties in a very satisfactory manner. His vast Service experience and background make his advice well worth listening to. Having served in the Ottawa area for many years, he knows his way around, and has his ear close to the ground. It is seldom that he is caught unawares by any administrative development. During his short tenure, he has put forth many constructive ideas and followed them through to completion. I think W/C Dicks is thoroughly enjoying his appointment and he is held in respect by both his superiors and subordinates. It is unfortunate that this officer did not have the opportunity of serving in the field sooner. A very loyal member of the RCAF." In addition, in a letter from Air Marshal Hugh Campbell, Chief of the Air Staff, dated December 6, 1960, the Air Marshal thanked Dicks for his service, with Dicks officially retiring on August 2, 1961, having reached the compulsory age release. Dicks died from Coronary Occlusion (partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery, causing a heart attack), on April 13, 1967 in Key West, Monroe County, Florida, at the age of 58. His body was returned to Canada and buried in Beechwood Cemetery in Ottawa.