D'alton William James 527

SERGEANT WILLIAM JAMES D’ALTON 527 – 2nd Tunnelling Company

William James Montgomery D’Alton was born on 19 April 1880 at Murtoa, near Horsham, Victoria, the son of William Duncan Vince De Largy D’alton (born Philadelphia, USA) and Annie (nee Clarke) (married 1879). His birth was also registered as ‘De Largy D’Alton’. A sister for William, Agnes Cecilia, was born in 1882 but sadly died aged just 9 weeks. A brother, Christian John P was also born in born 1882. Annie, the daughter of John Clarke and Annie (nee Montgomery) died at Murtoa in 1884.

The Horsham Times - Vic. - Friday 3 October 1884:

DELARGY-D'ALTON.—At Murtoa on the 29th of September, aged 23 years three months, Annie, the beloved wife of William DeLargy-D'Alton, of Jung Jung.

William Duncan married Ruth Bell, a native of Ballarat, in 1888. A daughter, Margaret Jane, was born at Warracknabeal the same year. The Horsham Times - Vic. – Tuesday 27 November 1888:

ALLEGED CHILD MURDER NEAR WARRACKNABEAL

William Duncan Vincent DeLargy D'Alton deposed: I am a ship'swright, and reside at Warracknabeal. I know the prisoners, and saw them drive past Byron's house in a covered trap on the 20th October last about 4 p.m.; when they passed me I heard a baby crying in the trap as if in pain. Byron's place is about a mile and a half from the township of Warracknabeal. [This witness was severely examined by Mr. Ireland, but his evidence remained unshaken.] Abridged

Other children from the marriage of William Duncan and Ruth were Eugene Emile born 1890, died 1891; Talbot Aloysius born 1891; Howard Herbert born 1894; Thomas George born 1896 and Florence Elizabeth Ada born 1898.

William James D’Alton completed and signed the ‘Attestation Paper of Persons Enlisted for Service Abroad’ and the Oath to ‘well and truly serve’ at Adelaide, South Australia on 14 October 1915. He stated he was born in Jung Jung, Victoria and that he was 35 years and 5 months of age. Gazetteer: MURTOA County: Borung Location: Horsham Other names: Marma Gully BORUNG is a county in the W. part of the colony, bounded on the N. by 36° S. lat., by county Ripon, S.W by county Dundas, E. by 143° E. long., and the Avon, Richardson, and Wimmera rivers, which separate it from county Kara- Kara, and W. by the Wimmera river and Morton creek, which separate it from county Lowan. The principal townships in this county are – Stawell, Moyston, Great Western, Glenorchy, Longerenong, Horsham, Murton, Pimpinio, Rupanyup, Banyena, Minyip, Donald, Dimboola, Warracknabeal, Drung-Drung, and Watchem. Lake Buloke is in the W., and the Boga lakes and mount Zero (the N. extremity of the Grampian range) in the S. Note: believe Jung Jung to be an anglicisation of ‘Drung-Drung’ above.

An Engine Driver by trade, he was married with 2 children and named his wife, Mrs Mary May D’Alton of Florence Street, Port Pirie, South Australia, as his Next-of-Kin. He allotted three-fifths of his pay for the support of his wife and children.

A medical examination at Adelaide on 14 October had recorded that William was 5ft 9½ins tall and weighed 153 lbs. He was of medium complexion with blue eyes and dark brown hair. He stated his faith as Church of England. He was considered to be ‘fit for active service’ and was appointed to “E” Company of the 2nd Depot.

On 1 November 1915 he was appointed to No.2 Company of the newly formed Australian Mining Corps at Casula, New South Wales by Lieutenant Victor West. William had his Final Leave from 20 to 25 November 1915 having been given a Rail Warrant from Adelaide to Port Pirie.

