FREDERICK DALY

On 25 September 1916, Lieutenant Frederick Daly of the New Zealand Field Artillery was killed in action. He had been born in County Cork, Ireland in 1886, and was the only professional soldier of this group of men, having served in an artillery unit in India before coming to New Zealand. He volunteered for war service immediately war was declared, and promoted to Sergeant on the strength of his previous background. He served in Gallipoli and was promoted to Regimental Sergeant Major for the 1st Brigade of the New Zealand Field Artillery unit in July 1915 before being commissioned a month later as Temporary Second Lieutenant. This rank was confirmed in October 1915. He moved to France in May 1916 and in August was promited to full Lieutenant in August 1916. It is possible he was killed in an artillery duel German artillery and between his 4th Brigade guns, which were acting in support of New Zealand attacks on that day. His actions in Gallipoli were such that he was mentioned in Sir Douglas Haig's despatches, published in the Supplement to the London Gazette on 1 June 1917. According to the “Personal Notes” section in The Press on 10 October 1916, he had served in Gallipoli with some distinction. “Lieutenant Daly was a real soldier, as in his letters to his mother, what would have been tragic episodes were always of a humorous character.” He is erroneously referred to as “Frank” on a commemorative plaque in the Papanui Methodist Church and in some documents on his military record.

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