John Arthur Dale
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
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He was the son of John T and Mary Ann Dale. He was the brother of Eliza (b.1880), Mary (b.1882), Florence (b.1890) and Francis (b.1892) Dale. They lived at 26 Stretton Street before moving to 26 Calcutta Street St Ann’s Well Road (both St Ann’s Nottingham). John Arthur left home and lived with William and Ellen Radford as a boarder at 3A St Mark's Street, Nottingham. He was engaged to their daughter Cordelia (Della).
The battalion was based in India at the outbreak of war and initially guarded the outer defences and port of Bombay. The men then left for Europe on S.S."Thongwa," arriving at Plymouth on 4/10/1914 before moving to Hursley Park. The finally sailed for France on 04/11/1914, arriving at Le Havre on the next day. They moved into trenches in Northern France and began to learn about trench warfare, taking casualties in the process. Dale survived the heavy fighting at Neuve Chapelle. On May 9, 1915 the battalion was involved in fighting at Rouge Bancs, and were met by heavy machine gun fire and could make no progress. Eventually the battalion was relieved, but had suffered 359 casualties, including Dale who was killed in action. Ploegeteert Memorial.
Nottingham Evening Post obituary (abridged), 31 May 1915: 'Dale. Killed in action May 9th, Corporal John Arthur Dale, 1st Sherwood Foresters, beloved fiancée of Della, Radford, St Mark's Street, age 29.' In memoriam published 9th May 1916 in the Nottingham Evening Post :- “DALE. – In memory of Lance-Corpl. Jack Dale, 1st Sherwood Foresters, killed in action May 9th, 1915. Never forgotten. – From Mrs. Radford and family. “DALE. – In loving memory of Lance-Corpl. John A. Dale, late 1st Sherwood Foresters, who was killed in action May 9th, 1915. Far away in a foreign land, fighting for England's glorious name, he met his fate like a man, a hero, brave and true; there's never a morn or night returns but what I think of thee. – Fiancée, Delie.” Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