Barrier Miner – South Australia - Saturday 22 January 1916: A SOLDIER’S CONGRATULATION Mr George Burgess, the acting secretary of the A.M.A. at Port Pirie, received the following telegram on Thursday from Private William Dalton, who is at the Casula Camp, New South Wales (says the “Recorder”) Congratulation to yourself and branch. Action taken endorsed by majority of battalion. Private Dalton, who is a member of the mining corps, is an ex-committee-man of the Port Pirie branch of the A.M.A. and he was also a member of the Trades and Labor Council and a delegate to the Union Stores Ltd.

William embarked for the European theatre on Ulysses with the Australian Ming Corps.

At a civic parade in the Domain, Sydney on Saturday February 19, 1916, a large crowd of relations and friends of the departing Miners lined the four sides of the parade ground. Sixty police and 100 Garrison Military Police were on hand to keep the crowds within bounds. The scene was an inspiriting one. On the extreme right flank, facing the saluting base, were companies of the Rifle Club School; next came a detachment of the 4th King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, then the bands of the Light Horse, Liverpool Depot, and the Miners’ on the left, rank upon rank, the Miners’ Battalion.

Following the farewell parade in the Domain, Sydney, the Australian Mining Corps embarked from Sydney, New South Wales on 20 February 1916 on board HMAT A38 Ulysses.

The Mining Corps comprised 1303 members at the time they embarked with a Headquarters of 40; No.1 Company – 390; No.2 Company – 380; No.3 Company – 392, and 101 members of the 1st Reinforcements.

Ulysses arrived in Melbourne, Victoria on 22 February and the Miners were camped at Broadmeadows while additional stores and equipment were loaded onto Ulysses. Another parade was held at the Broadmeadows camp on March 1, the Miners’ Corps being inspected by the Governor-General, as Commander-in-Chief of the Commonwealth military forces.

Departing Melbourne on 1 March, Ulysses sailed to Fremantle, Western Australia where a further 53 members of the Corps were embarked. The ship hit a reef when leaving Fremantle harbour, stripping the plates for 40 feet and, although there was a gap in the outside plate, the inner bilge plates were not punctured. The men on board nicknamed her ‘Useless’. The Miners were off-loaded and sent to the Blackboy Hill Camp where further training was conducted. After a delay of about a month for repairs, The Mining Corps sailed for the European Theatre on 1 April 1916.

The ship arrived at Suez, Egypt on 22 April, departing for Port Said the next day; then on to Alexandria. The Captain of the ship was reluctant to take Ulysses out of the Suez Canal because he felt the weight of the ship made it impossible to manoeuvre in the situation of a submarine attack. The Mining Corps was transhipped to B1 Ansonia for the final legs to Marseilles, France via Valetta, Malta. Arriving at Marseilles on 5 May, most of the men entrained for Hazebrouck where they arrived to set up their first camp on 8 May 1916.

A ‘Mining Corps’ did not fit in the British Expeditionary Force, and the Corps was disbanded and three Australian Tunnelling Companies were formed. The Technical Staff of the Corps Headquarters, plus some technically qualified men from the individual companies, was formed into the entirely new Australian Electrical and Mechanical Mining and Boring Company (AEMMBC), better known as the ‘Alphabetical Company’.

William had embarked as a 2nd Corporal with his rate of pay being 9/- per diem. He made an allotment of 5/6d payable to his wife and had 1/6d Deferred Pay. At Hazebrouck, William was absorbed into the 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company, which was initially employed at Hill 60 before moving to support the Australian Division at Spion Cop, Cordonniere and Fromelles before moving back to and concentrating their work in the Armentieres sector.

On 12 January 1917 he was attached to the 1st Canadian Tunnelling Company, rejoining his unit on 4 February.

He was promoted 2nd Corporal on 10 July 1917 vice Corporal Edwards (3513 EDWARDS, Victor Alfred) who had been promoted to Sergeant to replace Sergeant Birrell who had been captured at Nieuport and was a Prisoner of War. See on this site: Western Front Units / 2nd Australian Tunnelling Company / 2ATC and the Affair at Nieuport-Bains

He was promoted Corporal on 10 October 1917 again vice Corporal Edwards who had been promoted.

