Private Arthur William Dale
This North Irish Horseman was probably the Arthur William Dale born around 1898 in Manfield, Darlington, Yorkshire, the last of ten children of cattle stocksman George Dale and his wife Martha Jane. By the time of the 1911 Census he was living at Manfield with his parents, three of his seven surviving siblings, and a nephew.
Dale enlisted in the cavalry on 26 October 1915 (No. GS/23330), and was posted to the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons. It is probable that he overstated his age – he later gave his date of birth as 27 August 1894. He gave his address as Piercebridge, which is near Manfield.
Dale was probably posted to the headquarters establishment of the 2nd North Irish Horse Regiment following the formation of the regiment in France in June 1916 from C and F Squadrons and the 6th (Inniskilling) Dragoons Service Squadron. The headquarters, formed in England and comprising 40 officers and men, joined the new regiment in France at the beginning of July.
The 2nd NIH Regiment served as corps cavalry to X Corps until August-September 1917, when it was disbanded and its men transferred to the Royal Irish Fusiliers, an infantry regiment. Most, including Dale, were transferred on 20 September and posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion – renamed the 9th (North Irish Horse) Battalion – joining it in the field at Ruyaulcourt five days later. Dale was issued regimental number 41102.
He probably saw action with the battalion at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917, and perhaps also during the retreat from St Quentin from 21 to 28 March 1918.
Dale was captured, unwounded, during the fighting on the Messines Ridge on 11 April 1918. He remained a prisoner until the end of the war, held at the Friedrichsfeld camp in Germany.
Following his release and repatriation, Dale re-enlisted in the Dragoons on 22 March 1919 (No.34448 – later Army No.392547) – he was posted to the 2nd Dragoon Guards (Queen's Bays). He was discharged at Canterbury on 11 February 1923, his military character recorded as 'very good'.