A Great War 1917 ‘Ypres’ M.M. group of four awarded to Corporal O. Daley, 12th Field Ambulance, Australian Army Medical Corps, Australian Imperial Force

Military Medal, G.V.R. (1220 Cpl. O. Daley. 12/F.A. Aust: A.M.C.); 1914-15 Star (1220 Pte. O. Daley. A.M.C. A.I.F.); British War Medal 1914-20 (1220 T/S/Sgt. O. Daley. A.M.C. A.I.F.); Victory Medal 1914-19 (1220 T-S-Sjt O. Daley. 2 A.S.H. A.I.F.) mounted for wear, generally nearly very fine or better (4) £700-900

M.M. London Gazette 4 February 1918. Daley was twice recommended for the M.M., firstly on 3 October 1917, and then on 29 October 1917, the original recommendations state:

‘This man on 29th September 1917 at Bellewaarde Ridge, east of Ypres, rendered excellent service when in charge of squads evacuating wounded to the rear. Only a limited number of squads were at his disposal and the number to evacuate was great, but this N.C.O. by his tact and personal example was able to help the over-fatigued bearers until all wounded were evacuated.’

‘This N.C.O. in the operations east of Ypres on 14th October 1917 showed great courage, energy and initiative in organising squads for the evacuation of wounded. As N.C.O. in charge of a bearer subdivision he was fearless and indefatigable. At 7 p.m. on the date mentioned at Zonnebeke, he by his personality encouraged the exhausted bearers, in a particularly difficult sector, to continue carrying thus tiding over a situation which threatened to become serious.’

Owen Daley was born in Carlton, Victoria, Australia. He enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force, 10 September 1914. He embarked with the 2nd Australian Stationary Hospital in the S.S. Kyarra for Gallipoli in April 1915. He subsequently transferred to the 12th Field Ambulance Australian Army Medical Corps and embarked for France, 12 October 1916.

Daley advanced to Corporal, and was awarded his M.M. for his gallantry in charge of a stretcher bearer subdivision in the Ypres sector, 1917. He returned to Australia in S.S. Port Macquaric in March 1918. Daley died 23 October 1972.