'Lieut. Dimmer', 1915

One of three cigarette cards from the series 'Victoria Cross Heroes', published by W D and H O Wills, 1915.

John Henry Stephen Dimmer (1883-1918) was a lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, The King's Royal Rifle Corps, when he won the Victoria Cross (VC) in Belgium. 'The London Gazette' of 19 November 1914 reported that:

'This Officer served his machine gun during the attack on the 12th 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'.

Dimmer received his VC from King George V on 13 January 1915 at Buckingham Palace. He later reached the rank of Lieutenant-Colonel. He was killed in action at Marteville, France, on 21 March 1918 while commanding 4th Battalion, The Royal Berkshire Regiment.

Cigarette cards were produced from the mid 1870s until the end of World War Two (1939-1945). Used to strengthen thin cigarette packs the cards were quickly developed into advertising devices. Series of cards covering every conceivable subject, from sportsmen to flora and fauna, were produced to encourage collectors and potential smokers alike.