Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

NOK Mr. P DANIELS, West End, Brisbane, Qld.

Corps H.Qrs.
Australian Headquarters

The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK/Scotland/Ireland 

Died on this date – 7th December……Private John Daniels was born at Bethnal Green, London, Middlesex, England around 1864.

[**Due to insufficient information – it is not possible to correctly identify John Daniels in any of the England Censuses or when he came to Australia.]
John Daniels married Pollie Summers on 6th November, 1896 in Queensland. They had a son – Alexander Edward Daniels, who was born 3rd October, 1897.

John Daniels was charged with wife desertion in March, 1898 & pleaded not guilty. According to a newspaper report John Daniels left his wife on 5th March, 1898 & took the two children with him. (see transcript of newspaper items in my full research following link below) The Court ordered John Daniels to pay the sum of 15s. per week for the support of his wife & further ordered to pay Court costs, professional costs & witness cost.

John Daniels married Annie Elizabeth West on 18th November, 1911 in Queensland.

John Daniels enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (A.I.F.) on 16th August, 1915 stating he was a 47 year old, married, Plumber from Ipswich, Queensland.
On 5th October, 1915 Private John Daniels embarked from Brisbane, Queensland with the 7th Infantry Brigade, 26th Infantry Battalion, 5th Reinforcements.
Private Daniels was transferred to 12th Battalion on 1st March, 1916. He embarked from Alexandria on 29th March, 1916 on Troopship Corsican to join B.E.F. (British Expeditionary Force) & disembarked at Marseilles, France on 5th April, 1916.

He was transferred to 1st Anzac Corps School of Instruction in France on 5th May, 1917 from 12th Battalion.

Private Daniels was On Leave to England from 12th July, 1917. He was admitted to No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England on 20th July, 1917, whilst on Leave & was admitted due to Indigestion.

A Medical Report was completed on Private John Daniels on 13th September, 1917 at No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall, England. His age last birthday was listed as 53 years & his disability was listed as “Chronic Gastritis (?neoplasm) General Debility – Age”. Private Daniels’ disability has originated in April, 1917 at the Somme. The Medical Board found on 14th September, 1917 that Private John Daniels was permanently unfit for General Service & permanently unfit for Home Service.

Private Daniels was discharged from No. 2 Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall on 25th September, 1917 & was marched in to No. 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Dorset, England on 25th September, 1917 from 2nd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Southall. The Hospital Admissions form recorded that Private Daniels had been admitted to Australian Depot, Westham, Weymouth from 26th September, 1917 with “Overage. Neoplasm of Stomach”. His age was listed as 53 & an Xray report had been completed.

On 8th October, 1917 Private John Daniels was admitted to 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield for a skin graft (operation) after Burn. The Hospital Admissions form recorded “Do not advise keeping this man for skin graft; advise early transport.” He was discharged to Depot at Weymouth on 25th October, 1917 from 1st Auxiliary Hospital, Harefield.

Private John Daniels was admitted to Monte Video Camp Hospital, Weymouth, Dorset, England on 19th November, 1917 seriously ill – cause – N.Y.D. (Not yet determined). He was marched out to 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital, Dartford on 22nd November, 1917 for return to Australia on Transport Duty.

He was to be returned to Australia per Hospital Ship No. 1, leaving England on 25th November, 1917, for discharge due to Chronic Gastritis.

Private John Daniels died on 7th December, 1917 at Sea on board Hospital Ship “Karoola” from Carcinoma of Stomach.

A Communication from O.C. Hospital Ship “Karoola” to D.G.M.S., Australia on 10th January, 1918 stated that “no deaths occurred on the voyage from Capetown to England, but the following patients died on the voyage from U.K. to Australia:-…..” Private Daniels was one of seven men listed as having died on the voyage.
He was buried at Sea on 7th December, 1917 from Hospital Ship “Karoola” & is commemorated on the Hollybrook Memorial, Southampton, Hampshire, England – Panel 106 (Addenda) as he has no grave. His death is acknowledged by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

** Private John Daniels’ son - Alexander Edward Daniels – enlisted on 2nd August, 1915 as an 18 year old, single, Gasfitter from Ipswich, Queensland. He embarked from Brisbane, Queensland on HMAT Seang Bee (A48) on 21st October, 1915 as Private 3279 with 4th Infantry Brigade, 15th Infantry Battalion, 11th Reinforcements.

Private A. E. Daniels was transferred to 47th Battalion on 7th March, 1916 then transferred on 16th March, 1916 to Pioneer Battalion.

Private Alexander Edward Daniels was wounded in action in France on 2nd September, 1916 – G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) to side. He died of wounds at 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, France on 4th September, 1916 & was buried in Puchevillers British Cemetery, France.

(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/c---f.html

John Daniels married Pollie Summers on 6 Nov 1896 in Queensland. They were living at West End when their son Alexander Edward Daniels was born 3 Oct 1897. When he enlisted for the South African (Boer) War in 1901 and his details were published in The Queenslander, 13 Apr 1901, his N.O.K. was noted as Mr P. Daniels, West End. This was likely meant to be his wife Mrs. P. Daniels as shown in the Boer War Service Paybooks for the 6th QIB held by Qld State Archives.

He also served in WW1, Private S.N. 2350, 26th Infantry Battalion and he died from cancer while on active service. At the time of his enlistment in 1915 his Attestation Paper noted he was married to Mrs. A. Daniels and living at Ipswich, Qld. It is also noted on the Attestation paper his previous Boer War service in the 6th QIB. His first wife, Pollie, had died in early 1911 and he remarried Annie Elizabeth West on 18 Nov 1911. His son, Alexander Edward Daniels also served in WW1, Private S.N. 3279, 15th Infantry Battalion AIF, and died from wounds in France in 1916.

On John's WW1 service record file, page 47, it is noted that his wife Annie Elizabeth Daniels applied for a war widows pension which was granted also with an additional benefit on account of the death of her stepson Alexander Daniels S.N. 3279 during active service.

For a complete biography see "Biography of Pte Daniels by Cathy Sedgwick" attached to his WW1 profile.

(sources: AWM Boer War Nominal Roll, Murray p. 510; Qld State Archives- Boer War Service Paybooks 6th QIB Bk. 2 p. 37; National Archive Australia- WW1 service record).