Thomas Dalby

Thomas Gerald Dalby, was a senior British Army officer who saw service in three conflicts.

Military career

After being educated at Eton College and the Royal [Military College, Sandhurst], Dalby was commissioned into the King's Royal Rifle Corps on 5 April 1899. He saw service during the Second Boer War, where he was wounded, later campaigned in Somaliland in 1904.
Dalby's service in the First World War was recognised when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1917 New Year Honours. Additionally, he was mentioned in dispatches four and was wounded twice, and married in 1917. He became commanding officer of 2nd Battalion the King's Royal Rifle Corps in 1928 and, after being promoted to colonel in June 1931, with seniority dated back to September 1922, became commander of 3rd [Infantry Brigade (United Kingdom)|3rd Infantry Brigade] in 1931. He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1936 Birthday Honours before retiring in 1937.
Dalby was briefly recalled to become the first General Officer Commanding 18th [Infantry Division (United Kingdom)|18th Infantry Division], which was then based in the UK, in September 1939 before returning to retirement in November 1939.