Richard Norman Aitken Dingley

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher with additional information courtesy of the Archivist, Felsted School

Richard Dingley was the son of Donald Clive Dingley and Gladys (née Aitken). He was born in W. Bromwich Rd, Stafford on the 18th June 1919 and in 1941 he married Barbara Shirley Peck who lived in Warwick.

He attended Felsted School from 1930 to December 1936. An obituary for him, which was published in the school magazine, the Felsteadian, read:

Richard Dingley was one of those who found progress up the school more difficult than most, and left after one term in the Fifth Form. But he had plenty of energy and a fine spirit of co-operation in many athletic activities and represented the School in both Rugger and hockey. He also boxed and played football.

Some of these sporting activities are also recorded in the school magazine. In March 1936 it reported on his boxing skills:

 “Dingley was undoubtedly the better boxer of the two. He was quicker and more accurate than Tidmarsh, who was a very good loser. Dingley was twice warned by the referee for holding. This is quite a new mistake of his and he must be careful not to let it become a habit."

And a football article in February 1937 reported that he was: "A very plucky player who made up for lack of weight by football skill and determination. He was a trifle too slow to take advantage of openings which he could see and make."

He was also a good swimmer. In July 1936 he was a member of the school team which beat the team from HMS Worcester in a swimming match by 85 points to 9!

This enthusiasm stood him in good stead when he joined the Worcestershire Regiment. The Battalion landed in Normandy on the 22nd June after being delayed by the storm of 19-20 June. But he was killed shortly afterwards, just as the battalion had taken over positions in Cheux. All the officers of A Company had been in a co-ordinating conference when a bomb fell amongst them whilst moving from one slit trench to another. Major Riddle and Lt Hulme were killed instantly and Richard Dingley and Lt Hulme died of their wounds a short while later. His CO wrote: “I shall always remember his tremendous enthusiasm for the job in hand and the great support he gave me since I came to the battalion. The regiment is proud to have had such an officer."

L-R: Lt David Wye, Capt Richard Dingley, Major Riddle, batman (unknown) and Lt Pat Hulme (Source: http://www.worcestershireregiment.com/)