Walter Edward Dalziell

{{infobox soldier | image = | caption = | image2 =[[File:Dalziell_Bros_WE-GC-ER.jpg]|border|400px] | caption2 = | dateofbirth = | placeofbirth = Perth, Western Australia | death = 14-16 Aug 1916 | placeofdeath = Poziéres, France | enlistmentage = 20 years, 6 months | description = 5'6" (1.68m) tall; weight 142lbs; dark complexion, brown eyes, brown hair | height = 5'6" (1.68m) | weight = 142lbs | complexion = dark | eyes = brown | hair = brown | descriptionnote = | occupation = Carpenter | religion = Methodist | address = Attfield street, Maddington, Western Australia | relation = Father | nextofkin = Mr Walter Parahan Dalziell | regnumber = 2806 | enlistmentdate = 29 Jun 1915 | rank = Private | unit = 11th Battalion, 9th Reinforcement | embarkationdatefrom = 5 Oct 1915 | embarkationdateto = | shipembarked = HMAT A20 Hororata | dateofreturnfrom = | dateofreturnto = | shipreturned = | shipreturnednote = | dateofreturnfrom2 = | dateofreturnto2 = | shipreturned2 = | shipreturnednote2 = | fate1 = Killed in Action 14-16 Aug 1916 | fate2 = | fate3 = | fate4 = | monument1 = Gosnells War Memorial | monumentnote1 = | monument2 = Gosnells Road Board Honour Roll | monumentnote2 = | monument3 = Villers-Bretonneux Memorial | monumentnote3 = | monument4 = | monumentnote4 = | monumentawm = Australian War Memorial | medal1 = 1914-14 Star | medal2 = British War Medal | medal3 = Victory Medal | medal4 = }}

War Service

In Egypt on 3 Jan 1916 Walter was taken on strength by the 11th Battalion at Tel-el-Kebir, but on 29 Feb 1916 he was one of the first men to transfer to the 51st Battalion. Following some bedding down training the 51st Battalion sailed form Alexandria on 5 Jun 916 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 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 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
• File:Dalziell WE panel.jpg.jpg

  Section of the 51st panel at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial