| John Albert Edward Robertson Daley | |
|---|---|
| Born | 5 February 1898 |
| Died | 8 July 1918 (aged 20) |
| Place of birth | Kingston, Jamaica |
| Place of death | France |
| Allegiance | United Kingdom |
| Service/branch |
British Army Royal Air Force |
| Years of service | 1916–1918 |
| Rank | Lieutenant |
| Unit |
British West Indies Regiment No. 13 Squadron RFC No. 24 Squadron RAF |
| Awards | Distinguished Flying Cross |
Lieutenant John Albert Edward Robertson Daley DFC (5 February 1898 – 8 July 1918) was a British World War I flying ace credited with six aerial victories.[1]
Daley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of George E. Daley of New Market, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, and attended the Potsdam School.[2] He enlisted on 19 January 1916 as a private in the 2nd Jamaica Battalion, British West Indies Regiment,[1] and on 6 March 1916 he was confirmed as a temporary second lieutenant.[3] The same day he was one of 25 officers and 1,115 other ranks of the Third Jamaica Contingent who embarked on the SS Verdala at Kingston. Owing to the threat of German U-boats Verdala was routed to England via Halifax, Nova Scotia. En route it ran into a blizzard. Verdala was not properly heated and the soldiers had not been issued with sufficient warm clothing, causing 600 cases of exposure and frostbite, and five deaths. On arrival at Halifax 106 men were hospitalized.[4][5][6]
On 6 April 1917 Daley was appointed a flying officer (observer) in the Royal Flying Corps, with seniority from 27 December 1916,[7] serving in No. 13 Squadron.[1] On 27 December 1917 he was appointed a flying officer,[8] serving in No. 24 Squadron, flying a S.E.5a. Between March and July 1918 he shot down five aircraft and a kite balloon,[1] but was killed in action[2] only a week after his final victory.[1]
Awards[]
His award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted a month after his death.
- T./Lt. John Albert Edward Robertson Daley (formerly British West Indies Regiment.)
- This officer has destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and two kite balloons, displaying marked skill and daring in these several actions, and also in attacking troops close to the ground.[9]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 "John Albert Edward Robertson Daley". theaerodrome.com. 2014. http://www.theaerodrome.com/aces/england/daley.php. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 Jackson, Patricia (2014). "Commissioned officers from Jamaica died World War I". Jamaican Family Search. http://www.jamaicanfamilysearch.com/Members/who19_05.htm. Retrieved 21 August 2014.
- ↑ "No. 29643". 27 June 1916. p. 6418. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/29643/supplement/6418 Note: The London Gazette gives his name as "Daly" throughout.
- ↑ "Forwards nominal roll of the third Jamaica contingent of the British West India Regiment". The National Archives. 2014. http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/C10312366. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ↑ "3rd Jamaica Contingent, WWI, extracts from the Daily Gleaner". rootsweb.ancestry.com. 2014. http://www.rootsweb.ancestry.com/~jamwgw/3contin.htm. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ↑ Howe, Glenford D. (10 March 2011). "World Wars: A White Man's War? World War One and the West Indies". BBC History. http://www.bbc.co.uk/history/worldwars/wwone/west_indies_01.shtml. Retrieved 12 November 2014.
- ↑ "No. 30038". 27 April 1917. p. 4034. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30038/supplement/4034
- ↑ "No. 30486". 18 January 1918. p. 1060. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30486/supplement/1060
- ↑ "No. 30827". 2 August 1918. p. 9199. https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30827/supplement/9199
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