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Cork Daly, as Gordon was known, is mentioned on page 151 in "The Story of a Battalion; Being a record of the 48th Battalion A.I.F." written by W.Devine in 1919. He is also mentioned on the "Australian Remembrance Trail in France and Belgium"website: http://www.ww1westernfront.gov.au/bellenglise/visiting-bellenglise/hindenburg-outpost-line.php#

Taken directly from "The Story of a Battalion. Being a record of the 48th Battalion A.I.F." by W. Devine, 1919. Page 151

There too, poor Lunt was killed, the best known man in the Battalion and the hero of many fights both in the line and out of it, for he gave as much trouble to his friends as he did to the enemy. With Punch Donovan & CORK DALY and some others, he formed a small party that one learned to look on as essential to the identity of the 48th.
Throughout its career, from Pozieres to Bellenglise, they might be seen supplying their comic relief to the tragedy of every engagement. Colonels and adjutants might come and go, but it almost seemed that they must continue while the Battalion lasted. Always conspicuous in an attack, but as soon as the climax of that excitement had passed they sought fresh interest in the odd jobs that ensued from it. If prisoners were to be taken to the rear, the duty of escort was regarded as theirs by right, and many were the antics with which they performed the task.
They knew everything for they were everywhere, and seemed to have no regular duty but to be the emergency men of the unit.
They received decorations, and none were better deserved, but the same gypsy character which made them so useful to the Battalion as regular and irregular scouts, made promotion impossible. Authority was prudently tolerant of the latitude they gave themselves, and they seemed to want no further favour.
Lunt's career with the 48th came to an end opposite Bellenglise, and his comrades buried him and those who had fallen with him..... it was known that the unit had seen its last fight.

Gordon Aloysius Daly was born at the General Gordon Hotel, Adelaide on 1 July 1894. His father was the licencee, Patrick James Daly (1855-1913) and Mother was Anne (Annie) Teresa Daly nee Coleman (1865-1903). He had one brother, Francis Patrick Daly (1892-1947(?)).

He was 8 when his mother died 23 March 1903 at the Langham Hotel, Gouger Street Adelaide, that his father had just taken over as a licencee. His father remarried within months of Annie's death and Francis was "put out" to fend for himself. Annie's sister Elizabeth Galvin took Gordon in so that he didn't end up with the same fate. Elizabeth was already a widow with two sons of a similar age to Gordon and Francis.

Gordon had part of his service pay paid to his Aunty, and letters from her are in his service records requesting that she have his war medals after his death. She also had to raise the money to pay teh unexpired portion of his 5 year sentence when he was court martial for desertion in Dec 1917. Sadly Elizabeth's two sons also died as young adults without marrying. Only one of the three boys she brought up were alive when she passed away in the 1930s.

Gordon's brother Francis Patrick Daly had one son also named Francis Patrick Daly, who had one son named Francis Lowan Daly, who was the father of Linda Heather (Daly) Hay and Lisa Frances (Daly) Catalano. There are no records showing that Gordon ever married or had any children.

'Cork' Daly, as he was familiarly known, wan one of the most popular members of the 48th Battalion, having served in almost every engagement in which the battalion took part. Gen Leane, his commanding officer, stated that Daly knew no fear, and his magnificent bravery was the wonder of the entire regiment. In a Story of the Battalion by W.Devine special mention is made of the gallant exploits of Daly. (From Zeehan & Dundas Herald Tasmania, 1 Nov 1920)


His Death:
*An inquest was held on Wednesday into the death of Gordon Aloysius Daly 26yo,
which occurred at the Adelaide Hospital on October 23 1920. The City Coroner (Dr.Ramsay Smith) presided. Mr. C. R. Cudmore appeared tor the Returned Soldiers' Association, and Detective-Sgt. Whittle for the police.
Elizabeth Galvin, widow, of Halifax street, said Daly was her nephew (and foster son), and he had lived at the Returned Soldiers' Club since June 1920. He had not been in good health and suffered from the effects of the war. She might have seen him the worse for liquor on one or two occasions. Andrew David Evans, canvasser, of Morphett Street, said he had drinks with Daly during the day on October 19, and about 6pm went to the Billiards Room of the Austral Gardens. Shortly afterwards Daly went to his room, and an argument occurred between him and a man named Towner. There was a scuffle, and Daly was pushed down but got up and they were pulling hold of one another until someone separated them. Daly then appeared to slip on a stone. He fell down and could not get up. He was taken to the Adelaide Hospital by the police. Witness did not think either man wished to fight.
Stephen Henry Towner, caretaker of the Returned Soldiers' Club, said Daly gave him a little tap, which he did not take much notice of. He asked him what he was doing, and Daly said he was going to fight him. Witness told him not to be silly, and persuaded Daly to go to his room, but shortly afterwards deceased came out without his coat, vest, collar, or tie, and looked as if be wanted a fight. He made a blow at witness, who endeavoured to get him to stop fighting, and eventually pushed him away. Daly then fell and injured his ankle.
Dr. Shipway, of the Adelaide Hospital, said Daly, when admitted to the institution, was suffering from injuries to the right leg. On the second day he developed delirium tremors, and death was due to heart failure in delirium tremors, which was likely induced by by injury in a subject that had been indulging in alcohol. The injuries to the leg in an ordinary individual would be unlikely to cause death.
The Coroner recorded a verdict that the deceased came to his death from delirium tremors supervening on an injury to the right leg, accidentally received in a scuffle on October 19, 1920.
*Taken from The Chronicle and The Observer, Adelaide, 30 Oct 1920.