Sapper James Daly

SAPPER JAMES DALY

5316 – 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company

James ‘Jim’ Stanley Daly was born in Daylesford, Victoria in 1886 the son of John James and Margaret Annie (nee Minihan) Daly. His military experience was gained with the Militia Reserve.

Shortly after war was declared the labourer applied to enlist for active service abroad at the Recruiting Depot in Randwick, Sydney, NSW on August 29, 1914 and passed the medical examination. Description of the twenty-eight year old on enlistment gives his height at 175cms (5ft 8¾ins), weighing 70kgs (154lbs), with a chest expansion of 92-100cms (36¼-39¼ins). Complexion was fair with blue eyes and had red hair. Roman Catholic was his religious faith. Next-of-kin nominated was his mother M.A. Daly of Vincent Street, Daylesford, Vic. The ‘Oath on Enlistment’ was signed and taken by him and his Attestation certified by Major David A. Storey.

Basic training followed in Sydney until he was assigned to ‘A Coy’, 4th Battalion on September 25, 1914 with the regimental number 680 in the rank of Private.

The 4th Battalion sailed from Sydney, NSW on October 20, 1914 on the transport HMAT A14 Euripides but Private Daly failed to embark. There is no record of discharge from service resulting from this nor was he noted for desertion.

About seventeen months later at Victoria Barracks, Sydney, NSW on March 22, 1916 the overhead electrical mechanic applied to enlist for service again. Personal particulars from the Application Form give his name as James Daly with his postal address as 72 Mary Street, Surry Hills, Sydney and aged thirty years. A notation on the form was that he was ‘to get a note from Major Storey on March 29.’ His height was recorded as 173cms (5ft 8ins). After passing the preliminary medical examination then re-examined and passed by the medical officer his application was accepted.

Attestation Forms were completed showing further details of his weight at 65.9kgs (145lbs) with a fresh complexion and blue eyes that passed the eye test with good vision and hair was ginger. Religion was Roman Catholic. A medical note said he had very slight varicose veins in his right leg. In lieu of his parents next-of-kin was his friend Beryl Swain of 205 Albion Street, City.

Basic training commenced and he was assigned on June 1, 1916 to the Mining Reinforcements at Rosebery Park, Sydney with the regimental number 5316 in the rank of Sapper.

He married in 1916 to Ruby Beryl Swain in Sydney, NSW and she became his next-of-kin residing at 184 Edgecliff Street, Woollahra, Sydney.

On July 5, 1916 he was transferred to their training camp at Seymour, Vic but on August 10 went to H.S.P.D. Base. On August 29 he was sent to Ascot Vale Isolation camp until September 2 when he was re-transferred to Seymour camp.

On September 30, 1916 Sapper Daly was one of 168 volunteers who departed from Melbourne, Vic on the troopship HMAT A23 Suffolk. The ship arrived at Fremantle on October 10 and departed the same day. The South African port of Capetown was reached on October 30 and after an overnight stay left the following day. The vessel arrived at Dakar, West Africa on November 15, 1916 staying in the harbour until November 20, 1916. After 64 days at sea the voyage terminated at Plymouth, England on December 2, 1916. The troops marched into No. 3 camp Perham Downs for further training for the front.

On New Year’s Day 1917 the Reinforcement proceeded to France from Folkstone on board the S.S. Arundel arriving at the Aust General Base Depot the next day. On January 12, 1917 Sapper was attached to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion which was an advanced section of the Base Depot that organised works near the lines and through duties, usually of ten days duration, would accustom the reinforcements to war conditions before being assigned to a company in the field.

He was taken on strength with the 1st Tunnelling Company in the field on January 27, 1917.

His civil career of overhead electric mechanic was more beneficial to the Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and was detached February 14 to their Unit and taken on supernumerary strength three days later.

Service continued until November 5, 1917 when he was admitted to the 3rd Aust Field Ambulance then sent to the 2nd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station after being wounded in action by a gas shell attack. He was moved to the 3rd Canadian Casualty Clearing Station then transported on A.T.22 to the 1st Canadian General Hospital at Etaples a day later.

The hospital ship Brighton took him to England on November 22 entering the Ontario Military hospital in Orpington for treatment of gas shell poisoning. Remarks on his case were:

Disease:Septal DeformitySub-mucus Resection 15/12/17 Breathing improved

Base Records advised Mrs Daly on November 25, 1917 that her husband had been wounded in action by effects of gas and gave his address for written contact. Further advice was issued on December 10 of the hospital he had been admitted to.

On January 7, 1918 he was transferred to the 3rd Aust Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford where two days later he was discharged to No. 3 Command Depot at Hurdcott. On February 9 he left for the Overseas Training Brigade at Deverill remaining until he proceeded overseas from Southampton on March 28, 1918 arriving at the A.G.B.D. in Rouelles. On April 1 he left to return to his unit rejoining two days later.

Service continued until July 11, 1918 when he went sick to the 8th Casualty Clearing Station and admitted with Infection to his right frontal sinus. On July 31 he was transferred to the 51st C.C.S. then returned to duty on August 7, 1918. Six days later he was re-admitted to the 8th C.C.S. with sinusitis (Inflammation of the lining of nasal membranes) and conveyed on A.T.9 to Wimereux entering the 32nd Stationary Hospital on August 18. On August 25 he was transferred to the 83rd General Hospital and later moved to the 2nd Aust General Hospital in Boulogne. He was transported to England on August 30 on the hospital ship Pieter de Connick and admitted to the 1st Auxiliary Hospital in Harefield with N.Y.D. (not yet diagnosed).

