Please note that the content of this book primarily consists of articles available from Wikipedia or other free sources online. Marshal of the Royal Air Force Sir William Forster Dickson GCB, KBE, DSO, AFC (24 September 1898 12 September 1987) was a senior officer in the Royal Air Force. He served as the first Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) of the United Kingdom and thus the professional head of the British Armed Forces. Dickson was born in Northwood in Middlesex, a direct descendent of Admiral Horatio Nelson through his mother. He was educated both at Bowden House in the Sussex town of Seaford and at Haileybury College.