Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

By Leonie Lamont
January 15, 2004

To Australian veterans of World War II, Korea and Vietnam, he was the "warrior chief" who traced his military roots to the last days of the Light Horse regiments.

To the anti-Vietnam War movement, Lieutenant-General Sir Thomas Daly was the chief of the general staff who told soldiers not to wear their uniforms on public transport, to remove a target for protesters' anger.

In his retirement, to broken men at the Matthew Talbot hostel he was Tom, a volunteer who helped clean them up from booze and brawls and organise a bed.

Yesterday, warrior chief, devoted family man and strong-of-faith Catholic, General Tom Daly, was farewelled at a requiem Mass with full military honours at St Mary's Cathedral. He was 90, and is survived by his wife, Heather, and his three daughters. His six surviving grandchildren walked beside the coffin as it was carried up College Street on a gun carriage used as a fighting machine more than 60 years ago..

About 800 mourners gathered at the cathedral, including 41 retired generals. Official guests included the Governor-General, Michael Jeffery, the acting Prime Minister, Larry Anthony, the Defence Minister, Robert Hill, and representatives from South Korea.

The Chief of the Defence Force, General Peter Cosgrove, said General Daly was "marked by greatness and humility, by the honours and plaudits of a marvellous public life and the simplicity and quietude of a close and loving family existence".

"General Daly epitomised the great leadership of a proud institution - loyalty, impeccable integrity, hugely morally courageous, and humane and compassionate . . . Only his family and very close friends will today know of the toll that his burden of leadership imposed over those long years from 1966-71 . . . I can only pray that the army does not need to undergo quite such a trial again."

Military historians suggest General Daly's public disagreement with then defence minister Malcolm Fraser, whom he believed had shown disloyalty to the service, cost him the post of chairman of the chiefs of staff committee.

A long-time friend, Monsignor Eugene Harley, former principal chaplain to the army, said General Daly was a man of faith, and service. He recalled an election day at Bondi in the mid-1970s: "On going to vote I saw a familiar figure in hat, coat and scarf handing out how to vote cards. On marking my surprise at seeing him there, Tom told me in his best clipped speech, 'It's no use saying you believe in something if you are not willing to stand up for it.' "

http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2004/01/14/1073877902418.html?from=storyrhs