Veteran Story: Horace Dalton (1899-1956) was born at Dunwich (Goompee), North Stradbroke Island (Minjerribah) to Thomas and Elizabeth (Lizzie) Dalton (nee Parker) and was working as a farmer when he volunteered to serve with the first AIF in May 1918. He was allotted to the 4th General Reinforcements for Egypt and embarked on board the troop ship 'Port Sydney' in August 1918 arriving in Egypt four weeks later. Dalton was assigned to the 11th Light Horse Regiment and joined them in the field when they were encamped near the village of Zgarta, Libya, in November 1918. While news of the armistice had been already been received, troops were still required for garrison duties, remaining in the field for some months and later at Moascar where the Light Horse regiments remained on duty to quell any further unrest associated with the Egyptian uprising. Dalton returned to life on Minjerribah as an oysterman, and married Elizabeth Kearns. His parents and some of his siblings had been removed from the island and placed in Aboriginal Missions in the 1920s, as was Horace and his family, to Taroom. Horace was able to return to the coast in the 1930's once again earning a living from the sea. He died at a relatively young age of 57 leaving behind his young son Ken, and was unceremoniously buried at the Ipswich Cemetery. In later years his life and service have been honoured by the RSL and his community, his grave is marked with the Rising Sun for all to observe and commemorate.
