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Capt J J Dykes KOSB, Dumfries
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Mon Apr 06, 2009 10:21 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

His death was published in the times on 20th July 1915 but with no detail other than name, rank and regiment.

\Paul
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Michael Pfahler



Joined: 16 Mar 2008
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Location: Karlsruhe/Germany

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 3:13 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hello - after a long time - it's me again!
Several time ago I got to buy an old british soldier's Newspaper.
At the backside, there are some postings about soldiers died in duty...
And there also is a picture of Capt. J.J. Dykes!
But only connectings his name and Date of his Death - no circular circumstances...
If you like to - I'm sending you a scan of it.
Greetings from south-west-Germany
Michael
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good to hear from you Michael. Last Saturday I was giving a talk to the Dumfries and Galloway family history society and used Captain Dykes as an example of why we should publish our research so others can find it. Then others will reply with information we do not even suspect. When I showed the photograph of Capt Dykes revolver, there were even one or two gasps from the audience!

\Paul
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Michael Pfahler



Joined: 16 Mar 2008
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Location: Karlsruhe/Germany

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 4:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Hi Paul,

yes so is it - good to hear from each other!

I can imagine that some of the audience of was gasping... so did I when I got the first informations about "J.J." - here at your blog.
Meanwhile I've got some pieces of equipment of the KOSB... and a good friend of mine and I are collecting informations about Gallipoli, KOSB etc. for to write a serious article about this war-episode, armament AND Capt J.J. Dykes...
I will let you know then!

I'm member of a group of reenactors - look at: www.dsm1918.de
and we got several friendships with some likeminded groups in foreign countries (mostly french ones) - and we are very happy to find some friends around our doing and have not to fight abgainst'em - like in past!

Regards from Karlsruhe - Michael
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Tonym



Joined: 18 Jan 2007
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Location: East Sussex

PostPosted: Tue Mar 29, 2011 6:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paul

It would appear that Capt. Dykes has become a little restless as a couple of days ago, by shear coincidence, I found my old papers from four years ago when you posted the photograph of the VADs with him and, who I am convinced is, Lord Roberts.

I started researching because I believe that was not just a souvenir photo of a group but recording an important event. However my research went cold due to my wife's illness and subsequent death and my temporary loss of interest in my female casualty project.

However the papers are back on the desk and I am going to take another look. But my picking up those forgotten papers and Michael's post makes me wonder if James Dykes is controlling the situation???

Tony
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Stewartry



Joined: 19 Dec 2006
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PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 12:37 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I am currently in correspondence with the CWGC to update his entry to include his 'Mentioned in Despatches' relating to early June 1915 at Gallipoli. He was in command of the first night time working party to go out since the battalion landed on 6 June. A fairly large group of men (16) of 'A' Coy. were hit by shell fire and even though the shelling continued, they were treated and bandaged in the open where they lay by Capt Dykes. All the men survived.

Stuart
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 4:23 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I have had another look at the older man (Lord Roberts?) in the photo. Looking at all the photos of Lord Roberts that I can find with google images, I cannot say if it is him or not. Looking at the uniform, the collar badges look like fusiliers and I cannot see any link of that with Lord Roberts. Looking at the medals, Lord Roberts had a VC (1st medal ribbon), followed by a white ribbon with 2 vertical dark stripes. In the picture with Capt Dykes, the first ribbon could possibly be a VC but the second definately looks wrong.

My next thoughts were that perhaps it was the Lord Lieutenant but it is neither the 6th nor 7th Duke of Buccleuch.

The building in the background could possibly be the Crichton in Dumfries but that is only a wild guess.

To identify the man and the event I would guess our best chances are to identify the building, one or more of the nurses or the badges, medal ribbons and insignia on his uniform.

\Paul
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Tonym



Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 224
Location: East Sussex

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 7:34 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

I compared 4 head and shoulder photos of Roberts with an enlarged head & shoulders from the VAD photo and saw no difference other than the VAD one possibly slightly younger. also two of the photos that had full medals there was a slight variation in the order with an addition in one.

The neck badge that he is wearing in the VAD pic was a choice between the KCB or Order of St John but as the centre was more solid I opted for the KCB; I am aware that he also had a GCB but it appears that there is no neck badge for the Grand Cross.

Although being a black & white photo a study of the medal ribbons not so easy but the first one definitely shows up black and close study suggests somethong in the middle what is obviously the miniature cross worn on the undress ribbon.

So, right or wrong I personally believe that to be Lord Roberts but I would suggest that it is 1912-1913 that now brings me to my quest as to the purpose of the photo.

The set up of the photo is so formal and carefully balanced, that includes a high ranking officer and, although not a medical officer, a qualified Doctor that it has to be, in effect, an official record of an event but what event?

In 1909 an official scheme was passed for the Organisation of Voluntary Aid in England a Wales to assist the Government by providing supplementary aid to the Territorial Medical Service to meet the events or war. This scheme was followed in Scotland in December 1909.