Barrier Miner – South Australia - Sunday July 29, 1917: BROKEN HILL SOLDIERS IN FRANCE MEMBERS OF THE SECOND AUSTRALIAN TUNNELLING COMPANY Top Row: Sappers Hare, Lyons, Fleming Jones. Lance-Corporal Wilkinson, Corporal Forrest. Middle Row: Sapper Cochrane, Corporals Garland, Crafter. Sapper S.J. Leese, Corporal Blight, Sappers Allen & Young. Bottom Row: Corporals Dalton, Broster, Staff-Sergeant Kent, Sergeant Moffatt, Lance-Corporal Townsend, Sergeant Birrell, Sergeant Rennie, Corporal Reilly. Note: photo quality too poor to include.

William was promoted to Temporary Sergeant on 12 March 1918, again vice Sergeant Edwards who had been wounded (gas - 2nd occasion) on 12 March 1918 and had been evacuated to England. He was promoted Sergeant on 12 June 1918.

He reported sick on 7 July 1918 returning to duty on 11 July.

On the 29th and 30th of September, 1918, elements of the 1st and 2nd Australian Tunnelling Companys, supporting the Infantry attack on the Hindenberg Line at Bellicourt and Bony, charged with the usual Engineer tasks of clearing enemy mines and booby traps from roads and dugouts following the attacking Infantry, clearing and maintaining the tactical roads, clearing wells and setting up water points. When the attack stalled and became disorganized, the Sappers continued with their assigned tasks, assisted to re- organise the line, captured prisoners, carried messages for their own and other units, organized a party of American Infantry, helped feed an artillery battery with ammunition, assisted and carried wounded, all being achieved under heavy shell and machine gun fire and while their own sections suffered 50 and 75% casualties

The following is an account taken from My Story of the Great War written by Captain O.H. Woodward, MC+2 bars: At 5 a.m. on the 29th September, I arrived at Benjamin Post with 82 men of No.4 Section and 65 men of the 102nd “B” Company U.S. Engineers. The attack was launched at 5.50 a.m. and shortly after we commenced work on repairs to the road. When we approached Quennet Copse and Guennemont Farm we were held up by machine gun fire, owing to the failure of the Americans to “mop up” these positions. Before we realised what had happened, we lost one officer and one sapper killed and twenty others wounded. At 9 a.m. I received an order from the C.R.E. Australian Corps to report immediately on the condition of the road leading to Hargicourt, and then as far as possible toward Bellicourt. I took Sapper Mooney with me and left the Section with instructions to proceed with the repairs to the road to Bony as early as possible. We had a particularly exciting task inspecting these forward roads since they were subjected to heavy artillery and machine gun fire. It was not until 6 p.m. that I completed the inspection and again returned to Benjamin Post.

The 2ATC Unit War Diary records: Cartigny 62c P.2.J.4.4 September 28: Much rain – Road work being proceeded with. September 29: Fine – misty morning, Offensive started. Sections carry on in accordance with instructions Appendices 2 & 8. Lt Johnson severely wounded, 18 Sappers wounded. 1 Sapper died of wounds. September 30: Wet & cold. Sections carrying on Road work as above. Lt Johnson died of wounds. 1 Sapper wounded. Lt Thomson left for English leave.

It is a matter of history that five of the Tunnellers who embarked on Anchises were transferred to the 5th Pioneer Battalion. All were from South Australia. 7614 Spr James Thomas Dixey and 7622 Spr William Edward May were killed in action on 29 September, as were 7280 Spr Francis William McDonell, originally a Tunneller transferred to the 3rd Pioneer Battalion, and 1395 Spr Thomas Arthur Vernon of 2ATC.

