Harrogate Herald - 5th December 1917
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Second Lieutenant G V Dalby is the son of Company
Sergeant Major Dalby, of the West Yorks, who was 11 years
sergeant-instructor of the old Volunteers and Territorials at
Harrogate, now seen 30 years' service. The son was district
scoutmaster and went to Canada with General Baden-Powell in 1910.
joined the Lovat Scouts Yeomanry, and was promoted Trumpet-Major the
day after he joined. In January last was commissioned to the Tanks,
and was in the great tank advance near Cambrai. Now home on 14 days'
leave. Second Lieutenant Walter Ogden, son of Mr J R Ogden, is also
in the same Corps, and commanded the Tank named
"Harrogate". You boys will be proud to know that one of
these monsters is names after our town. The first action in which
Dalby took part his crew NCO was Sergeant Atkinson, DCM, of Swan
Road. On one occasion Dalby walked into a strange Officers' Mess and
on the table saw the "Harrogate Herald". The man to whom
it was addressed was Private Newton, Granville Terrace, father of
one of Dalby's old boy scouts. I may tell you chaps that the tank
"Harrogate" came safely out of that great action. Dalby
saw it on its return. By the way, the tank was so named at the
request of the Colonel because Ogden came from Harrogate. On
returning a few days after the action Dalby saw German guns which
had been captured by 6 Platoon, B Company, 1st West Yorks.
Harrogate Herald - 9th January 1918
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In the midst of the duller phases of home
experience, it is a relief to see and talk to the boys who call on
me. Private Harry Newton, of the Tank Corps, who lives at New Park,
is a good example. He is a jolly chap, philosophical, looks on the
bright side, so that it does one good to have a chat with him. He
returned from leave Friday night. Went out with the first of the
Tanks fifteen months ago after three months training. He is now
brigaded with Lieutenant Dalby's battalion, who you will recognise
as a Harrogate boy. Before enlisting he drove a motor for the
Harrogate Gas Co., with whom he has been over twenty years. He came
across Sergeant Jessop (formerly of our staff) when on a visit to
the tailor. Fred Thompson, Newton's nephew, is in the RC, attached
to the 62nd Division. Newton just missed him by a night.
Harrogate Herald - 27th March 1918
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Second Lieutenant George V Dalby, of scout fame,
whom many of you boys will remember as the son of a former
instructor at the Harrogate Drill Hall, Sergeant-Major Dalby, was
married to Miss Lena Robinson, of Luddenden-foot, last Thursday.
I have received the name of another Mons hero, Lance Corporal A
Gill. Being a Reservist he was called up at the beginning of the
war, and fought through until the battle of the Aisne, when he was
taken prisoner on September 22nd, 1914, and has been in German hands
ever since.