Page 74 - History of War - Issue 10-14

HEROES OF THE VICTORIA CROSS

Praise for a hero

“His magnificent bravery and devotion to duty
was an inspiring example to all his comrades

and his dash and unselfish courage at a critical

time undoubtedly saved many lives and turned
Under heavy fi re
what would have been a serious check into a 01 While approaching the Pear
Trench (so named because of its
splendid success” shape), the 15th Battalion is met
by heavy German machine-gun fi re
Official citation for the VC from this position. Earlier artillery
assaults destroyed many other
German positions, but this one
remains intact due to the barrages
Allied troops heading south towards the village of Hamel via falling short, which duly causes the
eating lunch Hamel Wood. Despite receiving an injury to his Allied troops problems.
beneathatree hand,hecarriedonassistingbygatheringas
the day before
the attack much ammunition as he could – putting himself
under heavy fire in the process.
This extreme show of bravery nearly proved
to be his undoing. On his second venture into
the crossfire, his horrific head wound put him
outofaction.Regardless,hehadhelpedhis
side achieve their target: they had won.
Dalziel’s head wound was so severe that
in June 1918, his life was soon to change brain was visible, and to many it looked like he
again–hehadsurvivedthehellofGallipoli wouldn’t make it. Demonstrating the kind of
and the swampy oblivion of the Somme and fortitude that had enabled him to survive one
Passchendaele, but the moment that was to of the bloodiest conflicts the world had ever
define him would take place at one of the War’s seen, Dalziel survived, although his recovery
most-overshadowed moments. process would be a long and arduous one.
On4July1918,acombinedattackbythe AfteremergencysurgeryinRouen,hewas
Australian Corps and American forces was movedtohospitalinEngland.Itwasherethat
launched against German positions around the he stayed until the end of the war, before being
town of Le Hamel in France. The tactic of the dischargedandfinallyreturningtoAustraliaon
‘creepingbarrage’–artilleryfiretakingplace 7 March 1919.
ahead of attacks by infantry units – was mostly The1,000thmantobeawardedtheVictoria
successful,butnoteverythingwenttoplan.In Cross,Dalziellivedavariedlifeafterthewar.
some areas the artillery fire fell short, leaving He married twice (he had three children with his
theGermanforcesfreetoassaulttheattackers second wife), and his work involved tending an
with their heavy-duty Maxim guns. appleorchard,farming,factoryworkandgold
ItwasinthismannerthatDalziel’s15th prospecting. He would eventually return to the
Battalion would come under sustained assault. military,servingasasergeantintheCitizen
With dogged bravery Dalziel sprung into action, Military Forces from 1933 onwards, and even
first silencing machine-gun fire from one re-enlisting for World War II (although he did
directionwithhisLewisgun,thencharging not serve abroad. Instead he was charged with
towardsanothertotakeitout,alongwithits assisting recruitment and funding drives). After
two-man crew. Free from harassing fire, his sufferingfromastroke,HenryDalzieldiedon
company could now advance. 24 July 1965 at the Greenslope Repatriation
Dalzielparticipatedinthemainassault Hospital in Brisbane. A true hero of the Victoria
along with the rest of his Battalion, which was Cross, his story will never be forgotten.

CITATIONFORVICTORIACROSS captured the entire crew and gun, and allowed our 02 to the enemy
Taking the fi ght
advance to continue. He was severely wounded
For most conspicuous bravery and devotion to in the hand, but carried on and took part in the The Australian Lewis gun operators
dutywheninactionwithaLewisgunsection.His capture of the fi nal objective. are tasked – at high risk, considering
companymetwithdeterminedresistancefroma He twice went over open ground under how exposed they are – with providing
strong point which was strongly garrisoned, manned heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fi re to covering fi re for the advancing
by numerous machine-guns and, undamaged by secure ammunition, and though suffering from rifl emen. Dalziel shows his aptitude by
our artillery fire, was also protected by strong wire considerable loss of blood, he fi lled magazines silencing the enemy Maxim guns
entanglements. A heavy concentration of machine- and served his gun until severely wounded through in one direction with his Lewis gun,
gunfirecausedmanycasualties,andheldupour the head. His bravery and devotion to duty was an thus relieving some of the pressure on
his Battalion.
advance.HisLewisgunhavingcomeintoactionand inspiring example to all his comrades and his dash
silenced enemy guns in one direction, an enemy and unselfi sh courage at a critical time undoubtedly
gunopenedfirefromanotherdirection.Private saved many lives and turned what would have been
Dalzieldashedatitandwithhisrevolver,killedor a serious check into a splendid success.

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