Private Henry Dalziel

Service number 1936
Birth Date 1893-02-18
Birth Place Australia: Queensland, North Queensland, Irvinebank
Death Date 1965-07-24
Final Rank Private
Service Australian Imperial Force
Units
  • 15th Australian Infantry Battalion
  • 15th Australian Infantry Battalion
Place Irvinebank
Conflict/Operation First World War, 1914-1918
Gazettes Published in London Gazette in 1918-08-17
Published in Commonwealth Gazette in 1918-12-12
Description

Harry Dalziel (1893-1965), from Queensland, received the second of two Victoria Crosses awarded for the battle of Hamel. During the action he advanced with a Lewis gun section before making a single-handed attack on a strong enemy machine-gun post, capturing the gun and its entire crew. Then, ignoring heavy enemy fire, he collected ammunition and reloaded magazines until he was severely wounded. After the war, although troubled by his injuries, he served in the militia and was also a songwriter.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 18 February 1893
Date and unit at enlistment (ORs) 16 January 1915 Taken on strength of the 15th Battalion in July 1915.
Date of enlistment 16 January 1915
Date of embarkation 16 April 1915
Date wounded 16 October 1917 Wounded in France.
Date of honour or award 04 July 1918 For action at Hamel Wood, France whilst serving with 15 Battalion, 4 Brigade, 4 Division as a Private.
Date wounded 04 July 1918 Shot in the head while loading ammunition into magazines during the action for which he was awarded the Victoria Cross.
Date of recommendation honour or award 08 July 1918
Date returned to Australia 05 January 1919
Date returned to Australia 05 January 1919
Date of discharge 1919-07
Other 1930 Joined the Citizen Military Forces.
Other 1933 Became the first Victoria Cross recipient to be a member of the Guard of Honour at the opening of the Queensland Parliament.
Date of death 24 July 1965