Whilst the British Red Cross were unable to advise which hospitals were established in Scotland with the approval of the Deputy Director of Medical Services they did confirm that Voluntary Aid Detachments had been formed in readiness for mobilisation when required.

So! Is it just possible that this was the first Scottish Voluntary Aid Detachment qualified and ready for service that justifies the presence of a senior officer and, although not an army Medical Officer, a qualified available doctor who supervised the medical aspects of the Detachment??

It is also possible that the premises where they are photographed was not in fact a hospital, at the time, but a suitable establishment for their training.

The purpose of the photograph then is my educated guesswork; Perhaps the spirit of James Dykes will shed a little more light?

Tony
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Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.
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spoons



Joined: 09 Jan 2007
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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 9:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Great stuff, can't argue with any of that.

James is a Captain in the photo. He was promoted to Captain on 2nd June 1913 and sailed for Gallipoli (I believe) on 20 May 1915 so the photo has to be between those dates.

Lord Roberts died in France on 14 Nov 1914 so that would narrow the window.

Incidentally, Lord Roberts connection with Scotland is that his mother was born in Edinburgh. Given that Capt Dykes was educated in Dumfries, Edinburgh and Glasgow, perhaps we are looking in the wrong place?

\Paul
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Tonym



Joined: 18 Jan 2007
Posts: 224
Location: East Sussex

PostPosted: Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:32 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Paul
That is my first problem, where was the photo taken? Unfortunately my geographic knowledge of Scotland is not that brilliant but I have been trying to equate other information i.e. -

It would appear that the Lanarkshire Branch, BRC was the starting point for Voluntary Aid Detachments and the Dykes were fairly prominent = Mrs W.A. Dykes was Vice-President at Hamilton and Mrs Lee Dykes was Vice-President at East Kilbride and Strathraven between 1911 and 1916. No indication of relationship to Capt. James but could be an answer to his presence in the photo?

There is one point. I am going to have to make contact with various organisations, the first is going to be The Imperial War Museum. Would there be any objection if I used the photograph for identification purposes.
The IWM may even have a copy themselves.

All for now as my brain is slowing down.

Tony
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Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.
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spoons



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PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2015 6:01 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A recently published book 'Dumfriesshire in the Great War' has the photo of the nurses with Capt Dykes and the senior officer. It states the photo is of the Dumfries VAD and is taken at the Dunbar Terrace Red Cross Auxiliary Hospital, Dumfries which all seems to fit. Still doesn't tell us who the senior officer is though.

\Paul
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Tonym



Joined: 18 Jan 2007
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Location: East Sussex

PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2015 7:58 pm    Post subject: Captain Dykes Reply with quote

Well done Paul

Did the book give any indication of the date of the formation of the Dumfries VAD Branch?

I'll bet Capt Dykes had no idea when posing for that photo that we wouild still be talking about him 100 years on!

Tony
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Pte. W. BROWN, Middlesex Regiment, K.I.A Battle of The Somme.
Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.
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spoons



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Location: St John's Town of Dalry

PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2015 8:49 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Good point, the hospital was established in Oct 1914 so that would mean the photo dates from Oct - Nov 1914 if it is Lord Roberts, otherwise it dates from Oct 1914 to Apr/May 1915

\Paul
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Tonym



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PostPosted: Thu May 07, 2015 9:51 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Thanks Paul

I have actually still got my file on Dykes, I shall pull it out and possibly pursue further research. I am actually more interested in the VADs.

Unfortunately I have a rheumatic problem at the moment restricting my arms and hands that has slowed down my nursing casualty research but Capt Dykes has reappeared and is pushing me on.

Tony
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Sgt. J. V. MURPHY, The Queen's Own Cameron Highlanders, D.O.W Monte Cassino, Italy.
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Kenneth Morrison



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PostPosted: Tue Oct 17, 2017 2:44 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

James Johnstone Dykes – age 29 – Captain: 1/5th Battalion (Dumfries and Galloway) King's Own Scottish Borderers.
James was qualified doctor and dentist and had studied medicine at Edinburgh University and at the Edinburgh Dental hospital. L.D.S., R.C.S. in 1907. L.R.C.P.&S. (Edinburgh) L.R.F.P.S. (Glasgow) – both in 1911. He worked with his father in the family dental practice in Dumfries and as a dental surgeon in the Dumfries & Galloway Royal Infirmary. A long-standing member of the 5th KOSB, he landed with his battalion at Gallipoli in June 1915.
Born 1886 in Dumfries. Son of Thomas and Mary S. Dykes, of Dumfries. Husband of Elizabeth Haining (Robison) Dykes, of Westfield, Maxwelltown, Dumfries who he married in 1912 in Dumfries.
Killed in Action on 12 July 1915 and buried in Redoubt Cemetery, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.
Also named on the Dumfries Academy Memorial, in the Edinburgh University Roll of the Fallen Honour and on the Greyfriars Church Memorial in Dumfries.
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