Morpeth Herald 16/07/1915 carries a brief obituary:
" Mr J. Dalton, of Morpeth, has received the following notification of his son’s death at the front, from Captain Smail, of the 7th Northumberland Fusiliers:- “I have very bad news for you, being none other than the fact that your son (No.2223) [sic], Pte. G. Dalton, was killed in action on the 11th June [sic]. While my Company was keeping up rapid fire on the German trenches, in order to assist an attack in the vicinity, Pte. Dalton was struck by a piece of shrapnel on the head and very soon after expired. We buried him in the same grave as another Roman Catholic member of the Company – a Berwick lad – and his friends have marked the spot with a cross. Two of his friends took risks in attending the service. A lad with a quiet temperament, I always found him a good soldier and one who was very popular with the members of his platoon. Please accept my deepest sympathy in your loss – W.R. Smail, Capt., O.C. No.1 Coy 7th N.F.”
Colin McMillan has provided the following:
George Dalton was born in Alnwick in 1888. In 1891 the head of the family was 29 year old Jacob Dalton who was born in Morpeth and was married to 28 year old Bridget who was born in Stamfordham. George was 3 and had two older brothers: Patrick was a scholar aged 6 as was William who was 5. They lived at Scotland Gate, Bedlington.
There is a little confusion over the 1901 census document as George is listed above William and both are shown as being 15 years old. Compared to the previous document William’s age is correct but George’s is not – his age should be shown as 13. Their father, then 40, was a coalminer/stoneman and the three oldest boys, Patrick, William and George were all born in Alnwick and worked as coal miner drivers. The family had increased by the addition of five more children. Michael was 11 and born in Choppington. The four youngest, Robert (9), Jacob junior (6), Mary (4) and James (2) were all born in Morpeth. In 1901 they were living at 15 Sunniside, Bedlington.
By 1911 the two older boys, Patrick and William were no longer with the family but the rest of the children were still there. Their father and the next three oldest brothers after George all worked as coal miners. George himself was a brick layer in the building trade. James was still at school. The family had moved to Ashington and were then living at 89 Sycamore Street, Hirst.
Two of his brothers, Michael and Robert also died.
George Dalton is remembered at Morpeth on M17.01, M17.09, M17.17 , M17.29 and M17.31 and in the Battalion History
