Major-General Spencer William Scrase Dickins

https://livesofthefirstworldwar.org/lifestory/5403557

STANHOPE GOLD MEDAL AND ALBERT MEDAL FOR LIFESAVING 1893 27th April 1893 On the 27th April, 1893, at 2.11 p.m., the steamship Peshawar was on her voyage from Aden to Suez, steaming at eleven and a half knots, in a strong head wind and a moderately high sea, when a lascar fell overboard. Captain Dickens, 2nd Bn. Highland Light Infantry, who was in a chair on deck, suffering from sea-sickness at the time, at once jumped overboard to rescue the man. After securing a life-buoy, subsequently thrown, swam with it to the lascar, and with this help supported the man above water for seventeen minutes, until picked up by a boat which was promptly lowered. The risk incurred in this case was undoubtedly very great, as the sea was so high it was impossible at times to see the boat, and this part of the Red Sea is notoriously dangerous, being infested with sharks. The rescue is described by the captain of the ship as "a deed of daring." The salvor and the lascar were one and a half miles from the ship when picked up. Awarded the Albert Medal for the same act.

Regiment: Highland Light Infantry; entered France October 1916

Probate: Dickins Spencer William Scrase of Coolhurst, Horsham, Sussex died 23 October 1919 Probate London 1 Mary to Charles Robert Scrase Dickins esquire and Henry Lushington Bolton solicitor. Effects 75452 pounds 18s. 2d.

Buried at St. John the Evangelist churchyard, Coolhurst, West Sussex