 | Letter from Alfred Dykes to his parents 3 Jul 1885 regarding
holidays and general small talk.
Accession Number: KO2654/001 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 28 Feb 1886 from Trinity
College, Glenalmond.
Accession Number: KO2654/002 |
| Envelope to Mrs W Alston Dykes, The Orchard, Hamilton postmarked
1 Mar 1886
Accession Number: KO2654/003 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 10 Mar 1886 from Trinity
College, Glenalmond. Not long before he was 12 years old. Writing
about Ash Wednesday and general small talk.
Accession Number: KO2654/004 |
| Envelope to Mrs W Alston Dykes, The Orchard, Hamilton postmarked
11 Mar 1886.
Accession Number: KO2654/005 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 14 Mar 1886 from Trinity
College Glenalmong. With thanks for cake etc.
Accession Number: KO2654/006 |
| Envelope to Mrs W Alston Dykes, The Orchard, Hamilton postmarked
15 Mar 1886
Accession Number: KO2654/007 |
| Commission for Alfred McNair Dykes, Gent, 2nd Lieutenant Land
Forces The King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment dated 11 Dec 1894
Accession Number: KO2654/008 |
| Letter Mar 1898 from Dr Melville who assisted Alfred Dykes when
he had fever.
Accession Number: KO2654/009 |
| ‘Transvaal War Fund’ not of sums and dated 20 Dec 1899
Accession Number: KO2654/010 |
| Letter from the War Office to Lieutenant A M Dykes 28 Mar 1900
regarding promotion to Captain ‘having been on active service in
South Africa’
Accession Number: KO2654/011 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 9 Aug 1900 on the note
paper of the S S Armenian, Leyland Line Boston Steamers. Written as
the ship sailed taking Dykes back to South Africa. Sheet one of
three.
Accession Number: KO2654/012 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 9 Aug 1900 on the note
paper of the S S Armenian, Leyland Line Boston Steamers. Written as
the ship sailed taking Dykes back to South Africa. Sheet two of
three.
Accession Number: KO2654/013 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother, 9 Aug 1900 on the note
paper of the S S Armenian, Leyland Line Boston Steamers. Written as
the ship sailed taking Dykes back to South Africa. Sheet three of
three.
Accession Number: KO2654/014 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother 11 Sep 1900 from the
Imperial Hotel Martizburg, Natal.
Accession Number: KO2654/015 |
| Copy of letter from Lieutenant Colonel F B Matthews, Commanding
2nd Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment to The Staff
Office, Dundee Sub District, Dundee, Natal, 9 Nov 1901 recommending
that Captain Dykes is appointed as Adjutant.
Accession Number: KO2654/016 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother 5 Jun 1902 from Dundee,
Natal sheet one of two
Accession Number: KO2654/017 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother 5 Jun 1902 from Dundee,
Natal, sheet two of two
Accession Number: KO2654/018 |
| Letter from Alfred Dykes to his mother 10 Jul 1902 from
Maritzburg
Accession Number: KO2654/019 |
| Envelope to Mrs Alston Dykes dated 12 Jul 1902 and postmarked
Petermartizburg, Natal, postmarked on the rear Hamilton, Scotland 3
Aug 1902
Accession Number: KO2654/020 |
| Army Form B 199 Record of Services of Alfred McNair Dykes of the
King’s Own updated to 22 Oct 1902
Accession Number: KO2654/021 |
| Letter from War Office dated 16 Sep 1913 (Military Secretary
Form 6A) informing Major A McN Dykes that he has been selected to
command a battalion of the regiment and that he will be promoted
Lieutenant Colonel and will be gazetted in due course in succession
to Lieutenant Colonel T J Marker (deceased). Signed by Lieutenant
General W E Franklyn, Military Secretary.
Accession Number: KO2654/022 |
| Letter from War Office dated 30 Sep 1913 informing Lieutenant
Colonel A McN Dykes has been posted to the 1st Battalion King’s Own
Royal Lancaster Regiment
Accession Number: KO2654/023 |
| Undated letter to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes at the Barracks,
Dover, envelope postmarked 2 Mar 1914 (in Dover) letter sent from
Germany from Danny. Sheet one of three.
