Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Charles Dick was the son of Alfred and Annie (née Milne) Dick. He was born on 17 February 1881 (or 28 February 1881) at Timaru, perhaps when his father was managing runs in the South Island. His father Alfred (whose father was Charles) who died at his residence, “Glenwarlock”, Kimbolton in October 1906, in the Marton area where the family had resided since 1890, had been recognised in 1877, with the Royal Humane Society’s bronze medal, for an act of bravery in saving a woman and child from drowning in the Maerewhenua River in North Otago. His mother Annie died in September 1911 at their home, “Glenwarlock”, Kimbolton, which property she had farmed after her husband's death. Charles may have been, however, an adopted son of Alfred and Annie. No birth registration has been identified. Alfred (about 33 years) and Annie (about 37 years) married in March 1883, when he was an auctioneer at Marton in the Rangitikei district. Alfred and Annie were well-known and highly esteemed members of the Kimbolton community. When both Alfred and Annie died, there was no mention of children (Charles and Katie). They also had a daughter (adopted, it seems) – born Katie Marion Maud Stacey (known as Maud) on 22 June 1883, her birth registered at Dunedin. The family was at Glenwarlock near Feilding when Maud attended Wanganui Girls’ High School from 1898 to 1899. Charles attended the Kimbolton School. Thereafter he assisted on the home farm before acquiring his own farm at Otorohanga after the war.

Following a good recommendation in January 1908, Charles Dick was commissioned and appointed Lieutenant of the Feilding Mounted Rifles (Volunteers) in April 1908. Having previously qualified for the rank of Lieutenant in December 1904 following 4 years’ service with the Feilding MR (Apiti Troop), and even though he had resigned in December 1905, he was exempted from further examination after a report of efficient performance. The reason for his resignation in 1905 was that he was leaving New Zealand in January (1906) to reside in Canada. He then passed the examination of an Officer of the 6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles in May 1911. In October 1911, when he was serving with the Feilding Mounted Rifles, he was promoted to the rank of Captain. Mr Charles Dick, a well-known resident of Kimbolton and captain of the Feilding Mounted Rifles, met with an accident on 27 August 1912. While riding a young horse he was thrown from the horse and suffered a broken leg. After the fractured limb had been set, he was reported to be doing well.

Charles Dick was a farmer residing at Kimbolton when he enlisted very soon after the outbreak of war – on 26 August 1914 at Palmerston North. Medically examined that day, he stood at 5 feet 9 inches, weighed 154 pounds, and had a chest measurement of 33-35½ inches, with a fair complexion, light brown eyes and dark brown hair. His sight, hearing, colour vision, heart and lungs were all normal, his limbs and chest well formed, his teeth good. Free from diseases, vaccinated, and in good bodily and mental health, he was passed Fit. He belonged to the 6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles. Single and of Church of England affiliation, he named his sister as next-of-kin - Miss Maud Dick, Kimbolton. Charles first set out for overseas service early in the war as Major of the 6th Manawatu Squadron of the Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment in the Main Expeditionary Force, departing from Wellington for Suez, Egypt on 16 October 1914 and disembarking at Alexandria, Egypt on 4 December. After being admitted to hospital at Zeitoun on 17 April 1915, he embarked for the Dardanelles on 9 May 1915. Not two months later – on 4 July 1915 – he was admitted to the Base Hospital at Anzac Cove, sick. He rejoined his Unit on 15 July.

