Sgt
William Dalton
Information about birth
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Date of birth: 25/02/1883 |
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Place of birth: Tockwith, Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom |
General information
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Profession: Professional Soldier |
Army information
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Country: Australia |
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Force: Australian Imperial Force |
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Rank: Sergeant |
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Service number: 5963 |
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Enlistment date: 05/09/1916 |
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Enlistment place: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia |
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Units: — Australian Infantry, 22nd Bn. (Victoria) (Last known unit) |
Information about death
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Date of death: 03/10/1917 |
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Place of death: Mühle, Belgium |
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Cause of death: Killed in action (K.I.A.) |
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Age: 34 |
Memorial
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Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial Panel: 23Z |
Distinctions and medals 2
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British War Medal Medal |
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Victory Medal Medal |
Points of interest 2
| #1 | Place of birth | ||
| #2 | Enlistment place |
My story
William was born at Tockwith, West Riding of Yorkshire, England, on February 25th, 1883. He was one of eight children born to John William Dalton, and Jane Simpson Pearson.
After school, William became a labourer, but was also a Volunteer in the 3rd West Yorkshire Regiment. Two months after his 18th birthday, he enlisted as a full-time soldier, on a 12-year term with the West Yorkshire Regiment. He served in South Africa during the Boer War, and transferred to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Back in Scotland with his regiment, William met Isabella Matheson, from Dalchalm in Brora, who was working in Edinburgh as a nurse. They were married in Edinburgh on December 24th 1909. William was promoted to Sergeant in June 1912. Three months later, on August 5th, Isabella gave birth to their daughter, Elsie-Jane Margaret. After serving just over his 12 years, he was discharged from the army and the young family decided to emigrate to Australia. They settled down to a new life in Melbourne, with William working as an Army Staff Sergeant Major Instructor; however, this was disrupted by the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. In 1916 William reenlisted for active service as a Private at Melbourne.
By the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 he was serving as a sergeant with the Australian Infantry, 22nd Battalion, part of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division. In anticipation of the pending attack planned on the 4th of October 1917, William’s Battalion occupied positions in the support and the frontline at Zonnebeke near a former German strongpoint, called Mühle. According to several eyewitness accounts of William’s death, William was killed by a shell. Sergeant Anderson stated that William had been out all night burying the dead, along with others of his platoon. When they had done their work, they returned to their trench, possibly Mühle Trench, when a shell came over and killed William outright. According to several witnesses, William was buried near the 22nd Battalion’s positions. His grave got lost during the later duration of the war, but his comrades did put up a cross along the main Zonnebeke road with the names of two other Australian soldiers, Smith and McEwan, who possibly died alongside William. As there were no remains found beneath the cross, William is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The 34-year old left behind a young daughter and a wife, who had already lost two of her brothers in 1917.
After school, William became a labourer, but was also a Volunteer in the 3rd West Yorkshire Regiment. Two months after his 18th birthday, he enlisted as a full-time soldier, on a 12-year term with the West Yorkshire Regiment. He served in South Africa during the Boer War, and transferred to the King’s Own Scottish Borderers. Back in Scotland with his regiment, William met Isabella Matheson, from Dalchalm in Brora, who was working in Edinburgh as a nurse. They were married in Edinburgh on December 24th 1909. William was promoted to Sergeant in June 1912. Three months later, on August 5th, Isabella gave birth to their daughter, Elsie-Jane Margaret. After serving just over his 12 years, he was discharged from the army and the young family decided to emigrate to Australia. They settled down to a new life in Melbourne, with William working as an Army Staff Sergeant Major Instructor; however, this was disrupted by the outbreak of the Great War in August 1914. In 1916 William reenlisted for active service as a Private at Melbourne.
By the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 he was serving as a sergeant with the Australian Infantry, 22nd Battalion, part of the 6th Brigade of the 2nd Australian Division. In anticipation of the pending attack planned on the 4th of October 1917, William’s Battalion occupied positions in the support and the frontline at Zonnebeke near a former German strongpoint, called Mühle. According to several eyewitness accounts of William’s death, William was killed by a shell. Sergeant Anderson stated that William had been out all night burying the dead, along with others of his platoon. When they had done their work, they returned to their trench, possibly Mühle Trench, when a shell came over and killed William outright. According to several witnesses, William was buried near the 22nd Battalion’s positions. His grave got lost during the later duration of the war, but his comrades did put up a cross along the main Zonnebeke road with the names of two other Australian soldiers, Smith and McEwan, who possibly died alongside William. As there were no remains found beneath the cross, William is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.
The 34-year old left behind a young daughter and a wife, who had already lost two of her brothers in 1917.
Sources 7
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AIF-Project https://aif.adfa.edu.au Sources used |
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Ancestry https://www.ancestry.com Further reference |
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Australian War Memorial https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10329139 Sources used |
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CWGC https://www.cwgc.org/find-war-dead/casualty/1598647/dalton,-william/ Sources used |
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Service Record http://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/SearchScreens/BasicSearch.aspx Sources used |
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The Long, Long Trail https://www.longlongtrail.co.uk/ Sources used |
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War Diary A.I.F. 22nd Bn. https://www.awm.gov.au/learn/understanding-military-history/unit-diaries Sources used |