During the action on the Hindenberg Line on 29/30 September 1918, the 5th Pioneers lost 3 officers and 61 other ranks; 105th Regt lost 2 officers and 46 other ranks; 1st Aust. Tunnelling Coy lost 1 Officer and 2 other ranks and the 2nd Aust. Tunnelling Coy lost 1 other rank. The Australian Tunnelling Companies were awarded 10 Military Crosses, 2 Distinguished Conduct Medals and 12 Military Medals for their support of the Infantry attack that day.

Damien Finlayson – ‘Crumps and Camouflets – Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front’ - Page 365:

Sergeant 527 William Dalton was in charge of the investigation party assisting Lieutenant Lewis to search for and clear mines and booby-trapped dugouts with the 5th Pioneer Battalion. During this work he captured a party of thirty Germans and showed great skill and initiative while under heavy shell fire. He was awarded the Distinguished Service Medal.

The recommendation for the awarding of the DCM was submitted by the C.R.E., Corps Troops, Australian Corps, and read:

527 Sergeant William James D’Alton On the morning of the 29th September 1918 in the neighbourhood of Bellicourt, whilst the operations against the Hindenberg Line were in progress, Sergeant D’Alton in charge of a party of Tunnellers searching for enemy mines, removed dangerous boob traps from enemy dugouts and while doing so, captured 30 prisoners. Throughout the day, although under heavy shell and machine gun fire, he showed an absolute disregard of personal danger and set a fine example to the men under him. His skill and initiative undoubtedly saved casualties to the inexperienced troops engaged in the operations.

William enjoyed some leave from France from 25 October until 7 November 1918.

He was accidentally injured on 28 March 1919 and was treated at the 8/15 Field Ambulance and the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station before being transferred ‘dangerously and seriously ill’ to the 14th Stationary Hospital, Wimereux on 31 March 1919. He was classed as ‘dangerously ill’ on 7 April. On 16 April a telegram was sent by Base Records to his Next-of-Kin advising: “Now reported Sergeant William D’Alton admitted Fourteenth Stationary Hospital seventh April burns face and hands.” A second telegram on the same day reported: “Sergeant William D’Alton dangerously ill/Progress report expected.”

Damien Finlayson – ‘Crumps and Camouflets – Australian Tunnelling Companies on the Western Front’ - Page 403:

A few nights before, Sergeant 527 William D’Alton, a Distinguished Conduct Medal recipient, was outside warming himself by a fire to ward off the freezing temperature when petrol was thrown into the flames, presumably to bolster its heat. The fire and fuel suddenly flared and engulfed him in flames. He suffered third degree burns to the face, neck and both hands and was admitted to hospital in a critical condition. He spent several months in numerous hospitals, eventually returning to Australia where he was admitted to the Australian General Hospital in Keswick, South Australia. He was evacuated to England on 18 April 1919 per St Andrew suffering burns to face, neck and both hands and was admitted to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital at Dartford, Kent. He was removed from the dangerously ill list on 29 April. His Next-of-Kin was advised of his injury and hospitalisation on 30 April 1919.

William left London on 6 May 1919 on board Hospital Ship Karoola for return to Australia. Recorder – Port Pirie, South Australia - Tuesday 27 May 1919: A.I.F. CASUALTIES More casualties among the A.I.F. are reported in list 465, which the Defence Department released yesterday. It includes the following cases: Injured. 527 Sgt. W.J. D’Alton, Port Pirie. Abridged

The Advertiser – Adelaide, South Australia - Thursday 19 June 1919: SOUTH AUSTRALIAN HEREOS. Returning to Adelaide. Melbourne, June 18. Troops who have received decorations are returning to Adelaide as follows:- By the Karoola – Sergeant W. J. Dalton, D.C.M., 2nd Tunneling Company; Abridged

William disembarked at Adelaide on 21 June 1919. A Medical Report completed at Keswick on 21 June records: “Patient was sitting near fire 28/3/19 when someone threw petrol on it & it flared up, severely burning the face, neck & hands. He has been treated various Hosp., but is sleepless and confined to bed. His eyelids are badly burned, but he has no injury eyes to be seen.” He was deemed to have Incapacity of 25% for 6 months.

