D'ALTON, Henry St Eloy
| Service Number: | 538 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 18 August 1914, Surrey Hills, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 8th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Nhill, Victoria, Australia , 10 April 1888 |
| Home Town: | Dimboola, Hindmarsh, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Nihill & Dimboola State Schools, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Shire secretary |
| Died: | Died of wounds, At Sea (HS Seang Choon), Gallipoli, 25 April 1915, aged 27 years |
| Cemetery: |
No known grave - "Known Unto God" Buried at Sea, Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey Panel 30 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Dimboola Memorial High School WWI Honour Roll, Lone Pine Memorial to the Missing |
World War 1 Service
| 18 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 538, 8th Infantry Battalion, Surrey Hills, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 538, 8th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Benalla embarkation_ship_number: A24 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 538, 8th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Benalla, Melbourne | |
| 29 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 538, 8th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Henry St Eloy D'Alton
Henry was the eldest son and second child of St. Eloy D'Alton and Ann (nee McKinlay)
He was born at Nhill Victoria on 10 April 1888 and was a keen sportsman. Henry participated with some success in cricket, coursing, rowing and long-distance running but his passion was rifle shooting.
Henry was also the President of the Dimboola chapter of the Australian Natives Association (ANA) from 1909-11.
Henry’s talent at the rifle range paid off in 1911 when he took out a bronze medal in the Victorian Rifle Association’s shoot.
At the time of World War 1, Henry was the secretary of the Shire of Dimboola and resigned this post just prior to the Declaration of War. Henry was one of the first twelve Dimboola volunteers who went to Horsham to enlist on 17th August 1914. He was 26 years old at the time.
His brother Charles enlisted 10 days later and they would both serviced together at Gallipoli, though in different company's.
Service medical records note that Henry was 5 feet 6 inches (1.675 m) tall and weighed 135 pounds; possessing a fair complexion and blue eyes. His chest measurements were 33 inches, expanding to 35. Hair colour was stated as “between”.
A week after his enlistment, Henry was in camp at Broadmeadows. He was temporarily attached to the Machine Gun section of the 4th Light Horse, being a more than capable rifleman with an ability to ride.
At the 23rd December 1914 meeting of the Dimboola Progress Association, it was decided to send a cable to Henry D’Alton, E. Company, 8th Battalion AIE Force, Pyramid of Cheops, Egypt, conveying hearty good wishes and seasonal greetings “to all the Dimboola boys.”
He was the first Dimboola man to fall at Gallipoli. It was at ten o’clock in the morning on the day after the landing. He had been shot in the stomach, apparently by a Turkish sniper, while helping to dig a trench.
Henry died some days later on the 29th April 1915 as a result of his wounds and was buried at sea from the hospital ship “Seang Choon” the following day.
In the first list of Australian casualties, 27-year-old Private Henry D’Alton’s name appeared. His loss was deeply mourned in Dimboola. Shop windows and Shire offices were draped in black, union Jacks lowered to half-mast and messages telegraphed to his family
The Dimboola Banner of 7 May 1915 stated that: -
‘.. He was amongst the first of his countrymen to fall and therefore had won an imperishable name .. We may be sure that he died a hero’s death and who could wish for better.’
When the news of Henry’s death was received, a memorial service was held in St. Peter’s Church of England, Dimboola. Many tributes were paid at that service and other tributes were forthcoming at a meeting of the Dimboola Progress Association. During the next monthly meeting of the Dimboola Shire Council, several Councillors voiced their regrets, eulogised Henry D’Alton’s conduct and spoke of the esteem in which they held their late Secretary.
The Council chose to erect a memorial in the Shire Offices and subsequently ‘a handsome white marble tablet, framed with polished red gum wood’ was affixed to the wall of the Council chambers. The memorial tablet was unveiled at the Council meeting on 26th October 1915. (Photo provided)
St Eloy and Ann D'Alton lost both of their sons at Gallipoli within 6 months of each other.
Submitted 26 February 2016 by John McKay
Biography contributed by Faithe Jones
His parents were St Eloy D'ALTON from Kilkenny, Ireland and Ann Jane Elizabeth McKINLAY
PRIVATE D'ALTON.
Henry St. Eloy D'Alton, prior to enlisting, was a prominent Dimboola rifle shot, and for a time honorary secretary of the Dimboola Rifle Club. He competed in the V.R.A. matches in the A and B series held in November, 1913. He also was a competitor in the Gippsland matches during the Easter of that year. Always a good and most enthusiastic rifle shot, he was of considerable strength to his union and his club in all teams matches. His duties as shire secretary brought him in close touch with almost all the ratepayers of the shire of Dimboola, to whom he was always advocating the use of the rifle. When volunteers were called for active service, with his brother he was amongst the first in camp.
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