Lest We Forget

George Albert Dale (A2491) was born April 8, 1897, in London, England, to parents William Arthur and Alma (Rayner) Dale. He was one of six children, with three brothers and two sisters. The family moved to 20 Moderwell Street, Stratford, Perth County, Ontario, from England.  He worked as a butcher until his enlistment.

Goerge signed his attestation papers in Stratford on January 26, 1915, enlisting as Acting Corporal (A/Cpl) with the 34th Battalion CEF. With this unit, he sailed to England, where, on July 5, 1915, he was attached to the 11th Reserve Battalion in Shorncliffe.

One month later, on August 5, 1915, Corporal Dale was attached to the 1st Canadian Infantry Battalion (Ontario Regiment) CEF overseas, sailing on October 23, 1915, to France.

On January 18, 1916, Dale was hospitalized with the 5th Canadian Field Ambulance for influenza, returning to duty with the 1st Battalion on January 26. With this unit, he would participate in operations in the Battle of Mont Sorrel in June 1916 and the Battle of the Somme, during which, on October 9, 1916, Corporal Dale’s right eye was wounded. Two days later, he was admitted to the Westcliffe Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkstone, Kent. A report from the hospital described shrapnel fragments being stuck in his right eye and that he was given chloroform before his eye was operated on.

On October 20, 1916, Corporal Dale was admitted to No.13 Stationary Hospital in Bologne, France. He was transferred to King George Military Hospital at Stamford St S E on November 4 until November 10, when he was transferred to the Canadian Casualty Assembly Centre in Shoreham. On December 14, he was again transferred to Westcliffe Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkestone, Kent, for a brief visit.

It wasn’t until March 10, 1917, that Corporal Dale fully recovered and was reapproved for active service. He left the CCAC on transfer to the Western Ontario Regiment Depot in either Hastings or Bramshott, where he conducted training awaiting transfer to an active unit.

On April 7, 1917, Corporal Dale transfer to Infantry Corps in Tunningdale (?). About two weeks later on April 20, 1917, he took on strength to District 3 of the Canadian Forestry Corps in London, Ontario. This corps was responsible for the supply of timer for trench materials and infrastructure, in addition to providing frontline support when needed. On May 7, 1917, he transferred to no.4 Company.

On August 28, 1917, he was again admitted to Westcliffe Canadian Eye and Ear Hospital, as he was suffering from swelling in his damaged eye in addition to an injury on his right knee from German wire during the Third Battle of Ypres. The hospital provided him with an artificial eye.

After his discharge from the hospital, on September 6, 1917, Acting Corporal Dale took on strength with District 4 from District 3 in Southampton.

On October 29, 1917, he returned to the Canadian Forestry Corps’ Base Depot in Southampton, before being transferred to the Base Depot in Sunningdale. Shortly after, between November 2-9, 1917, he was attached to District 54 Company 104.

On November 23, 1917, he was readmitted to Westcliffe Can Eye and Ear Hospital in Folkstone, Kent. On April 4, 1918, Acting Corporal Dale was struck off service on being invalided. He was admitted to the No.5 Canadian General Hospital in Kirkdale, Liverpool, where he awaited return to Canada. Soon after, he set sail, arriving in Halifax and transferred to the District Depot No.1 for further treatment in London, Ontario. He remained there from April 12 to May 3, 1918, when he was officially discharged as medically unfit.

George returned to civil life in Stratford, where he worked as a postman until becoming a taxi owner. On August 5, 1921, he married Margaret Maud McEwen of Perth County in Stratford. Together they had five sons, Wilson “Red”, Keith, Bruce, Donald, and Douglas Dale.

George passed away in July 1983 at 86 years old and was buried in Avondale Cemetery in Stratford.