Official advice of the awarding of the Distinguished Conduct Medal was forwarded to his wife on 21 July 1919, although an advice on 30 April concerning his injuries had referred to him as ‘No.527 Sergeant W.J. D’Alton, “D.C.M.”.

He was discharged from the A.I.F., “medically unfit”, in Adelaide on 13 October 1919 entitled to wear the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. He received his British War Medal on 25 April 1921. On 26 August 1922 he received his Victory Medal at Newtown, Tasmania.

“We know that William married before the war to Mary May D'Alton (nee unknown). Then after the war to Vera Florence (nee Blesing), John Charles Edward's mother, both marriages producing children. Little is known about his first marriage. We have Australian Imperial Force documents showing that William paid Mary May so much money during his time in the AIF. His second marriage ended when Vera left Hobart in 1941 taking with her, John, her new manfriend and his daughter Jill to Melbourne. Jack, John's older brother stayed in Hobart with his father, William. The sad thing is that John was told for many years that his father was deceased.

William and Vera never divorced. William lived most of his life in Tasmania and worked at the Orison (Hobart) Zinc Works. William was well known at the Public Library for reading many, many books.

William D’Alton, in 1973 with son John and his wife Marie His son John and William met up again in 1973, by which time William was a stranger to the young family left behind. William and John wrote letters until his death.

Williams’ brother Tom D'Alton was a member of the Tasmanian Parliament. His name is on the plaque on Mt. Wellington (Hobart) as the Minister of Employment who arranged for the building of the road to the summit during the 1920s depression. William had a toe amputated when he was 99 years old.” – John D’Alton

William James Montgomery D’Alton celebrated his 100th birthday on 19 April 1980.

The War Cry – Salvation Army – Saturday, May 17, 1980: One hundred years One hundred years of age on April 19, 1980, Mr William D’Alton, of Hobart, shares his centenary year with The Salvation Army. Tasmania’s “centenary lass”, Mrs Thelma Purdue, and the divisional commander, Lieut-Colonel Charm Craig, chose to mark the occasion by presenting Mr D’Alton with a gold spoon and a centenary gold-embossed card. The son of a wheat buyer, William James Montgomery D’Alton was born at Jung Jung, in the Wimmera district of Victoria in 1880. He worked a short time on his uncle’s farm in the district, and decided this wasn’t the life for him. “I must have been a very determined boy. I knew what I was doing”, says Mr D’Alton when talking of his boyhood. Concluding that career opportunities in the district were limited, he sought an alternative. Challenge He relates how he read a two-page advertisement in a very early issue of The Weekly Times, detailing development by the Mt Lyell Company at Queenstown, in Tasmania. With the prospect and challenge of a new life in a far off place, and filled with the spirit of adventure, the 14-year-old boy set out for Melbourne and the excitement of a two-day steamer voyage to the Queenstown pert of Strahan. Starting with the Mt Lyell mining company and subsequently earning a living in many and varied ways from grocer’s assistant to hotel and boarding house owner, William D’Alton later returned to the mainland, becoming established at Port Pirie in South Australia. With the onset of war in 1914 he volunteered for the armed forces and later saw war service in Europe. While serving in France with the Australian military force he was awarded the DCM for distinguished conduct in the field. These days Mr D’Alton leads a less active life, but his eyes sparkle when relating anecdotes of his earlier years. Particularly when speaking of “those interesting times in Queenstown”. One of his recollections concerns the typhoid epidemic in 1900 and the active work by Salvationists in the tent town, helping to care for victims and their families. The Salvation Army is pleased to join hands in the 1980s with another who commenced life in Australia in 1880. Photograph (below left) and article by Graeme Watson William James Montgomery D’Alton died on 24 May 1980, aged 100 years.

His last residence was Tunnel Hill, Cambridge, Tasmania.

