Gerald Charles Dickens

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.

Dickens was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant on 31 December, 1901. 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.

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

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

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

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

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

Post-War

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

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.

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

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.

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.

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

See Also

• Service Records
• Wikipedia

Naval Appointments
Preceded by Reginald Henniker-Heaton	Captain of H.M.S. Hart 26 Mar, 1907 – 26 Feb, 1909	Succeeded by Hubert S. Monroe
Preceded by ?	Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer 21 Apr, 1910 – 9 May, 1911	Succeeded by George W. Taylor
Preceded by George W. Taylor	Captain of H.M.S. Garry 9 May, 1911 – 21 Jun, 1911	Succeeded by Osmond J. Prentis
Preceded by Arthur K. Waistell	Captain of H.M.S. Foam 21 Jun, 1911 – Nov, 1911	Succeeded by Seymour F. Rowe
Preceded by George W. Taylor	Captain of H.M.S. Chelmer Nov, 1911 – 10 Nov, 1913	Succeeded by Hugh T. England
Preceded by Miles B. Birkett	Captain of H.M.S. Albatross 11 Oct, 1913 – 20 Nov, 1913	Succeeded by Clive Phillipps-Wolley
Preceded by Henry C. D. Field	Captain of H.M.S. Harpy 20 Nov, 1913 – 11 Mar, 1916	Succeeded by Wellwood G. C. Maxwell
Preceded by Alfred F. B. Carpenter	Assistant Director of Plans 15 Mar, 1920 – 1 May, 1920	Succeeded by George H. D'O. Lyon
Preceded by ?	Deputy Director of Plans 1 May, 1920 – 15 Jun, 1922	Succeeded by Wilfrid A. Egerton
Preceded by Edward R. G. R. Evans	Captain of H.M.S. Carlisle 1 Aug, 1922 – Sep, 1924	Succeeded by Robert S. MacFarlan
Preceded by Edward R. G. R. Evans	Captain of H.M.S. Harebell 15 Aug, 1925 – 15 Sep, 1926	Succeeded by Malcolm L. Goldsmith
Preceded by Francis G. G. Chilton	Captain of H.M.S. Repulse 26 Nov, 1929 – 17 Aug, 1931	Succeeded by Edward O. Cochrane
Preceded by Cecil V. Usborne	Director of Naval Intelligence 15 Aug, 1932 – 9 Sep, 1935	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 – c. Aug, 1935	Succeeded by ?
Preceded by Edward A. Astley-Rushton	Vice-Admiral Commanding, Reserve Fleet 19 Jul, 1935 – 26 Jul, 1937	Succeeded by Leslie H. Ashmore
Preceded by Henry C. R. Brocklebank	Royal Navy Naval Attaché at The Hague 8 Feb, 1940 – 16 May, 1940	Succeeded by Gerald C. Dickens
Preceded by Gerald C. Dickens	Royal Navy Naval Attaché at The Hague 8 Feb, 1940 – 16 May, 1940	Succeeded by ?