2/5th Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment.

Awarded the Military Medal in the London Gazette of 14 January 1918.

Dickenson was a native of Sabden, Lancashire.

From the Northern Daily Telegraph of 3 November 1917, Sabden Mans Award. Mrs. Dickenson, 46, Padiham Road, Sabden, has received news from her husband, Company Sergeant-Major Robert Dickenson, East Lancashire Regiment, that he has been awarded the Military Medal. Being a reserve man, he was called up three years ago. He went all through the Boer War. He was a weaver at Messrs. J. Stuttard and Son's Cobden mill.

From the Burnley News of 17 November 1917, Sabden Medallist. Honour for a South African Hero. Company Sergeant-Major Robert Dickenson, of Sabden, has been awarded the Military Medal for good work done on the 9 October 1917 in the present great push on the Western Front. Writing to his wife, Company Sergeant-Major Dickenson says, "You will be surprised to hear from me so soon, as I have sent you two letters already this week, but I promised to let you know the good news, which I mentioned in my last letter. In the big push on the 9th of this month, I was recommended by the Commanding Officer for some work I did on the day that Joe Nixon was wounded. If you see him he will tell you what it was like. The news came through today, I have got the Military Medal. I was told to put up the ribbon, so that you see they have to depend on the old ones yet." Company Sergeant-Major Dickenson is an old soldier, serving in the South African War, in India, as well as the home stations. Shortly after the war broke out, he rejoined the Colours, the East Lancashire Regiment, and did excellent work in the training of recruits, and was made Sergeant, and later Company Sergeant-Major. He is the only son of Mr. J. Dickenson, of Padiham Road, Sabden. In private life he was a weaver at Cobden Mill.

From the Burnley News of 15 May 1918, Sabden Military Medallist. Sergeant-Major Officially Reported Wounded and Missing. Mrs. Dickenson, of Sabden, wife of Company Sergeant-Major Dickenson, has been officially informed that her husband has been wounded and is missing since March 21st. Sergeant-Major Dickenson is a Military Medallist, having gained the distinction on the 9th October last for good work on the Western Front. He was an old time expired soldier when war broke out. He however joined the Padiham Pals, and has done excellent work as an instructor, and in France. He is the only son of Mr. John Dickenson, and in private life was a weaver at Cobden Mill.

"Soldiers Died in the Great War" shows:- Killed in action 31 March 1918. Born at Sabden, Lancashire and enlisted at Padiham, Lancashire whilst living at Sabden, Lancashire.

The Burnley Express of 7 June 1919 reports, Our Fallen Heroes. Sabden M.M. Winners Fate. Sergeant Major Dickenson who was reported missing on March 21st is now to be presumed killed in action between the 21/31 March 1918. the remainder of the report covers the previous reports on Dickenson's career.