NEW ZEALAND MOUNTED RIFLES
Tpr. Roy Dalrymple

(1898-1957 aged 59)

 Wellington Mounted Rifles, 6th Squadron (Manawatu)


Trooper Roy Dalrymple of Bull's New Zealand, samples some local customs on arrival in Egypt in 1914.

Site Map

Roy Dalrymple

Prior to departure as a young man.

Roy Dalrymple

While on Active Service 1914

Gallipoli takes its toll.

by Greg Bradley

Pictures and letter kindly supplied by Helen Tobin, Roy's Daughter. Thanks Helen.

Roy Dalrymple was born in Wanganui, NZ. He was the son of a local farmer John Taylor Dalrymple (1840-1904), who together with his wife Mrs. Margaret Dalrymple (1851-1920) farmed the property known as Waitatapia, Parawanui, in the Rangitikei district which is still farmed today by his decedents . Roy had 2 brothers John and Ken and a sister Maggie that was often referred to as Miss Meg. (Royal Red Cross Medal, Nurse)

Roy enlisted in the Wellington Mounted Rifles and left for the war as a single man. He left with the Main Body of men onboard N.Z.T No.4 the S.S. Tahiti. Like the other Mounteds, Roy's baptism of fire would come on Gallipoli.

Roys letter to his mother details some action that took place at Table Top and Hill 971. It also describes the blinding of Clutha McKenzie,  the injuries and deaths of many Mounteds and the eventual wounding of Roy himself. Roy convalesced  in Horton Hospital and eventually returned to active service in France. Roy's letter was used by Major Fred Waite in the book "The New Zealanders in Gallipoli", (see Page 208, The Capture of Table Top, and compare it to page 3 and 4 of the letter). The letter is reproduced here without alterations.

Below are the rest of Roy's Pictures. As Roy was sent to France after Gallipoli these photos would indicate that they were taken between 4th December 1914 and 8th May 1915. Can anyone identify where these pictures were taken? IS it the Sweetwater Canal? Go to the discussions page if you think you know more!