Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of William Dalby, a journeyman butcher, born 1859 in Hinckley, Leics., and his wife Maria, born 1861 in Hinckley, Leics. John was born in 1885 in Hinckley, Leics., his siblings were, William born 1880, Arthur, born 1882, Alice, born 1887 and James, born 1891, all his siblingswere born in Hinckley, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at 17, Grove Street, Hinckley, Leics. In March 1901 John was employed as a dyer’s labourer, and was residing in the family home at 42, Coventry Road, Hinckley, Leics., together with his father, now a farm labourer, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a dyer’s stoker, James, Edward, born 1895 and Henry, born 1898, the latter two siblings were both born in Hinckley, Leics. In April 1911 John was employed as a horse slaughterer, and was residing in the family home at 56, Coventry Road, Hinckley, Leics., together with his father, now a general labourer, his mother and siblings, Arthur, a gas stoker, Alice a hosiery trade worker, Edward and Harry, a schoolboy, also residing with the family were his niece, Edna, a schoolgirl, born 1906, and nephew Jack, born 1907, the latter two children were both born in Hinckley, Leics. He was the husband of Annie Dalby.
On Friday May 28th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “THE YEOMANRY CASUALTIES.” - OFFICIAL LIST OF OFFICERS KILLED AND WOUNDED.
The following casualties to officers in the Leicestershire Yeomanry, reported from general Headquarters under date 15th May, has been officially issued by the War Office:
KILLED.
Lieut. Colonel the Hon. P. C. Evans Freke, Major W. F. Martin, Major B. R. Liebert, Lieut. T. E. Brooks, Lieut. S. P. D. Thomson, Lieut. C. Peake, Second Lieut. A. F. Turner.
WOUNDED.
Major W. F. Ricardo, Captain G. R. Codrington, Captain E. R. Hanbury, Captain O. F. Martin, Lieutenant T. W. Best.
Lieut. T. W. Best, whose name has not before been published, is a son of Captain Best, late of Carlton Curlieu Manor, Lieut. Best was connected with the signalling detachment.
THE RANK AND FILE.
ALTERATIONS AND ADITIONS TO THE CASUALTY LIST.
The following additions and alterations in the list of Leicestershire Yeomanry casualties have been received in Leicester from the Adjutant of the Yeomanry:- Previously reported missing, now with regiment:-
A SQUADRON.
2138 Pte. T. Chadwick, 2500 Pte. F. C. Wright.
B SQUADRON.
2502 Pte. C. F. Richardson.
C SQUADRON.
2451 Pte. A. V. Dalley.
Missing (not previously reported).
C SQUADRON.
1411 Pte. J. Dalby.
Previously reported missing, now unofficially reported killed:
H.Q. 1913 L. Corpl. L. J. Moor. M.G.S. 2160 Pte. S. Smalley.
B SQUADRON.
2278 H. Hanser.
C SQUADRON.
1478 L.Sergt. J. Parker.
Previously reported killed, now officially reported wounded:
B SQUADRON.
2034 Pte. C. S. Lovelock.
Previously reported missing, now reported wounded and not missing:
M.G.S.
Pte. G. W. Matts, 2006 Pte. H. Shaw.
A SQUADRON.
1914 Pte. W. Woods, 1722 Corporal W. Longwill, 2245 Pte. S. Barratt, 1716 Pte. F. Coleman, 2322 Pte. F. H. Pollard, 2367 Pte. A. L. Wood, 2174 Pte. J. E. Wood.
B SQUADRON.
884 Sergt. A. Wright, 1997 Pte. R. R. Bevin, 2567 Pte. S. Clay, 2523 Pte. T. S. Elliott, 1728 Pte. A. R. Fewkes, 2089 Pte. W. Hutt, 2251 Pte. A. Rhodes, 1915 Pte. G. Tiptor.
C SQUADRON.
910 Sergt. W. Moore, 2025 S.S. B. Holmes, 2117 Pte. A. Bunker, 1974 Pte. G. O. Chester, 2134 Pte. J. W. Dawson, 2113 Pte, L. Dowland, 2394 Pte. G. Parlby, 2000 Pte. J. W. Taylor.
