Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Son of George Dale and Alice Amelia Dale nee Box of Brighton, Victoria.

Brother of Rose Dale of 'Newgar', Argyle Street, Carlton, NSW later given as next of kin

Husband of Ethel Kate (Kitty) Dale

Commenced return to Australia on 5 April 1918 aboard HT Borda  for discharge disembarking on the 1 June 1918

Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal

Eldest of the three brothers (Tom, Bert and Allan) who served in the Army, Sergeant Thomas Dale (Service No:10527) enlisted in the AIF on 29 September 1915, and was a Corporal attached to 3rd Divisional Signal Coy on 25 May 1916 when he embarked with his Unit from Sydney for England on board HMAT A11 Ascanius. Promoted to Sergeant on 13 June 1917, he was attached to 6 Division Signals in October when he was WiA in France - GSW to left forearm, requiring amputation. Sergeant Dale was invalided to London, where in 1917 he married Ethel (Kitty) Kate Smith. Sergeant Dale embarked from England for Sydney on 5 April 1918 on board HMAT Borda, and was attached to 6 Division Signals at Discharge on 2 September 1918 (Medically Unfit). In WWII, Corporal Crane (Service No:N274572) served in the ACMF (31 July 1941 - 30 June 1947) with NSW LoC Area Car Coy AASC, and in the Interim Army (1 July 1947 - 16 December 1948) with 101 General Transport Coy.

Tom was born in Brighton, Victoria in 1886, fourth of nine children of George Watson Dale (b1857 in Williamstown, Victoria) and Alice Amelia Box (b1861 in Brighton, Victoria). George trained for the Ministry before running away to the Hokitiki Diggings in New Zealand. On his return, he apprenticed to a Bootmaker in Terang, and was a Bootmaker in 1881 when he and Alice married in Melbourne. They settled in Brighton, where they raised their family and George  worked as a Bootmaker. In 1900 George and Alice moved their family to New South Wales, first to Delegate and then settling in Grahamstown via Adelong. George worked as a Bootmaker, and was a House, Land and Insurance Agent. He was active in politics and his local community - he took an active part in the campaign for Federation, founded the first Dredge Workers' Union and the Grahamstown Branch of the Federated Engine Drivers and Foremens Association - and served as Secretary for both. George was also involved in the local school, serving as Secretary of the Parents and Citizens Association, and the Primary Exams and High School Bus Committees.

Tom worked as a Labourer, and in 1915 was in Sydney living with his sister Rose when he enlisted in the AIF. In London in 1917 he married Ethel (Kitty) Kate Smith (b1885 in Buckinghamshire, England) - Kitty was a Housemaid in London. Following Tom's Discharge from the Army, Kitty immigrated in 1919, arriving in Sydney on board the Osterley. Tom and Kitty lived in Sydney and Moruya before settling in Cronulla - Tom was a Labourer and Watchman. Discharged from th Army in 1948, Tom (a Military Pensioner) and Kitty moved to Charlotte Bay via Taree, where Tom died in 1952. Kitty died in 1974.