Ernest Rulle Dalziell

Ernest Rulle Dalziell

Dalziell Bros from left Walter Edward, George Christopher, and Ernest Rewell. Photo courtesy Neville Browning
Personal Information
Date of Birth	Not known
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	11 Apr 1917
Place of Death	Reincourt, France
Age at Enlistment	18 years
Description	5'6½" (1.66m) tall ; 138lbs 62.596 kg ; fresh complexion ; blue eyes ; black hair
Occupation	Wood Machinist
Religion	Methodist
Address	Attfield street, Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Walter Parom Dalziell
Military Information
Reg Number	2650
Date of Enlistment	1 May 1916
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	48th Battalion
Date of Embarkation	30 Oct 1916 ‒ 28 Dec 1916
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A16 Port Melbourne
Fate	Missing in action 11 Apr 1917 Killed in action 11 Apr 1917
Monument	Gosnells War Memorial Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Australian War Memorial
Medals	British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Had worked with Buckingham Bros in East Perth for 2 years, 6 months

War Service

Entered camp on 22 May 1916 and a month later on 21 Jun 1916 he was provisionally allocated to the 22nd reinforcement draft for the 16th Battalion. However, on 5 Sep 1916 this was changed to the 6th draft for the 48th Battalion.

On arrival in Devonport, England was sent to the 12th Training Battalion at Codford to prepare for service in France and Belgium. Proceeded overseas to France on 4 Feb 1917 aboard HMT Victoria and marched into the 4th Australian Division Base Depot, before being taken on strength by the 48th Battalion on 10 Feb 1917.

On 11 Apr 1917 the 48th Battalion was a part of the Australian attack on the Hindenburg line between Bullecourt and Riencourt. One of his colleagues Cpl Cole wrote to his parents advising that while he was tending to an injured officer, he saw Dalziell and advised him to wait for a quiet moment before trying to get back to a first aide post. .He said thathe appeared to wounded on the left side of the face, as it was very much swollen and covered with blood. He later saw him in a trench further back from the action, but not again after that.

A Court of Enquiry held in 29 Dec 1917 declared that Ernest was Killed in Action on 11 Apr 1917. His mother Lily Jane was awarded a pension of 10/- fortnightly ($1) to go with the 15/- ($1.50) a fortnight she was receiving on account of Walter Edward's death. On 7 Jul 1917 her pension was increased to 35/- per fortnight ($3.50)

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  Viller-Bretonneux Memorial
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  Section of the 48th Battalion Panel