Have You a Tiger In Your Family?

Rank : Major

Army Number : 67124

Unit : 2nd Bn, 1st Bn

Biography :

Educated at Portora Royal School (Enniskillen, Northern Ireland) and Victoria College (Jersey), 'Dafty' Daniels was commissioned from RMC Sandhurst into The Leicestershire Regiment as a 2Lt on 30.1.1936. He was a fine rugby player. Served in 2nd Bn in Palestine and through to the Chindits in 1944. Promoted Capt on 30.1.1944. Was awarded the D.S.O. for his actions as CO 2nd Bn in Burma 5-13 Apr 1944 (L.G. 26.4.1945). Later served in The King's African Rifles, including in Somalia in 1950. Promoted Major on 30.1.1949. Coy Comd in 1st Bn in Iserlohn 1952-54. Retired on 11.3.1958. Ceased to be a member of RARO on 5.8.1970. On retirement served as an RO in HQ Northern Ireland, whereafter lived in County Cork.
He died in 1994, aged 78 years.
He was the godfather of Colonel M K Goldschmidt of The Royal Anglian Regiment.

Further information from Chindit's Awards:

Action for which recommended -

On 5th April 1944, Lt-Col Daniels was ordered to harass the road and railway NABA-INDAW about the village of PINWE, which was being used as a forming up area for enemy troops concentrating against the Block astride the road and railway at HENU.

His columns had just been engaged in fierce fighting on the shore of the INDAW Lake, and were ravaged by fever resulting from several days spent in the unhealthy marshes beside it. Leaving his sick in hiding with the task of guarding his animals and heavy equipment, Lt-Col Daniels with some 120 men set off for the area given.

For the next five days he gave the enemy no peace, laying ambushes, digging in on his communications, setting up decoy positions and attacking the enemy as he formed up against them. The number of enemy in the neighbourhood greatly exceeded his own force, and his orders explicitly stated that he was not to become involved in a major action, since his troops were needed for such action later.

Lt-Col Daniels carried out his task with such skill and judgement, that when ordered to withdraw on 13th April 44, he had accounted for not less than 90 Japanese killed, several lorries and other vehicles knocked out and their contents destroyed, for a loss of only 7 wounded, of whom 2 afterwards succumbed. The effect on the enemy of these operations was greatly to harass his preparations, and to cause him to tie up troops in the effort to disembarrass his rear. Throughout Lt-Col Daniels displayed high qualities of judgement and personal courage.

(Signed) B.E. Fergusson
Brigadier

Recommended By
Brig. B.E. Fergusson DSO
Commanding 16th Infantry Brigade

Honour or Reward

Distinguished Service Order
Signed By

W. Lentaigne, Major General
Comd. 3 Ind.Div.

G. Giffard, General
C-in-C 11 Army Group

(London Gazette 26.04.45)

Date of Birth : 19.12.1915

Place of Birth : Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland

Date of Death : 19.4.1994

Place of Death : Fermoy, Co Cork, Ireland

Civil Occupation : Retired Officer, HQ NI

Period of Service : 1935-58

Conflicts : Palestine, WW2

Places Served : Londonderry, UK, Palestine, Midle East, Ceylon, India, Burma, East Africa