Royal Engineers, Service no. 2001234
Born: 21st September 1919.
Story
Dalton was the son of a coal miner, Ned Weatherill (1885-1959) and Margaretta Foster (1889-1973), who married at the Primitive Methodist Chapel, Garforth on 31st July 1910. Before the Second World War, the family were living at 1 Oak Royd, Garforth. Dalton joined the War effort, and served in the Royal Engineers. In February 1942, Dalton was travelling to Singapore, when the Royal Engineers learnt that Singapore had fallen to the Japanese, so they were diverted into India, and wound up in the Burmese Jungle (below). They were referred to as the Forgotten Army, or the Lost Army. Dalton’s photographs from his time in South Africa, India and Burma can be seen here:
Above: Dalton front row, second left with his platoon. Below left: Dalton took a photo of a War Memorial, which may have been in South Africa, India or Burma, but bears a strong resemblance to the War Memorial (below right) in Kohima, Burma. This stone was moved from Maram, South Kohima and erected for the 2nd British Division’s war cemetery. While the top part of the memorial is marked with a cross, at the lower part now lies a bronze plate that carries the Kohima Epitaph: “When you go home tell them of us and say for your tomorrow we gave our today.” This verse, which became world-famous, is attributed to John Maxwell Edmonds (1875–1958). Below: Dalton as a young recruit in 1934 (seated middle row second from right) with his football team, and during the War, stood back row, far right):
Below left: Dalton’s photograph of the Burmese Jungle, and right, Camp conditions in the Burmese jungle:
Below: Dalton carried back the following motivational booklet from South Africa. Further below: a telegram from India he sent back to his parents in Garforth.
Whilst in South Africa, Dalton asked a South African woman he’d met whilst on leave to write home to his mother. When Dalton returned home, he retrieved and retained this letter for the rest of his life. A transcript of it follows:
40 Palmyra Road
Newlands
Capetown
South Africa
21st May 1942
Dear Mrs Weatherill
This letter will no doubt come as a great surprise from a stranger but I had the pleasure of meeting your son Dalton during his holiday.
They arrived here on Friday and left on Tuesday. On Saturday I met him at a canteen and took him up to the swimming baths with a pal of his. In the evening we went dancing at the Drill Hall which is always open to visiting troops for dancing and entertainment. On Sunday afternoon I met them in town and took them swimming at Muizenberg which is about 20 miles from Capetown. It is a popular holiday resort and the surfing there is excellent. It was quite a nice day for this time of the year as we are getting towards the middle of Winter now. I was about the only girl swimming but in spite of everything enjoyed it. I met them again on Monday after office and took them home to dinner after which I took my mother and the two of them to the cinema.
That was the last I saw of them but Dalton asked me not to forget to write to his mother. He is looking very well and is quite happy and contented. They spent all their days and nights eating to make up for the rotten food on board ship.
As I have several more letters to write I’ll close in hoping that I have cheered you up with news of your son.
Yours sincerely, Joan Clark
Dalton returned to Garforth, and married Audrey Mary Cairns (1927-2009) after the War in 1949. The couple initially lived with Dalton’s parents, before moving to 21 West View, Kippax. Their daughter, Denise Broughton, still lives in Kippax. Like many servicemen, Dalton revealed very little about the War to his family, but they have preserved his medal collection, his thank you letter for serving in the Second Division, and also the Handkerchiefs he carried with him (all pictured below).
Dalton passed away on 8th December 2007.
Kippax Roll of Honour 