Accession Number: KO2654/024 |
| Undated letter to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes at the Barracks,
Dover, envelope postmarked 2 Mar 1914 (in Dover) letter sent from
Germany from Danny. Sheet two of three.
Accession Number: KO2654/025 |
| Undated letter to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes at the Barracks,
Dover, envelope postmarked 2 Mar 1914 (in Dover) letter sent from
Germany from Danny. Sheet three of three.
Accession Number: KO2654/026 |
| Envelope addressed to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, Grand Shaft
Barracks, Dover, postmarked 2 Mar 1914 sent from Germany.
Accession Number: KO2654/027 |
| Letter dated 13 Mar 1914 to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, Grand
Shaft Barracks, Dover, sent from ‘Danny’ in Germany. Sheet one of
three.
Accession Number: KO2654/028 |
| Letter dated 13 Mar 1914 to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, Grand
Shaft Barracks, Dover, sent from ‘Danny’ in Germany. Sheet two of
three
Accession Number: KO2654/029 |
| Letter dated 13 Mar 1914 to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, Grand
Shaft Barracks, Dover, sent from ‘Danny’ in Germany. Sheet three of
three.
Accession Number: KO2654/030 |
| Envelope addressed to Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, Grand Shaft
Barracks, Dover sent from Bad Mauhem, Germany and postmarked 12 Mar
1914
Accession Number: KO2654/031 |
| Invoice to Mrs Alfred Dykes from the Fine Art Society for two
framed paintings by Sir William Richmond, dated May 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/032 |
| Trust Disposition and Settlement by Lieutenant Colonel Alfred
Mcnair Dykes, 1914 Eight sheets clipped together. A form of will.
Accession Number: KO2654/033 a to h |
| Battalion Orders by Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes, Commanding 1st
Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Dover, 4 Aug 1914
Part Two – Page one of two. The day the battalion was mobilised for
war, Tuesday 4 Aug 1914, the Monday being a Bank Holiday.
Accession Number: KO2654/034 |
| Battalion Orders by Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes, Commanding 1st
Battalion King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, Dover, 4 Aug 1914
Part Two – Page two of two.
Accession Number: KO2654/035 |
| Letter to his mother from Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes,
Commanding 1st King’s Own, Wednesday 5 Aug 1914 from Grand Shaft
Barracks, Dover.
“I was fully convinced that unless we, as a nation, were to
sacrifice our honour, we were bound to go to war. First, in
accordance with our most solemn obligations to France and Belgium.
Secondly, to preserve our existence as a Nation and an Empire.
Consequently without waiting for orders, I got to work at once on
the great work of mobilisation, last Monday morning. I am now
thankful; for though we are terribly busy, a great deal was done
before the order arrived yesterday at 5 O’clock. We are now more
than a day ahead of our programme and have saved a great deal of
rush. ….we are awaiting the arrival of reservists, who will be
pouring in tomorrow and subsequent days. My battalion will then be
31 officers and 1037 other ranks. [Battalion Orders of 4 Aug 1914
listed peace time strength of 631].
One thing only I do ask you and that is to accept the news and
whatever comes of it, with the calm strength and bravery which you
have always shown in times of stress. We are all happy and full of
confidence and I think that rarely never did war begin in a more
thoroughly just cause.
You used to think me cynical, I think, in our Billiard Room War
Councils when I used to air my views on the value of German
Treaties, Vows and Protestations. There is no need to ‘crow’! The
truth of all I said stands self evident today. On the heads of the
German and Austrian Emperors, who have plotted and planned all this,
for years, while professing peace…..”
Accession Number: KO2654/036 |
| Post Office Telegram from Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes to his
wife dated 15 Aug 1914 regarding letters sent in the post.
Accession Number: KO2654/037 |
| Letter from Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes to his wife dated 17
Aug 1914 from ‘The Workhouse, which we have tonight en route for
Harrow’
Accession Number: KO2654/038 |
| Envelope postmarked 16 Aug 1914 to Mrs A M Dykes from Norwich.
Accession Number: KO2654/039 |
| Letter from Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes to his wife, dated 2
a.m. 22 Aug 1914 from on board the T SS Saturnia, on which the 1st
Battalion King’s Own sailed to France. (Likely to be his final
letter to his wife).
