Son helps keep alive legend of FNQ hero
NEARLY 100 years ago David Dalziel’s dad Henry walked into legend.
The Lewis gunner won the Victoria Cross – Australia’s highest military honour – at the Battle of Hamel on July 4, 1918.
Now 75 and living in Brisbane, David Dalziel has been telling the story of Henry’s heroism to “transfixed” students in his father’s home town of Atherton.
“It’s an amazing story,” Mr Dalziel said.
Henry Dalziel left Atherton to join the Australian Imperial Force in 1915.
He fought on the Western Front until critically wounded by a sniper during the same action where he won the VC.
It was the only one awarded to a soldier from Far North Queensland
“He went out three times through murderous fire to bring ammunition to his Lewis gun,” Mr Dalziel said.
During this feat, Private Dalziel, already wounded in the hand, single-handedly captured a German machine gun post while armed with a revolver. The sniper’s bullet that took him out smashed his skull.
“His helmet was knocked off with a fist-sized hole and there was a smaller one in his head,” Mr Dalziel said.
“He wasn’t very active after 1918. He had headaches but was sprightly when Anzac Day came along.”
While on tour in the Tablelands, Mr Dalziel sought out his father’s home in Fifth St. of action
“It had hardly changed,” Mr Dalziel said. “He came back to Atherton and this was where he came back to.”
Mr Dalziel also inspected the display dedicated to his father at Cairns RSL. “It is a wonderful display,” he said.
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