After being wounded in 1915 after not three months at Gallipoli, he was invalided from London to New Zealand per the troopship “Rotorua” on 16 December 1915. He had been wounded on the forearm in a bayonet attack on the night of 6 August 1915 when the Suvla Bay landing was effected, and suffered partial paralysis of his right hand. “Major Chas. Dick, of Apiti, is reported to-day as having been wounded. Major Dick was an enthusiastic member of the Feilding Mounted Rifles, as Lieutenant and afterwards as Captain. He went out with the Main Expeditionary Force.” [Feilding Star, 16 August 1915.] He was admitted first to the 19th General Hospital, then to the 15th General Hospital at Alexandria on 14 August. Three days later he was transferred to No. 1 New Zealand General Hospital at Cairo, then the next day transferred to the Convalescent Camp at Helouan. On 3 October he embarked at Port Said per the Hospital ship “Syria” for England where a successful operation was performed on his arm. On 16 October 1915 he was admitted to the Queen Alexandra Military Hospital at Millbank, his wounds severe. Major Dick praised his men highly for their behaviour during the fighting. And he said that the people of England had been exceptionally good to the New Zealand and Australian forces. He was struck off the strength of the NZEF. “Writing about the Boys’ Institute Old Boys reminds me that Charlie Dick, who organised them into an association [cricket], has been wounded in battle in the Dardanelles.” [Free Lance, 15 October 1915.] Charlie Dick, wounded in the arm, was named in a letter written from Anzac on 18 August 1915 by Percy Taylor to his mother Mrs T. R. Taylor, of Kiwitea, and referring to the battles of August 6, 7 and 8 – “[The boys] were bravery itself and stood to a man.”

As of 24 January 1916, Captain Charles Dick (6th Manawatu Mounted Rifles) was to be Major. A vacancy caused by the death from wounds of an officer led to this promotion. The troopship, carrying a batch of sick and wounded New Zealand soldiers, Major Charles Dick (Kimbolton) among them, was due at Auckland on 2 February 1916. A Medical Board which was assembled at Auckland (on board the Troopship “Rotorua”) on 3 February 1916, to examine and report on the health of Major Dick, Kimbolton, Feilding, found that gunshot wounds to his forearm received on active service rendered him not fit for “general service” or service at home, indefinitely, and recommended 28 days’ sick leave. A further Medical Board was assembled at Wellington on 9 March 1916, to report on Major C. Dick who had suffered gunshot wounds to his right forearm which resulted in injury to a nerve and loss of movement in a finger. Progress was slow. He was not presently fit for “active service”, his disability likely to continue for some weeks. It was recommended that he receive further treatment at Rotorua Hospital. Yet another Medical Board was assembled at Rotorua on 27 April 1916, to report on the present state of health of Major C. Dick. He was then under treatment as an out-patient of Rotorua Hospital, for wasting of hand muscles weakened by the gunshot wound. Progress was fair. The Board’s opinion was that he was fit for “active service”, recommending that he return to duty at the expiration of the usual three weeks’ leave. A travelling-pass was issued on 1 May 1916, Major Dick being granted leave from 1 May to 20 May 1916.

Major C. Dick (Wellington Mounted Rifles) reported for Duty at Featherston on 21 May 1916, returning to duty attached to the 13th Mounted Rifles, and again embarked for overseas duty, on 31 May 1916 per the “Willochra”. After disembarking at Devonport on 26 July 1916, he marched into Sling, was attached (temporarily) to the NZFA for Rations five days later, then was taken on the Strength of Grey Towers (Hornchurch Convalescent Camp) on 5 August. After going on leave on 7 August 1916, he was struck of the strength of the Convalescent Camp on 6 September and left for the NZ Reserve Group at Codford. He was then taken on Strength at Tidworth the next day. Major C. Dick left Sling for Egypt on 8 December 1916. On arrival (9 January 1917) per the “Euripides”, he was posted to the Wellington Regiment Training units and depots. To be 2nd in Command from 19 January 1917, he was transferred to the Wellington Mounted Rifles Brigade. From 23 April 1917 to 13 June, he was to be Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel whilst in Command. Relinquishing the Temporary Command of the Regiment on 13 June 1917, Major Dick resumed the appointment of 2nd in Command of the Wellington Mounted Rifles. A confidential report dated 28 April 1917 read – Is a keen Officer and has a good theoretical knowledge of Mounted Rifle work. Has been absent from Regiment from August 1915 to Jan. 1917. Has done well as Second in Command since rejoining Regiment. Best suited for 2nd i/c Command with a little more experience.

