Thomas Dickson was born on 16 June 1900. He joined the Royal Navy as a Midshipman in July 1916 and was immediately appointed to the Battleship HMS CENTURION. He joined submarines as an Acting Lieutenant and was then appointed to HMS VULCAN (14th Submarine Flotilla) at Stornoway ‘for Submarine Duties’.  

In May 1919, he joined HMS H29 as First Lieutenant, but then, in September 1919, joined H28 as Navigating Officer. His next submarine appointment was to L7 as Navigating Officer in the Far East in December 1921.  Although not actually appointed to HMS L9 in any capacity, during a cyclone on 18 January 1923, he was instrumental in attempting to prevent the submarine being wrecked by swimming to it, after it had broken free from its mooring, been driven against the sea wall, and been abandoned by its Anchor Watch crew.  

After returning home, Dickson completed his Commanding Officers’ Qualifying Course in 1924, followed, in June 1925, by command of HMS H43 and, in January 1926, by that of H48. After time in the Battleship HMS REVENGE and promotion to Lieutenant Commander, he took command of L20 in Hong Kong in November 1929. On his return home he was appointed as Commanding Officer of the Submarine Tender HMS PIGMY at Portsmouth in September 1930, followed, in April 1931, by taking command of HMS OTWAY in Sydney. OTWAY then moved to Malta.

Dickson later commanded HMS L26 and L54, before being appointed to HMS PRESIDENT for the Office of the Admiral Commanding Reserves and as the Merchant Navy Defence Instructor.  He was based in Cardiff (East Dock, West Side).  Thomas Dickson died as the result of a car accident on 28 April 1939.