2 am 22 August 1914
My Own Small Darling Wife
I got the last of my great command safely on board at 1 am. Another
Regiment are now embarking and we shall be ready to start in about
another hour. All being well we should be over by about 10-am
tomorrow morning. I have just been told that I am O C troops on
board and handed all sorts of secret codes for communicating with
the Navy in case of necessity! I have just finished a scrap to my
poor mother and now my last word before we leave these shores must
naturally be to my Most Darling Precious.
Baby, I won’t refer to our parting today. It was too damnable I fear
I may have seemed a little hard, But I couldn’t help it. If I’d let
myself go one inch, I should have cried and a crying Colonel
proceeding to ‘the Front’ – would not have been an edifying
spectacle.
Sweet Baby Love, My Small Small Darling, I wouldn’t have missed that
Precious little time with you for all the greatest things in the
world. It was awful seeing you drive off - so lonely-so small and so
defenceless. Yet I feel cheered and strengthened by our time
together. It has made all the difference. Sweetheart I do so hope
and pray that you got safely and well to London. That you are
sleeping well NOW and that tomorrow you will get safe and well back
to Malvern and be none the worse of your journeyings. Please tell me
soon. I’m certain you are none the worse of the N-gg—ing I feel so
much better and when you feel sad call to mind the advantage we took
of the hospitality offered us by the friendly German Jeweller!!
Never was such conduct!! Darling the future lies all unknown. But we
both face it with full hope and confidence.
I know you will pray that I don’t fail in my big job. You know that
I shall ever pray for you, to be spared anxiety, to keep well and
strong and brave and in due time to bring the little IT, healthy and
strong and well into the world. And above all with no danger or hurt
or harm to your Darling Precious self. God bless and keep you my
Darling Wife. I will come back to you safe and sound and younger
than ever.
Au Revoir. All my love and a great long lasting snuggle. Just one
long kiss.
Your Dearest (?) of own
Mokes (?)
Accession Number: KO2654/040 |
| Envelope to Mrs A M Dykes, postmarked 12.30 pm 22 Aug 1914
Southampton.
Accession Number: KO2654/041 |
| Telegram from Buckingham Palace, dated 4 Sep 1914 to Mrs Dykes,
Broomfield Hotel, Malvern. “The King and Queen deeply regret the
loss you and the Army have sustained by the death of your husband in
the Service of his Country. Their Majesties truly sympathise…”
Accession Number: KO2654/042 |
| Telegram from Buckingham Palace, dated 4 Sep 1914 to Mrs Dykes,
Broomfield Hotel, Malvern. “….with you in your sorrow, Private
Secretary”
Accession Number: KO2654/043 |
| Letter from Singapore, 13 Oct 1914 to my dear sister Rosmund
from Roland.
Accession Number: KO2654/044 |
| Letter from the War Office with the 1914 Star, dated 7 Feb 1919
to Mrs R A Dykes.
Accession Number: KO2654/045 |
| Letter from the War Office with the British War and Victory
Medal dated 25 Sep1920 to Mrs A M Dykes.
Accession Number: KO2654/046 |
| Undated letter from Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes, in Dover,
incomplete.
Accession Number: KO2654/047 |
| Letter dated 11 Mar and no other details
Accession Number: KO2654/048 |
| Letter with the one dated 11 Mar and no other details
Accession Number: KO2654/049 |
| Envelope to Mrs Dykes, London, Army Post Office 15 Dec 1914 and
passed by Censor.
Accession Number: KO2654/050 |
| Photo: Willie Dykes circa 1890s
Accession Number: KO2654/051 |
| Photo: Captain A McN Dykes, photographed in Dundee, South
Africa, circa 1901
Accession Number: KO2654/052 |
| Photo: Captain A McN Dykes in Number One uniform, late 1890s
Accession Number: KO2654/053 |
| Photo: Captain A McN Dykes in Number One uniform, late 1890s
Accession Number: KO2654/054 |
| Photo: ‘Leading the way for the convoy crossing the Zand River
en route for Vryheid. Self (Dykes) leading horseman, second Colonel
Matthews. 2nd Battalion South Africa, Boer War.
Accession Number: KO2654/055 |
| Photo by officer in the Regiment, part of our regiment as guard
to a convoy crossing the Zand Spruit at low water between Dundee and
De Jagers Drift. Myself (Dykes) standing with horse on the bank. The
front wagons of the convoy in the background.