His ashes are at the Cornelian Bay Crematorium. His WW1 medals were passed on to his son Jack, then to Jack's son Brent who still lives in Tasmania. The EZ Risdon Newsletter of July 1980 reported: “A Celebrated Century Not many retired EZ employees have ever made their 100th birthday. A recent one of interest however, was Mr. William D’Alton of Cambridge who attained this figure on 19th April and more recently passed away on 24th May. Mr. D’Alton was associated with the Salvation Army at the turn of the century in Queenstown, served in World War 1 winning the Distinguished Conduct Medal and worked at Risdon as a labourer in the Cell Room from August 1923 until December 1950 retiring at the age of 70. One of his sons Norman has been at Risdon since January 1955 as an area watchman in Industrial and Emergency Services and is due to retire shortly.”

Two of Williams’ half-brothers, Talbot Aloysius de Largy D’alton and Howard Hubert (Herbert on the BDM) Dalton, also served in the First World War.

Howard D’Alton signed the ‘Attestation Paper’ on 12 December 1914, naming his mother, R. Dalton of Bowes Street, Queenstown, Tasmania as his Next-of-Kin. He was a single Fireman aged 21 years and 1 month. He signed the Oath at Claremont, Tasmania on 17 December.

1597 Private Howard Hubert DALTON embarked at Melbourne on HMAT A54 Runic on 19 February 1915 with the 3rd Reinforcements to the 12th Infantry Battalion, joining the Battalion at Gallipoli on 15 May 1915. By August that year he was back in Alexandria suffering dysentery. He rejoined his unit at Anzac on 25 October.

He disembarked from the ‘Lake Michigan’ at Alexandria on 6 January 1916. On 1 March he was transferred to the 52nd Battalion at the Railhead at Tel-El-Kebir. On the 13th of that month he was promoted to Lance Corporal and on 5 June he left Alexandria on the Ivernia to join the British Expeditionary Force in France, disembarking at Marseilles on 12 June.

He was promoted to Corporal on 26 May, and to Sergeant on 16 September 1916. In England in April 1916 he was transferred to the 6th Division and proceeded overseas to France on 29 April, marching in to the Australian Divisional Base Depot at Etaples on 30 April and was taken on strength of the 52nd Battalion on 2 May 1917. In September he returned to England and marched in to the 13th Training Battalion at Codford where he was attached for duty with the Permanent Cadre. He spent two weeks in the Group Hospital with synovitis from 30 September to 13 October before again proceeding overseas to France on 15 November 1917.

Howard marched in to the 4th Australian Divisional Base Depot at Havre on 16 November and rejoined his unit (52nd Battalion) on 26 November. He enjoyed some leave in Paris from 10 to 18 March 1918.

Howard was Specially Mentioned in the Dispatch of Sir Douglas Haig of 7 April 1918. He was wounded in action on 24 April suffering a gun shot would to the left side and was transferred to England on 28 April where he was admitted to the Central Military Hospital at Chatham.

He was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal on 10 May 1918. The Recommendation by Lt. Col. J.L. Witham C.M.G, C.O. 52nd Battalion on 12 April 1918 read: 1597 Sgt. Howard Hubert D’ALTON Action for which commended For most gallant conduct and great devotion to duty. During the enemy attack on DERNANCOURT S.W. of ALBERT on 5th April 1918, this N.C.O.’s coolness, bravery and untiring energy were worthy of the highest praise. Bombing from a very exposed position, he was instrumental in preventing the enemy from gaining a footing on the Railway Embankment, and inspired the men about him by his great courage. Later, when the Coy. was forced by greatly superior numbers to give some ground, and when all his Officers were casualties, he took command and kept the men well in hand, displaying splendid judgement and leadership under the most trying circumstances. This N.C.O. has been recommended for Mention in King’s Birthday Honours Despatch. Howard was on furlough in England from 14 to 28 June 1918 and marched in to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny on 29 June. He spent five days in hospital in July with scabies. Howard was transferred to the 51st Battalion Details on 26 August and marched in to the Overseas Training Brigade at Longbridge-Deverill on 10

Howard marched in to the Australian General Base Depot at Havre on 7 December for return to Australia. He left England on board Burma on 14 December, disembarking on 29 January 1919 in Tasmania.