As of 31 July 1917, Major Dick was in Egypt. Admitted to Hospital in the Field on 10 September 1917, with septic sores then scarlet fever, he was admitted to No. 24 Stationary Hospital at Kantarra the next day with scarlet fever and then to the 1st Echelon General Hospital at Cairo (British Red Cross Hospital at Giza) on 22 October 1917. Transferred to the Sirdarieh Convalescent Home at Giza on 27 October, he was admitted for convalescence after scarlet fever. He was discharged from hospital to duty on 3 November. He was detached to the School of Instruction from 7 December 1917 until 27 February 1918 when he was again posted to the Wellington Mounted Rifles from the Training Regiment. After a spell at the Rest Camp at Port Said in July 1918, he again assumed Temporary Command of the Regiment in the Field on 11 August and was appointed Temporary Lieutenant-Colonel in September whilst in Command, reverting to Major a week later. On 18 October 1918 he was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel and appointed to the command of the New Zealand Training Units and Depots in Egypt. Transferred to the Training Regiment on 20 October 1918, he relinquished the appointment of Lieutenant-Colonel (Officer in Command) of the New Zealand Training Units and Depots in Egypt on 21 December 1918, to return to New Zealand for demobilization.

Lieutenant-Colonel C. Dick returned (on duty) per the “Wiltshire” (returning Draft No. 210), embarking at Suez on 24 December 1918 and arriving in New Zealand on 1 February 1919. The Medical Board assembled on the “Wiltshire” on 28 January 1919, noted that he suffered from the effects of an old gunshot wound (6 August 1915) of his right forearm, which had resulted in a loss of power in his hand, loss of abduction in 5th finger and abduction in four fingers. He was fit for Active Service, Territorial Service and Civil Employment, but his earning capacity was lessened by 40% indefinitely. He was granted privilege leave from 2 February 1919 to 1 March, and he had to report personally or in writing to the Adjutant-General, Wellington. A medical examination was conducted at Wellington on 28 February 1919. The gunshot wound to his left [sic] arm was recorded as was good physique. He did complain of feeling run down. Some degree of debility, the result of military service, was noted but would probably be temporary with regard to earning-capacity in civil life.

He was discharged on 1 March 1919 and struck off the Strength of the New Zealand Expeditionary Force. He was awarded the 1914-1915 Star, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Having gone twice to the front, Major Charles Dick gave a total of four years 249 days of service in the First World War, his first period spent in Egypt and the Balkans, the second in Egypt. Lieut-Colonel C. Dick was sent a memorandum dated 26 July 1919, that officers of the NZEF who had returned from active service were to be placed on a temporary reserve list. On 2 August 1919, 11/673 Lieut. Colonel Charles Dick – Wellington Mounted Rifles Regiment, NZMR Brigade (Service in NZ Expeditionary Force) and Captain 6th Mounted Rifles Regiment (Service in NZ Military Forces) – applied to continue his service in the New Zealand Military Forces in the Reserve of Officers. He was then residing at Tahaia via Otorohanga. His application was referred and recommended.

The receipt of Major C. Dick, 6th (Manawatu) Mounted Rifles, for the NZ Service Medal was forwarded to Headquarters on 27 September 1919. This was the New Zealand Territorial Service Medal awarded for long and efficient service in the New Zealand Territorial Force, which he had applied for earlier.

Charles Dick had a notable career with the Territorials – he enrolled with the Feilding Mounted Rifles on 28 September 1901 and was efficient to his resignation on 7 December 1905 (4 years 72 days); after a break he was appointed Lieutenant of the Feilding Mounted Rifles on 11 April 1908 and was certified efficient through to 15 October 1914 (6 years 189 days). He then served with the NZ Expeditionary Force (Main Body) from 16 October 1914 to 3 February 1916, and with the 13th Reinforcements from 27 May 1916 to 31 December 1918 (total 8 years 43 days but much counting as double). His total broken efficient service (from 28/9/01 to 31/12/18) was 18 years 304 days, and his total continuous efficient service (from 11/4/08 to 31/12/18) was 14 years 238 days. It was for this that award of the medal was approved.

