This website has been developed by myself, David Dalziel, Harry’s son, as a living memory of the amazing life of Henry (Harry) Dalziel V.C.

You are invited to browse through the years of Harry’s life.  The TIMELINE is a great place to start as it begins at 1856-57 and continues from 1889 to the present day.

At the heart of this tribute to Henry Dalziel V.C. is his own account of his actions at Hamel, France on 4th July, 1918.

It is graphic and it says something about his character. See MY V.C.

Most Important

This tribute belongs to his children, grandchildren and great grandchildren.

Harry died before his grandkids were born. He missed out on the pleasure of grandchildren.

The firstborn grandchild arrived three years after his passing.

A Resource

www.HarryDalzielVC.org is designed as a resource for primary and high school children who may be encouraged to dig deeper into WWI History.

A total of more than 60,000 Aussies died in the years between 1914 and 1918.

Over the decades another 60,000 died back home in Australia from injuries inflicted during the war.

The following statistics put the above figures into perspective.

Major Sports Stadiums in Australia have 60,000 or more seating capacity. Lang Park has 52,500 seats.

Melbourne Cricket Ground has 100,000 & 5,000 standing spaces

80,000 packed Anzac stadium for NRL grand final in 2017.

Atherton State School

Specifically, this website has been developed for Atherton State School where Harry was a pupil and for Atherton State High School.

When Harry was eight he went to Mount Garnet State School for a very short time.

Atherton State High School sits on land that was once the Dalziel Farm, Carmel Bank, where Harry and the family worked, rode horses, milked cows, collected eggs, played, swam, went to school, went to town.

Harry came home to here after the war.

The farm covered 160 acres.

Farm stock included 46 dairy cattle, 9 horses, pigs and poultry.

Pastures were grown for the dairy herd. They grew navel oranges.

There, Harry’s mother worried herself terribly for 4 years till her son came home.

Perhaps you will be captivated by the story of one of the many men and women of the First World War. The story of Harry’s life makes a great yarn.

King George V

It is a story too of King George V, a beloved King who was on the Throne throughout the First World War.

He spent much time in France during WW1 supporting the war effort, even though he was ill.

He was a heavy smoker.

He presented the Victoria Cross to Harry Dalziel at Buckingham Palace, December 13,1918.

The King was fiercely in favour of the V.C..

If a soldier committed a serious crime he should still keep the V.C., according to the King.

General Sir John Monash

In the context of WWI and Australia there was the Australian, Lieutenant General John Monash.  Later General Sir John Monash.

Monash led the Australians at Hamel in what was called THE AUSTRALIANS’ FINEST VICTORY.

(The Australian Broadcasting Commission did a program called “Monash the forgotten Anzac.”)

Monash was given full charge of this completely Australian Force of 7,500 men. Some Americans who had recently arrived in France took part in the battle.

All the A.I.F. (Australian Imperial Force) were volunteers.

The Australians were very experienced fighters by 1918 and at last the brilliant Monash was in charge.

The Battle of Hamel was the Turning Point of WW1, where two V.C.s were awarded.

One was Thomas (Jack) Axford and the other was Harry Dalziel.

There is information about Le Hamel on the video called “Hamel the Turning Point”. Every Australian is encouraged to see this video. Watch the video HERE. Researching Hamel is a very worthwhile exercise.

 

“I am convinced that there are no troops in the world to equal the Australians in cool daring, courage and endurance”

Monash wrote to his wife from Gallipoli.

I think that’s true of all Aussie soldiers since then.

Accuracy

Accuracy of information is a goal of this website. Edits will be ongoing.  Please Contact Us HERE if you have a comment, feedback or further information.

I hope I have captured sympathetically in what follows, the life story of Henry (Harry) Dalziel V.C.

DAVID DALZIEL.