Accession Number: KO2654/056 |
| Photo: Stereo Card of ‘H’ Company winners of the Long Distance
Challenge Shield, Lucknow, circa 1909?
Accession Number: KO2654/057 |
| Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, commanding 1st Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, presenting Long Service Medals,
Lydd 1914. Unknown sergeant receiving medal.
Accession Number: KO2654/058 |
| Photo: Lieutenant Colonel Dykes, commanding 1st Battalion,
King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, presenting medals, Lydd, 1914.
Accession Number: KO2654/059 |
| Photo: Medal presentation, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regiment, Lydd, 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/060 |
| Photo: Church Parade, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment, Lydd, 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/061 |
| Photo: Church Parade, 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster
Regiment, Lydd, 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/062 |
| Photo: Church Parade of the 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal
Lancaster Regiment, Lydd, 1914 marching to parade,
Accession Number: KO2654/063 |
| Photo: Banner of the King’s Own Regiment at the Choral
Commemoration of the first seven Divisions at the Albert Hall on 15
Dec 1917. With Lieutenant Colonel Thorne’s Compliments, 21 Feb 1918.
(Probably sent to the widow of Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes)
Accession Number: KO2654/064 |
| Album of photographs, letters, telegrams etc relating to A McN
Dykes of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, mainly relating to
the South African War 1899-1902 material compiled into album by
Kenneth Griffith.
Items KO2654/066-KO2654/092 inclusive are within the album.
Accession Number: KO2654/065 |
| Copy of letter dated 25 Oct 1899 to A McN Dykes from 2nd King’s
Own Royal Lancaster Regiment at Whittington Barracks, Lichfield,
stating that he had been selected for service in Natal, South
Africa.
Accession Number: KO2654/066 |
| Telegram dated 25 Oct 1899
Accession Number: KO2654/067 |
| Telegram dated 27 Oct 1899 stating that Dykes had been to the
War Office and had been selected for service in South Africa
probably for Staff appointment, but still stand by to be ready for
anything.
Accession Number: KO2654/068 |
| Telegram dated 30 Oct 1899 with details of departure from
Liverpool Docks to South Africa
Accession Number: KO2654/069 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Four sheets from Whittington Barracks, Lichfield. Postmarked 29 Oct
1899
Accession Number: KO2654/070 |
| Envelope no letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Accession Number: KO2654/071 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Five sheets from Royal Mail Steamship Servia dated 2 Nov 1899 from
Dykes to his mother postmarked Queenstown 4 Nov 1899 and Largs 6 Nov
1899
Accession Number: KO2654/072 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Letter dated 4 Nov 1899 from Queenstown.
Accession Number: KO2654/073 |
| Telegram dated 2 Nov 1899 just leaving Liverpool for South
Africa
Accession Number: KO2654/074 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Letter dated 7 Jan 1900 from Pietermaritzburg from Dykes to his
parents. Five sheets
Accession Number: KO2654/075 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Letter dated 26 Nov 1899, from Port Elizabeth, 30 Nov 1899 from East
London five pages in total
Accession Number: KO2654/076 |
| Envelope and letter to Mrs Alston Dykes, mother.
Details of the Battle of Three Tree Hill, dated 22 Jan 1900
Accession Number: KO2654/077 |
| Telegram 4 Nov 1899 from Dykes informing of his arrival in
Queenstown
Accession Number: KO2654/078 |
| Telegram dated 4 Nov 1899 from Dykes in Queenstown.
Accession Number: KO2654/079 |
| Letter and envelope postmarked 14 May 1900 from Glasgow to
Dyke’s father whilst recovering from his wounds.
Accession Number: KO2654/080 |
| Official envelope, empty
Accession Number: KO2654/081 |
| Photo: South African Train Camouflaged
Accession Number: KO2654/082 |
| Photo: Spion Kop
Accession Number: KO2654/083 |
| Photo: Spion Kop – part of our side of Spion Kop I lay just
above those cactus bushes for over an hour in the early morning of
the 24th and shot off upwards of 204 cartridges!
