{{Short description|British Army general (1880–1963)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} {{Infobox military person |honorific_prefix = Major-General |name = Thomas Dalby |honorific_suffix = {{post-nominals|country=GBR|size=100%|CB|DSO}} |image = |caption = |nickname = |birth_date = {{birth date|1880|1|13|df=yes}} |birth_place = London, Middlesex, England<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.ancestry.co.uk/genealogy/records/thomas-gerald-dalby-24-9lsm2|title=Thomas Gerald Dalby 1880–1963 – Ancestry|website=www.ancestry.co.uk}}</ref> |death_date = {{death date and age|1963|3|14|1880|1|13|df=yes}} |death_place = |burial_place = |allegiance = United Kingdom |branch = British Army |service_years = 1899–1937<br/>1939 |rank = Major-General |service_number = 22544 |unit = King's Royal Rifle Corps |commands = 18th Infantry Division<br/>3rd Infantry Brigade<br/>2nd Battalion, King's Royal Rifle Corps |battles = Second Boer War<br/>First World War<br/>Second World War |awards = Companion of the Order of the Bath<br/>Distinguished Service Order<br/>Mentioned in Despatches (4) |other_work = }} Major-General '''Thomas Gerald Dalby''', {{postnominals|country=GBR|size=100%|sep=,|CB|DSO}} (13 January 1880 – 14 March 1963) 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.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=27068|date=4 April 1899|page=2229}}</ref>{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=76}} He saw service during the Second Boer War, where he was wounded, later campaigned in Somaliland in 1904.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=76}}
Dalby's service in the First World War was recognised when he was awarded the Distinguished Service Order in the 1917 New Year Honours.<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=29886|date=29 December 1916|page=21|supp=y}}</ref> Additionally, he was mentioned in dispatches four and was wounded twice, and married in 1917.{{sfn|Smart|2005|p=77}} 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,<ref>{{London Gazette|issue=33723|date=5 June 1931|page=3654}}</ref> became commander of 3rd Infantry Brigade in 1931.<ref name=generals.dk>{{cite web|url=http://www.generals.dk/general/Dalby/Thomas_Gerald/Great_Britain.html|title=Dalby, Thomas Gerald|publisher=Generals.dk|accessdate=26 May 2020}}</ref> He was appointed a Companion of the Order of the Bath in the 1936 Birthday Honours<ref>{{London Gazette |issue=34296|date=19 June 1936|page=3998|supp=y}}</ref> before retiring in 1937.<ref name=generals.dk/>
Dalby was briefly recalled to become the first General Officer Commanding 18th Infantry Division, which was then based in the UK, in September 1939 before returning to retirement in November 1939.<ref name=generals.dk/>
==References== {{Reflist|30em}}
==Bibliography== *{{cite book| first=Nick| last=Smart| title=Biographical Dictionary of British Generals of the Second World War| isbn=1844150496| year=2005| location=Barnesley| publisher=Pen & Sword}}
==External links== *[https://generals.dk/general/Dalby/Thomas_Gerald/Great_Britain.html Generals of World War II]
{{s-start}} {{s-mil}} {{s-new|command}} {{s-ttl|title=GOC 18th Infantry Division|years=September–November 1939}} {{s-aft|after=Bernard Paget}} {{s-end}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Dalby, Thomas}} Category:1880 births Category:1963 deaths Category:Companions of the Order of the Bath Category:Companions of the Distinguished Service Order Category:King's Royal Rifle Corps officers Category:British Army generals of World War II Category:British Army personnel of World War I Category:British Army major generals Category:People educated at Eton College Category:Graduates of the Royal Military College, Sandhurst Category:British Army personnel of the Second Boer War Category:Military personnel from London