The War Diary for the 13th May 1915 records. BELLEWARDE FARM. Position of Regiment at midnight 12th/13th May was 700 yards west of road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and YPRES – MENIN ROAD, extreme right resting on railway running north east from YPRES, and extending to the farm about 300 yards north, north west of railway. “B” Squadron occupied north, “C” Squadron south part of the front line trenches. The trenches were bad, 5 feet deep and 2½ feet wide at the bottom. Parapets at the front and back slanted very much, and were made of loose soil. There were few sand bags, and no dug outs or other protection from shell fire. “A” Squadron occupied the Support trenches 300 yards in the rear of the advanced trenches and on the left flank of “B” Squadron. Machine gun section in “C” Squadron trench close to the railway. HQ in dug outs on road joining ZONNEBEKE ROAD and MENIN ROAD, 150 yards north of the railway. During the night the trenches were somewhat improved. Heavy shell fire from 3.30am to 6.00am, but few casualties. The enemy then began to pour over their parapets with the evident intention of attacking, but being met by heavy fire from our men, they retired again to their trenches. A second and more violent bombardment began, and was kept up until 7.30am. Our losses during this bombardment were much heavier, and the machine guns were knocked out and a trench blown in. At 7.30am the enemy attacked and occupied the advanced trenches vacated by the Regiment on our left, from there they gained part of “B” Squadron trenches. They then advanced to within 200 yards of the Support trenches and dug themselves in, having steel shields as a protection. Those of the enemy who had occupied the “B” Squadron trench advanced along the trench, and Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lt. W. S. FIELDING-JOHNSON and Squadron Sergeant Major J. P. SWAIN with what was left of “B” Squadron, retired down the trench and joined “C” Squadron. Here Major W. F. MARTIN ordered barricades of sand bags to be placed across the trench. Some of the trench party fired over this barricade at the enemy advancing from the flank, others at the enemy advancing from the front. Major MARTIN, Major LIEBERT, Lt. C. PEAKE and 2nd Lt. T. E. BROOKS were all killed. The casualties were so heavy that Lt. FIELDING-JOHNSON, the only surviving officer decided to retire down the trench, to cross the railway and join the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS on the other side of it. He had great difficulty in crossing the railway, which was swept by the enemy’s machine guns. Finally the crossing was effected by building a sand bag parapet across the railway, and Lt. FIELDING-JOHNSON joined the 3rd DRAGOON GUARDS with Squadron Sergeant Major SWAIN and 14 men, the only survivors of the two Squadrons of LEICESTERSHIRE YEOMANRY who had occupied the advanced trenches. At about 6.00am Lt. Col the Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE decided to establish a small advanced post at a building about 150 yards in advance of the Support trenches. He personally placed 2nd Lt. T. H. SIMPKIN with 15 men in charge of this post. While returning to the Support trenches he was shot dead. The supports held their position until 12.00 noon, when the Brigade Major, Captain D. P. TOLLEMACHE arrived. The enemy by this time were very near at hand carrying shields which appeared to be quite bullet proof, and were digging themselves in. Major W. F. RICARDO displayed great gallantry in holding on to the Support trenches, although wounded four separate time. When the counter attack was made by the ROYAL HORSE GUARDS, the 10th HUSSARS and the ESSEX YEOMANRY, the remains of “A” Squadron, led by Captain TOLLEMACHE and Lt. T. W. BEST, joined in the charge. The counter attack drove the enemy out of the new trenches which they had made near our Support trenches, but did not retake our advanced trenches, consequently the dead and wounded from these were never recovered. The Regiment was relieved during the night of the 13th/14th May by the ROYAL IRISH FUSILIERS, and reached their huts at BRIELEN at about 4.00am on the 14th May. The casualties of the action on the 13th May were as follows:- Killed, Lt. Col. The Hon. P. C. EVANS-FREKE, Major W. F. MARTIN. Major B. R. LIEBERT, Lt. C. PEAKE and 2nd Lt. T. E. BROOKS. Other ranks killed, 47. Wounded Major W. F. RICARDO, Captain C. M. MARTIN, Captain E. R. HANBURY, Captain G. R. CODRINGTON and Lt. T. W. BEST. Other ranks wounded, 90. There were 39 other ranks missing.