Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of John and Dorothy Dale of 21 Clementina Street, Sunderland, England

Address at the time of enlistment was 31 Alma Street, Pyrmont, NSW

Husband of Catherine Ann Dale nee Belly of East End, Sunderland, England. Geoerge and Catherine were married on 14 April 1906 at the Sunderland Registry Office, England

Also husband of Minnie Goring of 402 Cardigan Street, Carlton,Victoria whom he married in 1924 and had a daughter Dorothy Elsie Dale. Minnie later had her marriage annulled when she learnt of George's other wife

Commenced return to Australia aboard HT Berrima on 2 January 1919 disembarking at Melbourne on 17 February 1919 for Sydney

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal which were issued to Minnie Goring former;y Dale

From How We Served

The final resting place for; - 5359 Private George Wilson Dale (aka George Dixon) had immigrated from Sunderland, England prior to the outbreak of War and had been employed as a bricklayer when he enlisted for War Service on the 4th of January 1916 at Liverpool, New South Wales. George was allocated to reinforcements for the 4th Battalion 1st AIF and was embarked for Egypt and further training on the 14th of April where he was transferred over to the 56th Battalion, with which he embarked for France with, arriving on the 29th of June.

Remaining on duty in the trenches aside bouts of sickness, George received severe face and head wounds on the 2nd of April 1917, following which he was evacuated for hospitalisation on the 9th of April. George would undergo treatment and a period of convalescence before being granted leave to England. George was deemed fit to be returned to his Unit in the field which he re-joined on the 23rd of December, and remained on duty until he was evacuated on the 12th of August 1918 suffering enteritis and was sent to England for further treatment, and whilst being hospitalised he suffered a bout of malaria.

Following his recovery and a further period of convalescence George was granted leave, but would not be returned to Northern France. George began his repatriation to Australia, departing from England on the 2nd of January 1919, and by the 17th of February he had returned to Sydney, New South Wales where he received his formal discharge from the 1st AIF on the 10th of May for his return to civilian life and was listed as suffering from debility due to his service overseas.

George’s psychological health was to further deteriorate and by the 7th of June 1929 he was admitted into the Military Mental Asylum (Mont Park), suffering from what was cited to be insanity due to a gross brain lesion caused by his earlier wounds suffered whilst in the trenches back in 1917.

George’s death occurred whilst he was still in the residence of the Asylum on the 23rd of August 1929 and following his passing, he was laid to rest within Fawkner Cemetery, Victoria.