Walter Edward Dalziell

Walter Edward Dalziell

Walter on left, George centre, Ernest on right
Personal Information
Date of Birth	c1895
Place of Birth	Perth, Western Australia
Death	14-16 Aug 1916 "14-16 Aug 1916" contains more than three components required for a date interpretation.
Place of Death	Poziéres, France
Age at Enlistment	20 years, 6 months
Description	5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 142lbs 64.41 kg ; dark complexion ; brown eyes ; brown hair
Occupation	Carpenter
Religion	Methodist
Address	Attfield street, Maddington, Western Australia
Next of Kin	Father , Mr Walter Parahan Dalziell
Military Information
Reg Number	2806
Date of Enlistment	29 Jun 1915
Rank	Private
Unit/Formation	11th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement
Date of Embarkation	5 Oct 1915 ‒ 27 Oct 1915
Ship Embarked On	HMAT A20 Hororata
Fate	Killed in Action 14-16 Aug 1916
Monument	Gosnells War Memorial Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll Villers-Bretonneux Memorial Australian War Memorial
Medals	1914-15 Star British War Medal Victory Medal

Pre War

Walter was the eldest of eight children born to Walter Parkham Dalziell and Lillie Jan Capron. Prior to the war, Walter served in the Metropolitan Rifle Volunteers, 89th Infantry, C Coy., based at the Drill Hall in Victoria Park. He was a carpenter by trade.

War Service

Entered camp on 29 Jun 1915 before being allocated to the 9th reinforcement draft for the 11th Battalion on 5 Jul 1915, travelling with them to Egypt aboard HMAT A20 Hororata. In Egypt on 7 Jan 1916 he was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion, at Tel-el-Kebir and posted to 'B' Company. However, with the reorganisation of the expanded AIF, he was transferred on 29 Feb 1916 to the newly formed 51st Battalion, joining them in camp on 1 Mar 1916. Following some bedding down training, the 51st Battalion sailed from Alexandria on 5 Jun 1916 aboard the HMT Ivernia, arriving in Marseilles and disembarking on 12 Jun 1916.

The next day they boarded rail carriages designed to carry cattle and horses - 8 horses to a carriage (or 40 men) for the slow two day journey north to Abbeville, but they detrained at Caestre and marched to billets at Moolenaker. On 19 Jun 1916 they marched to Sailly sur la Lys where on 22 Jun 1916 they relieved elements of the 3rd Brigade in the front lines.

On 9 Aug 1916 the 51st Battalion were preparing to go into the front lines between Poziéres and Mouquet Farm. On 14 Aug 1916 the 51st Battalion was tasked with capturing an enemy trench known as Fabeck Graben to the right, or east, of Mouquet Farm. While they achieved their objective, it was not without heavy casualties and then, over the next two days they were on the receiving end of an extremely heavy, almost continuous bombardment. The very large number of 51st Battalion names on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial is testament to the large number of men lost forever, or unrecognisable to burial parties. Walter would appear to be one of them. Sadly there is no Red Cross file with his name on it, so his death may have not been noticed by anyone who survived.

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  Villers-Bretonneux Memorial
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  Section of the 51st panel at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial

DALZIELL.-Killed in action between August 14 and 16, 1916, in France, Private Walter E. Dalziell, dearly-beloved eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Dalziell, of Maddington, brother of Corporal G. C. (wounded in France), Private E. R. (in camp at Belmont), Albert and Jack, also sisters; aged 21 years 6 months. Loved by all who knew him. His duty done.
DALZIELL.-Killed in action, France, between August 14 and 16, Walter E. Dalziell, beloved friend of Mr., Mrs.. and Miss E. Thorp, Maddington.

Pte. Walter Dalziel was one of three brothers who enlisted: 2626 Sergeant George Christopher Dalziel, 10th Bn., was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal and returned home to Australia in 1919; and 2650 Pte Ernest Rulle Dalziell, KIA 11 Apr 1917.

Notes

For further information on this soldier, or for more information about the history and heritage of the City of Gosnells, please contact the Heritage Coordinator on 9391 6011