While at the Military Hospital he was at South Hall, Fort Pitt, Chatham where his Statement of Case reads from August 30 to September 6:

Disease:Frontal SinusitisOperation for defective Septum a week ago, now has

From X-Ray exam Nasal ? daily at Drill Hall

As a patient at Chatham on September 1, 1918 he was sent for X-Rays of his frontal and antral sinuses and the report stated ‘nothing abnormal seen.’ Following an Ophthalmic Specialist’s Report on September 3 it was stated ‘Glasses are needed.’ From September 7 to September 9 his Statement of case at the Dartford 3rd A.A.H. stated:

Gassed - Salubrious mucus of septum – still required douching

Gassed 29/10/17 Now fairly well. Debility class B16.

6 to 13th SeptemberFrontal Headaches – Rhinitis – nose discharge stopped.

On September 12, 1918 he was discharged to furlough and to report to the Harefield No. 4 Command Depot on September 27.

Administration Headquarters reported him Away without Leave on September 30 but Sapper had been admitted with N.Y.D. to the 1st Eastern General Hospital in Cambridge on September 24 while on leave.

He was in hospital when Peace was declared and was transferred to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on November 14, 1918 with Influenza. Four days later he was discharged to the No. 2 Command Depot.

As he had enlisted in 1915 was selected for early embarkation and departed as an invalid on December 10, 1918 on the hospital ship Somali for discharge in Australia.

Base Records advised his wife on December 15, 1918 that her husband was returning on the H.T. Somali which had departed on December 10 and was due to arrive about January 26, 1919. This advice and the tickets to the Anzac Buffet issued to his wife were returned to Base Records unclaimed.

Some confusion with the departure rolls followed, for Base Records on January 17, 1919 advised his wife that he was returning to Australia on the H.T. Takada which had departed on December 25 and Buffet tickets for the arrival issued to her. This letter was re-addressed to 36 Walker Street, Lavender Bay and also to 74 Liverpool Street, Paddington before being returned to Base Records unclaimed. Advice was sent by Form Card to Mrs Daly’s new address on January 21, 1919.

The Captain for the Staff Officer of Invalid and Returning Soldiers (S.O.I.R.S.) wrote to Base Records on January 28 enclosing four notifications issued regarding this man on both troopships and that Buffet tickets had been issued in both cases. Cabled rolls of each ship showed him recorded as returning on them. A thorough investigation was to be done and who is responsible as gross carelessness was possible with this.

On February 8, 1919 Base Records wrote to the 2nd Military District after receiving a cable that Sapper Daly was returning to Australia by the H.T. Somali and later a cabled report advised of his return on the H.T. Takada. When the Nominal Roll was obtained that morning his name was on the List as having returned and their office had no record there. They requested the correct regimental details of the soldier arriving on the Somali.

News of the ship’s imminent arrival in Sydney was reported in the:

After arriving the previous day he was examined by medical officers at the 4th Aust General Hospital, Randwick, NSW on February 15, 1919 for his disability of Bronchitis and his Statement of Case recorded these details:

Oct, 1917 Gassed – affected eyes, voice, chest – off duty 5 months

Then Bronchitis last two still

Jan, 1918Operation Nasal Septum then debility

Cause:Due to Military Service

Present condition:6/3/19 Cough much less – gaining weight 10st 7lbs - improving rapidly

Heart clear – Lungs nil def.

His dental check-up took place on February 18 at the 4th A.G.H. and was marked as OK. On February 18, 1919 it was recorded at Base Records that he did not return on the troopship Takada and had arrived on the Somali after an interview with Sapper Daly who gave his full regimental details.

Military Discharge was issued in Sydney, NSW on April 17, 1919 as medically unfit.

Following an investigation the 2nd Military District in Sydney advised Base Records on June 18, 1919 that the soldier No. 680 J.S. Daly, 4th Battalion was identical with 5316 J.S. Daly, 1st Tunnelling Company, Field Engineers. Soldier No. 680 failed to embark on the Euripides on October 20, 1914 and subsequently re-enlisted and embarked as No. 5316 of 1st Tunnelling Company who returned for medical reasons on Somali on February 14, 1919 and was waiting for the decision from the P.M.O. for discharge.

The British War Medal (55842) and the Victory Medal (54291) were issued to Sapper 5316 James Daly, 1st Tunnelling Company / Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company for serving his country.

His residence in 1930 was 5 Torwood Street, Ramsgate, Sydney and worked as an electrical mechanic but by 1933 had relocated to Bullecourt Avenue, Milperra with the occupation of mechanic where they continued to reside.

James Stanley Daly passed away on November 1, 1954 aged 68 years. Family notices appeared in the:

On July 24, 1959 the Solicitor acting for Probate of his Will, K.M. Slattery, of Rickard House, 84 Pitt Street, Sydney wrote to Central Army Records after being informed that execution of his Will took place on September 29, 1916 while he was on actual Military Service. He required a Certificate confirming that this took place while serving with the A.I.F. Records replied on August 11, 1959 enclosing the Certificate certifying the execution of his Will while on Military Service.

REUNIONS

Jim Daly was a member of the (Alphabet Company) Aust Electrical & Mechanical Mining & Boring Company and Tunnellers’ Anzac Day Reunion and his name and address is listed in their Roll Registers for newsletters of their annual function after the Anzac Day March in Sydney, NSW.

1928 5 Torwood Street, Ramsgate, Sans Soucichanged to Bullecourt Av. Milperra

Notation: Letter returned 6/2/30

1934 Bullecourt Avenue, MilperraDeceased 11/54

1960-68 Bullecourt Avenue, MilperraDeceased 11/54

© Donna Baldey 2013