Lt. Col John Daniel MBE MC – 85511
3 November 1918 – 2005
John Bertie Harris Daniel was born on 3 November 1918 in Cobham, Kent. His father owned a steelworks that went into liquidation in 1926 and young John’s early schooling was paid for by his godfather.
John went on to Bedford School where he was in the first team for cricket, rugby, fives and tennis, and in 1935 he won the Junior Boys’ Doubles event at Wimbledon. He attended the Royal Military Academy Woolwich where he represented the academy at golf.
John was commissioned into the Royal Artillery in 1939 and accompanied 1 Heavy Regiment RA to France and was evacuated from Dunkirk at the end of May 1940. He was subsequently posted to 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.
John went with the regiment to Africa in June 1942 and was promoted to the rank of Major in 1943 where he assumed command of 212 Battery of 111th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery. He fought with the Regiment across North Africa, Sicily, Italy and onto the Adriatic.
While taking part in the raid on Brac and Sarande, John won the Military Cross for his part in the battle. The citation for his award reads as follows:
“In the middle of September 1944, 26 Division Yugoslav National Army of Liberation invaded the German occupied island of BRAC, the largest of the central Adriatic Group.
From 15th to 19th Seotember 1944, Major Daniel’s Battery was supporting the attack of the 1st Dalmatian Brigade on SUMARTIN. During this period, Major Daniel made all artillery fire plans in the most trying and difficult circumstances, showing great initiative, he organised and co-ordinated the fore support of his own battery but also of a troop of Raiding Support Regiment 75mm’s, a troop of 3.7″ HAA guns in a ground role, and a Battery of Partisan Artillery. He also organised Bomber support for the Partisan Brigade using his own Rear Link Set until the arrival of an RAF set.
For the third and final assault on the stronghold of Sv. NIKOLA Major Daniel himself registered the targets, which involved a close shoot with Partisan Infantry 300 yards plus of the target on the reverse slope. When the enemy guns on the mainland opened fire causing casualties, Major Daniel obtained their location from a Partisan with local knowledge and conducted a shoot of the 3.7″ HAA guns onto them.
It was due entirely to his actions that the effective artillery support for the attack was provided. This resulted in the capture of Sv. NIKOLA. The Partisans reported over 100 German dead, mostly caused by artillery fire. Over 500 P.o.W’s in a shattered and demoralised state were taken. The Partisan Commander expressed to Marshal TITO himself the great effect of the British Artillery Support, conducted by Major Daniel.
At the end of September 1944, Major Daniel’s Battery was shipped from BRAC to SARANDE in ALBANIA to support HOUNDFORCE (two commandos and attached troops). The object of HOUNDFORCE was to capture the port of SARANDE and prevent the escape of the German Garrison in CORFU. The opposing forces considerably outgunned the British Artilllery. Major Daniel, as the local CRA organised the fire support of his Battery, the guns of the RSR, the guns of an LCF and a Destroyer and later of a HAA troop.
From 28 September until 9 October under extremely difficult conditions of terrain, climate and comms, continuous and effective fire support was provided for HOUNDFORCE and Partisan troops, which culminated on 9 October with a set-piece attack with fire plan co-ordinating all available guns of all calibres and services. This attack was successful, SARANDE captured and the enemy routed.
Throughout the whole operation, Major Daniel displayed judgement and skill of a high order, surmounting every difficulty in his was, undeterred by adversity”.
After the war in Europe, John went to Staff College, Camberley and held a number of staff appointments in the Middle East and Korea.
In 1957 he was posted to 61 Field Regiment as second-in-command before moving to the War Office as GSO2. One of a small, elite team, he wrote policy papers for the Chief of the General Staff and the Army Board.
John then served as DAA and QMG at HQ 6th Infantry Brigade Group in BAOR and was appointed MBE and the end of his tour. Promoted to Lieutenant-Colonel in 1963, he spent three years at HQ BAOR and then went to the MOD as GSO1. He retired from the Army in 1973.
John worked for the Institute of Chartered Accountants until he finally retired to a village near Dorking in 1981. He was Captain of Betchworth Park Golf Club from 1975-1976 and then served for many more years as a director. He was president of the Old Bedfordian Golfing Society from 1988 to 1999.
John married first in 1939 (dissolved in 1964) Claudia Gaye. He married secondly, in 1965, Lois Elerts. Dhe predeceased him and is survived by four daughters of his first marriage and two step-daughters.
John remained friends with others from 111th Field Regiment and spoke at the funeral of Major John Cutress in 2001.