Name
Reginald Morgan Daly
1880
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
13/04/1918
37
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Lance Corporal
G/40372
Duke of Cambridge’s Own (Middlesex Regiment)
18th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
PLOEGSTEERT MEMORIAL
Panel 8.
Belgium
Headstone Inscription
N/A
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Hemel Hempstead memorials, Eastbourne Roll of Honour, Eastbourne Town Hall, Sussex
Pre War
Reginald Morgan Daly was born in 1880 in Hemel Hempstead, Herts, the son of John and Virginia Daly. His father had been a serving officer with the 2nd Battalion, West Yorkshire Regiment when he married Virginia Page on 25 February 1869 at the Church of St John, New Town, Tasmania but had retired from the regiment by 1871.
On the 1881 Census the family were living in Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead when his father was described as an employer of young persons but with no trade, profession or calling. His father died in 1888 at Ivy House, Hemel Hempstead, leaving effects of £619 10s, and on the 1891 Census he was living at 39 Marlowes, Hemel Hempstead, with his widowed mother and siblings Amy and Lionel . His mother had been born in Tasmania and was living on her own means. His sister had been born at sea off Cape Town and was given the middle name of Britannia.
His mother died in 1895 at Ivy House, Hemel Hempstead with probate being granted to Reginald's brother Lionel (a medical student) and Ernest Wilkinson (solicitor) with effects of £1875 17s 6d. He then went to live with his sister Amy who had married Edward Horn, a poultry farmer. They were living at Copthorne, near Reigate, Surrey on the 1901 Census and Reginald was "Living on own means".
He married Susan Worsell in Copthorne, Surrey on 12 August 1903 and they had a son Reginald John born in 1904. On the 1911 Census the family were living at 120 Whitley Road, Eastbourne, Sussex when he was said to be living on "Private Means", although on enlistment he was said to be an Estate Agent's Assistant.
Wartime Service
He enlisted at Eastbourne, Sussex in November 1915 and initially served with the Royal Sussex Regiment (Reg. No. G/12599),
He was not called up until May 1916 and at his medical was found to have hammer toes and varicose veins and judged to be only fit for home service. However, he was sent to training and by September 1916 was transferred to the 16th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment and sent to France, being promoted to Lance Corporal. He was transferred to the 18th Battalion when the 16th Battalion disbanded in February 1918.
He was killed in action on 13 April 1918 during the Battle of Hazebrouck. He has no known grave but his name is commemorated on the Ploegsteert memorial, Belgium.
Additional Information
His widow received a war gratuity of £8 10s and pay owing of £6 11s 11d. She also received a pension of £1 0s 5d a week for herself and her child. She obtained probate of his estate on 27 December 1918 with effects of £3932 3s 7d.
Acknowledgments
Brenda Palmer
Jonty Wild, www.facebook.com/Middx18/posts
