David Lewis Dibblee
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Son of Frederick Lewis Dibblee (junior) Brother of John Frederick Dibblee |
For all documents, click on image for larger version.
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David Lewis Dibblee
For all documents, click on image for larger version.
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David Dibblee married Doris Elizabeth Mitchell in 1949. I was told that they had known each other since childhood. David and Doris had no children. David's mother, Violet Dibblee lived with them until she died in 1961. |
David Dibblee was a bank clerk.
On 4/9/1941, he was elisted at Trowbridge, for the "duration of the Emergency", in the Territorial Army.
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The training record is fairly indecipherable. Click for large version. I read it as: 10/4/1942 Passed Trade Test as OP SPEC GRP B and remustered in class III of that trade. 19/6/1942 Experienced DM Gas 10/10/1942 Fired musketry course 9/7/1943 Fired war course(Rifle + ?) 13/4/1944 Three Service Chevrons Authroised including Home Guard Service June 1940 to Sept 1941. |
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The following seems to be an account of his travels:
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HMT Devonshire (photo taken by G J Edkins at Southampton, August 1960)
From Wikipedia, Italian campaign (World War II): "The invasion of Sicily in July 1943 led to the collapse of the Fascist Italian regime and the fall of Mussolini, who was deposed and arrested by order of King Victor Emmanuel III on 25 July. The new government signed an armistice with the Allies on 8 September 1943. However, German forces soon took control of Northern and Central Italy..."
David Dibblee was in the Middle east after WWII. The pilgrimage certificate to the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, in Jerusalem, is dated 9 Oct 1945, when he was on leave. The training record is in Haifa, dated 4 Jan - 2 Feb, 1946. The "Guidance for the Forces visiting Jerusalem" is, regretfully, not dated, but may be the same time as the Pilgrimage document.
Extracts from Wikipedia's article on Israel (please read the article for a full account): "In 1920, after the Allies conquered the Levant during World War I, the territory was divided between Britain and France under the mandate system, and the British-administered area which included modern day Israel was named Mandatory Palestine... After World War II, the UK found itself facing a Jewish guerrilla campaign over Jewish immigration restrictions, as well as continued conflict with the Arab community over limit levels... On 22 July 1946, Irgun bombed the British administrative headquarters for Palestine, which was housed in the southern wing of the King David Hotel in Jerusalem... The Jewish insurgency continued throughout the rest of 1946 and 1947 despite concerted efforts by the British military and Palestine Police Force to suppress it." In fact, David Dibblee's visits to Jerusalem were all on leave. He had a training course in Haifa, but otherwise he was mostly in the Labanon, and he'd left for home mid April.
This includes the following information:
Service Trade: Operator Special Class III
Trade courses and trade tests passed: Op Spec Class III
Military Conduct: Exemplary
Testimonial:
Capable at his work
A cheerful and very willing soldier
Blood donor twice in last 6 months
Place: MEF
Date: 12 Apr 46
Officer's Signature: [indecipherable but stamped] Lieut-Col., R.Signals, 2 Wireless Company, R.Signals
This looks as if he is filling out a form claiming Defence Medal, and made these notes first. It says:
Dibblee, David Lewis, Northgate, North Road, Sherborne, Dorset
Army No. 2374996. Signalman, 2 Wireless Coy., R. Signals, M.E.F.
NIL
NIL
NO
Normal County of Residence - Dorset (formerly Hants)
Ports and dates of Embarkation - Glasgow 16/7/43. Port and date of Disembarkation ✓
| Army or personal No/Highest Rank Reg'tal Corps. H.G.Nat.Reg.Numb. | Unit with which served | County or HG County | Date From | To | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Home service | No.2374996 Signalman, R. Signals | S.O.T.B. Trowbridge 7.Spec.Wireless Coy Shenly Herts | U.K. | 4th Sept 1941 | 16th July 1943 |
| O'seas service | No.2374996 Signalman, R. Signals | 7. Intelligence 8. Special Wireless Coy. } 3. Special Wireless Group } | B.N.A.F. CMF. | July 1943 Oct.1943 | Oct.1943 Sept 1945 |
| Mine Disposal | - | - | - | - | - |
| Home Guard | EPGH 3/4 Private | 1st Aldershot Btn LDV and Home Guard 1st Winchester Btn. Home Guard | Hants Hants | 10th June 1940 10th Nov.1940 | 10th Nov.1940 4th Sept 1941 |
| H.G.Auxly | - | - | - | - | - |
| Bomb.Disp. | - | - | - | - | - |
[signed] D L Dibblee 6th Feb 1946 P.T.O. [There's nothing on the other side!]
These may be notes for claiming active service medals:
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No. 2374996 SGN. DIBBLEE D.L. 3.Special Wireless Group CMF Civilian Occupation - Bank Clerk Post War Occupation ditto Date of Embarkation - 16th July 1943 Date of Disembarkation - 28th July 1943 @ Algiers B.N.A.F. Previous Overseas Service - nil
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The medals were in a small box, with an enclosure explaining the medals and ribbons.
1939-45 Star - 180 days of operational service
Italy Star - 180 days of operational service
Defence Medal
War Medal 1939-45
In descending order of precedence:
1939-45 Star - 180 days of operational service
Italy Star - Service in the Italian Campaign (11 June 1943 to 8 May 1945, including Corsica, Greece & Yugoslavia)
Defence Medal - 3 years, 360, 180 or 90 days, depending on area and nature of service
War Medal 1939-1945 - 28 days service
I am not covering the relatives of Doris, but I have found the following among family papers. It specifies some of the relatives of Doris Dibblee, originally Mitchell.
© Jo Edkins 2023 - Return to Early Dibblee History index
