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When Britain entered World War II in September 1939, Dale Electric faced sudden upheaval, with a full order book quickly turning empty as clients cancelled jobs in the uncertainty of wartime. Leonard’s only apprentice, Jack Ward, was called up by the Royal Navy. Despite receiving call-up papers to join the Royal Air Force, Leonard’s asthma exempted him from service. Instead, he contributed through essential civilian work, including wiring farms for increased food production under the government’s Dig for Victory campaign.
Source: Imperial War Museum https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/27692
Leonard’s reputation grew as he reliably sourced electrical materials and delivered innovative solutions despite wartime shortages. The war tested his resilience and adaptability, but it also opened new opportunities that would define Dale Power Solutions’ legacy.
Pictured: Leonard Dale in 1939 on the doorstep of his newly purchased home.
Leonard had initially sought employment, with a role as Foreman Engineer at the British Power Boat Company in Southampton. However, his skills were soon in high demand closer to home. When contacted by the Hunmanby Engineering Company to fix an electric motor critical to munitions production, Leonard resolved the issue in just ten minutes. Recognising the importance of such repairs, he decided to remain local and persevere with his business, supporting Britian’s essential wartime infrastructure.
The North Yorkshire coast became a restricted area during the war, hosting RAF training grounds, military camps, and requisitioned properties. The Air Ministry called upon Leonard to rewire hotels, halls, and Butlin’s Holiday Camp in Filey for advanced equipment, such as aptitude test setups and Link Trainer simulators. Leonard’s most ambitious project involved fitting 1,300 electric sockets at Scarborough Spa to accommodate wartime needs.
In October 1941, while wiring a new Hunmanby Engineering building, Leonard noticed a boy curiously observing his work. The boy was Geoffrey Race, who was just 14 years old. Geoffrey soon asked Leonard to take him on as an apprentice. Geoffrey’s positive attitude and willingness to assist at all hours made him indispensable. Together Leonard and Geoffrey could expand beyond wiring jobs, taking on more complex tasks like the maintenance and repair of generating sets. This set the stage for subsequent post-war ventures, as well as Dale Power Solutions’ today, where service and maintenance remain central to the business.
Pictured: Dale Electric’s display at the 1950 Yorkshire Agricultural Society Show (Malton), highlighting the transition into generating sets.
One pivotal moment came in November 1941, when a fire damaged the generating set at Spink & Sons’ poultry farm in Hunmanby. Dale Electric’s innovative repairs ensured power for their grass-drying plant, critical to producing nutrient-rich feed. With components and spare parts scarce, Leonard and Geoffrey began fabricating their own relays and transformers, salvaging and reusing parts wherever possible. This success and others like it cemented his reputation for reliability and problem-solving during challenging times.
As demand grew with an influx of government contracts, Leonard partnered with Peter Corner, a skilled machinist from Cayton Bay. They established Dale & Corner Ltd., producing tail adapters for mortar bombs, fuse disks for shells, and rollers for Bailey Bridges. At its peak, the operation employed over 30 machinists, including women, who all worked around the clock.
By 1944 the war’s end was in sight, and Leonard dissolved his partnership with Corner to focus on rebuilding his core business. Now with a team to work alongside him, Leonard was tasked with reconverting hotels and holiday camps back to their civilian states.
World War II introduced unique challenges to Leonard Dale’s early business efforts while also providing opportunities for him to contribute to the war effort, from essential civilian work to munitions manufacturing. Wartime contracts facilitated Dale Electric’s first partnership, as well as an opportunity to recruit mechanists who would later remain in the business. Leonard’s contributions during this period exemplify the adaptability and ingenuity that continue to define Dale Power Solutions. As the company celebrates its 90th anniversary, the wartime years stand as a testament to its enduring values and pioneering spirit.
