HOW CAPTAIN DANIELL DIED

Dominion, Volume 10, Issue 2954, 14 December 1916, Page 7

HOW CAPTAIN DANIELL DIED

RESCUING WOUNDED COMRADES.

Thero arc numberless heroic deeds being performed at tho front, quite apart irom tho gallantry displayed in attacks upon tho enemy or in resisting the stral'o when ho endeavours to advance. Ono of the most tragic of these incidents' is connected with the death of Captain Groves Edward Daniell, of the 6th Battery, N.Z.F.A., recontly. reported." He was killed while heroically endeavouring,, with others, to rescue his injured comrades and prevent further disaster. A shell served to ono of tho guns prematurely exploded and set fire to tho cartridges in the gun pit. Tho gun detachment evacuated tho pit, but two of their number wero injured, and could not get away. Captain Daniell at once tools Lieut. Brookes, a sergeant, and four men to rescue the injured and extinguish tho fire. Ono of the disabled men hnd been got out, when a shell in the pit detonated, firing others m three adjoining pits. Captain Daniell, his lieutenant, sergeant, and three men wero instantly killed. Theso particulars are gathered from a lettor written to Captain Daniell's parents by Lieut.Colonel F. B. Sykes, Royal Artillery, who adds that he felt tho loss very keenly, as Captain Daniell was his captain in tho 2nd Battery on leaving Now Zealand, and was with him all through the Gallipoli campaign until promoted to command a battery. LieutColonel Sykes regarded Captain Daniell as a personal friend—a good comrade and keen soldier, who did his duty well. Ho was mentioned in Sir lan Hamilton's Gallipoli dispatches, and awarded tho Military Cross for his gallantry and skill.

Tho lato Captain Daniell was horn in tho Rangitikci, and was educated first at Fitzhorbert East School and then at Wanganui College. On leaving college ho obtained a position in tho N.Z. Loan and- Mercantilo Company in Palmerston North. "Soon after this ho joined tho Permanent Artillery in Wellington, and was stationed in Auckland for a time. On tho outbreak of the war he went into camp, and loft for Gallipoli with .the Main Body of tho' Expeditionary Forco as a captain in the 2nd Battery. Ho later went to France, where he was again doing good service.

Captain Daniell was a fine typo of young; New Zealander. Tall, strong, athletic, and clever. Ho was of a sunny cheorful disposition, absolutely fearless, and with plenty of vigorous initiative. Ho was or the stuff that good leaders are made. Ho had hosts of friends in Now Zealand, and among his comrades at tho front, who all sincerely deploro his tragic end, whilo fooling proud of tho heroic spirit which animated tho gallant young soldier.

Thoro are two brothers of the late captain in the Now Zealand Forces. One, Gunner Lawrio Daniell, of the Sixth Reinforcements, is in France, and tho other, Gunner Donis Daniell, leaves with tho Twenty-first Reinforcements.