Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

The Memorial Plaque to Sapper R. Daniels, Australian Tunnelling Corps, who was killed in action on the Ypres Salient on 27 November 1916, within a week of arriving on the Western Front

Memorial Plaque (Richard Daniels) polished, therefore nearly very fine £200-£240

Richard Daniels was born in London in 1894 and having emigrated to Australia attested for the Australian Imperial Force at Linda, Tasmania. A miner by occupation, he served with the 3rd Tunnelling Company during the Great War on the Western Front from 23 November 1916, and was killed in action on 27 November 1916, within a week of arriving on the Front. The unit War Diary for the date states:
‘Hostile activity in the Hill 70 area [in the Loos Salient] towards the last part of November was considerable. On 27 November 1916 while preparing to tamp gallery 21.DD, the charging of 17,500 lbs of ammonal having been completed, the enemy exploded a comonflet, which exploded our charge. Casualties were 1 Officer and 20 other ranks killed, and 8 other ranks mine gassed.’

Daniels is buried in Hersin Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He is the only man by the name ‘Richard Daniels’ recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission Roll of Honour.

Sold with copied research including a photographic image of the recipient.