THE VICTORIA CROSS AWARDED TO SERGEANT HENRY DALZIEL, 15TH BN, AIF, HAVE BEEN SOLD AT AUCTION BY NOBLE NUMISMATICS OF SYDNEY. |
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25 November 2010 |
The Victoria Cross and campaign medals awarded to Sergeant Henry Dalziel, 15th, Bn, AIF, have been sold at auction by Noble Numismatics of Sydney on 25 November 2010. The group realised a hammer price of AUS$ 525,000 ( £326,665 ). A recently published media release by the Australian War Memorial in Canberra gratefully acknowledges the generous donation of Private Henry Dalziel's Victoria Cross group by Mr Kerry Stokes AC. Acknowledging the Memorial's appreciation, Mr Stokes said it was always nice to be in a position to help in the preservation of some of our country's most important historical items and it was particularly good to be able to assist the Australian War Memorial at Christmas.
For the award of the Victoria Cross.
[ London Gazette, 17 August 1918 ], Hamel Wood, France, 4 July 1918, Driver Henry Dalziel, 15th Bn, Australian Imperial Force.
His company met with determined resistance from a strong point which was strongly garrisoned, manned by numerous machine guns, and, undamaged by our artillery fire, was also protected by strong wire entanglements. A heavy concentration of machine-gun fire caused many casualties, and held up our advance. His Lewis gun having come into action and silenced enemy guns in one direction, an enemy gun opened fire from another direction. Private Dalziel dashed at it, and with his revolver killed or captured the entire crew and gun, and allowed our advance to continue. He was severely wounded in the hand, but carried on and took part in the capture of the final objective. He twice went over open ground under heavy enemy artillery and machine-gun fire to secure ammunition, and though suffering from considerable loss of blood, he filled magazines and served the gun until severely wounded through the head. His magnificent bravery and devotion to duty, was an inspiring example to all his comrades, and his dash and unselfish courage at a most critical time undoubtedly saved many lives and turned what would have been a severe check into a splendid success.
Henry Dalziel was invested with his Victoria Cross by King George V at Buckingham Palace on the 13th December 1918.
Henry Dalziel died on 24 July 1965 in the Greenslope Repatriation Hospital, Brisbane, and his body cremated at Mount Thompson Crematorium. |
Iain Stewart, 16 December 2010