John Dimmer

For the former Australian rules football coach and player, see John Dimmer (coach).

John Henry Stephen Dimmer
J. H. S. Dimmer, by Bassano
Born	9 October 1883 Lambeth, Surrey, England
Died	21 March 1918 (aged 34) Marteville, France
Buried	Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy
Allegiance	United Kingdom
Service/branch	British Army
Years of service	1902 - 1918
Rank	Lieutenant Colonel
Unit	King's Royal Rifle Corps
Battles/wars	World War I
Awards	Victoria Cross Military Cross

Lieutenant Colonel John Henry Stephen Dimmer VC MC (9 October 1883 – 21 March 1918) was an English recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.

Born on 9 October 1883, Dimmer was educated at Rutlish School, Merton Park, south London. Aged 31, married and a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, he was awarded the VC for his actions on 12 November 1914 at Klein Zillebeke, Belgium.

Citation

This Officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12 November at Klein Zillebeke until he had been shot five times—three times by shrapnel and twice by bullets, and continued at his post until his gun was destroyed

— The London Gazette, 19 November 1914

Dimmer later achieved the rank of lieutenant colonel. He was killed in action at Marteville, France on 21 March 1918 and was buried at Vadencourt British Cemetery in Maissemy.

His Victoria Cross is displayed at the Royal Green Jackets (Rifles) Museum, Winchester, England.

Further reading

• Monuments to Courage (David Harvey, 1999)
• The Register of the Victoria Cross (This England, 1997)
• VCs of the First World War - 1914 (Gerald Gliddon, 1994)