Accession Number: KO2654/084 |
| Photo: Spion Kop – the side we came up on 23 Jan 1900
Accession Number: KO2654/085 |
| Photo: Spion Kop – the dressing station side, the only place
where there was a certain amount of cover.
Accession Number: KO2654/086 |
| Telegram dated 27Jan 1900, Lancasters are with Warren no news…
Accession Number: KO2654/087 |
| Telegram dated 29 Jan 1900, Regret to inform you that General
Natal Telegraphs today that your son Lieutenant Dykes Royal
Lancaster regiment was severely wounded on the 24th Jan at Spion
Kop. Military Secretary
Accession Number: KO2654/088 |
| Telegram dated 30 Jan 1900, Address not known, possibly
Pietermaritzburg, Military Secretary.
Accession Number: KO2654/089 |
| Telegram dated 2 Feb 1900, from Dykes, In Hospital Doing Well.
Accession Number: KO2654/090 |
| Telegram dated 6 Feb 1900, from Dykes, Bullet near right ear and
through mouth left cheek, nothing permanent healing splendidly.
Alfred.
Accession Number: KO2654/091 |
| Telegram dated 13 Feb 1900, from Dykes, Doing splendidly return
uncertain, telegraphing when known.
Accession Number: KO2654/092 |
| Report on Competitive Examination of Militia Subalterns for
Commissions in the Army, Sep 1894. A McN Dykes
Accession Number: KO2654/093 |
| Report of Commissions in the Army, including A McN Dykes who had
the highest marks of all the Candidates.
Accession Number: KO2654/094 |
| ‘Not necessarily for publication!!…The extraordinary diversity
of duties in Staff service have to be explained to be
realised…Written by A McN Dykes, undated.
Accession Number: KO2654/095
Newspaper clipping of Army Examination Results for A McN Dykes of
4th Battalion Scottish Rifles and later commissioned into the King’s
Own.
Accession Number: KO2654/096 |
| Newspaper clipping that Major A McN Dykes has been appointed as
a commander at the Royal Military College.
Accession Number: KO2654/097 |
| Newspaper clipping regarding Dyke’s admission to Staff College
Accession Number: KO2654/098 |
| Newspaper clipping Colonel Dykes’s Death, The Times, Sep 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/099 |
| Newspaper clipping Lieutenant Colonel Dykes Killed, Scotsman, 22
Sep 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/100 |
| Newspaper clipping Lieutenant Colonel Dykes 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/101 |
| Newspaper clipping Colonel Dykes’s Death
Accession Number: KO2654/102 |
| Newspaper clipping ‘The Casualties’ General Scott-Kerr Wounded.
The 12th Infantry Brigade, including mention of Lieutenant Colonel
Dykes 1st Battalion, King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2654/103 |
| Newspaper clipping ‘Our Troops Under Fire, Battle Stories from
the Trenches, How the Guns were Saved.’ Etc. The Times 8 Sep 1914
Accession Number: KO2654/104 |
| Newspaper clipping ‘the Roll of Honour Further Lists of British
Casualties’ Sixteen Officers killed
Accession Number: KO2654/105 |
| Newspaper clipping ‘Tributes to officers’
Accession Number: KO2654/106 |
| Newspaper clipping List of officers appointments circa 1899
South African War
Accession Number: KO2654/107 |
| Newspaper clipping ‘Officers’ Deaths Splendid Bravery of an
ex-ranker. A gallant band including mention of Lieutenant Colonel
Dykes
Accession Number: KO2654/108 |
| Newspaper clipping photograph of Lieutenant Colonel A M Dykes
(Killed)
Accession Number: KO2654/109 |
| Newspaper clipping reporting the birth of Daughter of Dykes 23
Feb 1915, to Rosamond, widow of Lieutenant colonel Alfred M Dykes,
the King’s Own Regiment.
Accession Number: KO2654/110 |
| Newspaper clipping reporting the birth of Daughter of Dykes 23
Feb 1915.
Accession Number: KO2654/111 |
| Newspaper clipping reporting will of Lieutenant Colonel Alfred
McNair Dykes of the King’s Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, of 4 Park
Avenue, Dover.
Accession Number: KO2654/112 |
| Newspaper clipping Recollections and Reflections of the Dykes
family. Dated 25 Aug 1917
Accession Number: KO2654/113 |
