Herbert Spencer Dickinson was born at Thorpdale, Victoria on 20 December 1891 to parents Thomas and Clara. An accountant by trade, he enlisted at Prahran on 17 August 1914 at the age of 22. Enlisting with the 5th Infantry Battalion, Dickinson was allocated the rank of private. He departed Melbourne aboard HMAT Orvieto on 21 October 1914.

After serving with his unit at Gallipoli, he was transferred in February 1916 to the 57th Infantry Battalion and sent to the Western Front in France. Dickinson was quickly promoted through the ranks, gaining his first promotion to lance corporal in September 1914 and becoming a captain by May 1916. Whilst serving with the 57th Infantry Battalion he was mentioned in the despatches of General Douglas Haig on 9 April 1917. Dickinson was killed in action at Polygon Wood in Belgium on 25 September 1917. He was 25 years old. Herbert Dickinson is buried at The Huts Cemetery, Belgium.