He was discharged on 18 April 1919 entitled to wear the Distinguished Conduct Medal, the British War Medal, the Victoria Medal and the Oakleaf insignia of the Mention in Despatch award.

Talbot D’Alton completed the Attestation Paper at Claremont, Tasmania on 18 September 1916. He named his wife Annie D’Alton of Queenstown, Tasmania as his Next-of-Kin. He signed the Oath to ‘well and truly serve on 7 November and was appointed to the 24th Reinforcements to the 12th Infantry Battalion on 3 February 1917. The Mercury – Hobart – 13 September 1940

He embarked on HMAT A48 Seang Bee at Adelaide on 10 February and disembarked at Devonport, England on 2 May 1917. He proceeded overseas to France on 14 November 1917 and marched in to the Australian Divisional Base Depot at Havre on 15 November, marching out to the 12th Battalion on 18 November. Talbot was taken on strength of the Battalion on 25 November. On 24 April he was wounded in action suffering a gun shot wound to the right thigh. He was treated at various Casualty Stations and hospitals before rejoining his unit on 16 September 1918.

7260 Private Talbot Aloysius de Largy D’Alton was killed in action on 18 September 1918, exactly 2 years after he had first volunteered for service. 17 members of his Battalion died on the same day. He was buried at Jeancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, 9 miles East of Peronne, with 10 of his comrades killed the same day.

Photo of headstone and Jeancourt Cemetery by kind permission of The War Graves Photographic Project www.twgpp.org Zeehan and Dundas Herald – Tasmania - Thursday 3 October 1918:

QUEENSTOWN Killed in Action Mrs Delargy D’Alton, of South Queenstown, has received the information that her son, Sergeant Talbot Aloysius De Largy D’Alton, has been killed in action in France. Sergeant D’Alton enlisted on September 18, 1916, and was prior to his enlistment employed in the Mount Lyall Co’s loco shed. His brother, Sergeant Howard D’Alton, is still in France, and was some months ago decorated with the Military Medal.

Zeehan and Dundas Herald – Tasmania - Thursday 18 September 1919:

IN MEMORIAM

D’ALTON. – In loving memory of Talbot D’Alton, killed at Jeancourt, France, September 18, 1918. Somewhere in France he rests to-day, His grave our eyes may never see, But in the soil that holds his clay, Lie thousands slain for liberty. Inserted by his loving mother and brothers, and sister.

D’ALTON. – In loving memory of our dear cousin, Talbot Aloysius De Largi D’Alton, killed in action in France, on September 18, 1918. Somewhere, some time our eyes shall see, That dear face held in memory. Inserted by S. and T. Bedford and family, Gormanton.

© Donna Baldey 2013 www.tunnellers.net with the great assistance of John D’Alton, son of William James Montgomery D’Alton Images of William D’Alton, telegrams, War Cry & EZ articles courtesy of John D’Alton

Addendum Newspaper findings: The Argus - Melbourne, Vic – Monday 6 October 1924:

D'ALTON. — On the 2nd October, 1924, at her residence, Batesford, Margaret Mary, the dearly loved wife of the late William James D'Alton, aged 92 years, late of Navarre and Nathalia. (Interred in Eastern Cemetery, Geelong, the 3rd October). R.I.P.

[Research – daughter of James De Largie and Sarah nee McWilliams – death registered at Geelong. Margaret is probably the origin of the De Largy (De Largie) addition to the Dalton surname]

The Mercury - Hobart, Tas. - Friday 29 July 1932: LOST POLICY. It is the intention of the Society, on or after the 30th day of August next, to issue a Special Policy in place of Policy No. 305959, on the life of WILLIAM JAMES MONTGOMERY D'ALTON, which is declared to have been lost. Hobart, July 27, 1932. J. H. B. EWART, Acting Manager.