A memorandum to A.D.M.S. (Adjutant Director of Medical Services) dated 24 September 1920 read – With reference to the case of the above-named officer – 11/673 Lt-Col. C. Dick – Colonel Dick was severely wounded in 1915; he also contracted several illnesses afterwards in Egypt. His Demobilisation Form shows that he was much debilitated when he was struck off the strength in 1919. I am of the opinion that this officer is a fair charge on Defence for his present illness of Appendicitis. We will, of course, provided you concur, only pay the usual maintenance charges, no extras. The issue of B.R. 169 would, of course, entitle him to the in-patient’s pension. Lt-Colonel Dick has been advised through the Medical Superintendent, Waikato Hospital, to apply in due form to you.

Post-war Charles returned to farming, briefly at Kimbolton then at Otorohanga. His sister Maud was there with him at Kimbolton and Otorohanga until her marriage (as Maud Dick and Maud Stacey) to Edward Burrell in May 1917 at Cheltenham. In early July 1939 Major Charles Dick (Te Kuiti) arrived for the wedding at Feilding of his niece Miss Margaret Burrell, staying with his sister. On 23 December 1941 at Te Kuiti, Charles Dick married Catherine Euphemia Cameron (née Gair), a divorced woman with two adult children, her elder daughter having died in 1936. Charles and Catherine lived on at Otorohanga. Catherine died on 20 August 1952 and was buried at Te Kuiti Old Cemetery. Charles Dick died at Otorohanga on 18 July 1956, aged 75 years, and was buried in the RSA section of the Te Kuiti Old Cemetery. Charles signed his last Will after Catherine’s death. The beneficiaries were his stepson Evan Archivald Cameron, his stepdaughter Marjorie Goodwin (née Cameron), his two nieces Margaret Bolton Riley (née Burrell) and Joan Burrell. His nephew, Charles Edward Burrell, who served in Egypt, Greece, Crete and Libya in World War Two, was wounded and had his leg amputated. Invalided home, he died at Wellington Hospital on 3 March 1942. He was buried at Feilding with military honours. Three brothers of Alfred Dick also came to New Zealand from their native Scotland – Harry Salter Dick, Frederick Birrell Dick and Randolph Douglas Dick. Randolph’s elder son, also named Charles Dick, served in World War One.

Sources

Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph Cenotaph Database [05 April 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5534 0033709) [05 April 2015]; NZ Defence Force Personnel Records (Archives NZ Ref. AABK 18805 W5568 0135449) [30 June 2017]; Feilding Star, 1 October 1895, 21 December 1895, 24 & 25 October 1906, 13 May 1909, 4 September 1911, 26 October 1911, 28 August 1912, 16 August 1915, 16 October 1915, 4 & 5 February 1916, 19 June 1917, Wairarapa Daily Times, 29 October 1906, Otago Witness, 21 November 1906, Dominion, 4 September 1911, 16 August 1915, 15 January 1916, Manawatu Standard, 6 September 1911, 15 January 1916, 3 July 1939, Evening Post, 23 September 1914, 24 August 1915, 15 January 1916, 4 February 1916, 22 January 1919, 22 February 1919, Auckland Star, 16 August 1915, NZ Times, 16 August 1915, 15 January 1916, Press, 17 August 1915, 22 January 1919, Free Lance, 15 October 1915, New Zealand Herald, 4 February 1916, Lyttelton Times, 22 January 1919, Star, 22 January 1919 (Papers Past) [05 April 2015; 14, 17 & 18 May 2026]; Te Kuiti Cemetery burial records & headstone transcription (South Canterbury Branch NZSG Cemetery records microfiches) [05 & 07 April 2015]; School Admission Record (Feilding Branch NZSG) [05 April 2015]; New Zealand Electoral Rolls (ancestry.com.au) [05 April 2015; 14 May 2026]; Probate record (Archives NZ Collections – Record number 354/1956) [17 May 2026]

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file
• Other military personnel file

Related Documents

• DICK Charles - newspaper clippings (pdf, 114.8 KB updated 16-Jul-2026)

Researched and Written by

Teresa Scott, SC Genealogy Society

Currently Assigned to

TS