Thomas Joseph Daly KBE CB DSO (1913 - 2004)

formative years

Thomas Joseph 'Tom' Daly III was born on 19th March 1913 in Ballarat, Victoria, Australia. He was the only child of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Joseph Daly DSO and Eileen Mary Mongovan. ^[1]

Tom Daly KBE CB DSO is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australia Australian Army 1930-1971, attaining the rank of Lieutenant General.
served in the Second World War and Korean War.

Initially desiring to study to become a medical doctor but not gaining sufficient marks for university entrance, Tom followed in his father's footsteps. He entered the Royal Military College, Duntroon, in 1930; graduating as top cadet in 1933 and subsequently being commissioned into the 4th Light Horse Regiment. He went on to serve with the British Army, on promotion to Captain, on India's North-West Frontier in 1938.

Second World War

On 23rd October 1939, shortly after the Second World War broke out, Tom transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force, Australia's overseas expeditionary force for the war, ^[2] being posted as adjutant of the 2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion, 18th Brigade, 9th Division. He served with the battalion and as Brigade Major of Major-General Sir George Wootten’s outstanding 18th Brigade in North Africa, becoming one of the Rats of Tobruk. He was Mentioned in Despatches, equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry, on 30th December 1941. ^[3] Later in the war, Tom was appointed commanding officer of the 2/10th Infantry Battalion, leading it in the Balikpapan campaign in Borneo. ^[4] He emerged, in the words of official war historian, Gavin Long, "with full marks – the outstanding CO of the [Borneo] campaign". Tom was appointed Companion to the Distinguished Service Order (DSO) ^[5] and Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE), ^[6] as well as being once more Mentioned in Despatches. ^[7] His DSO citation read:

"Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Joseph Daly commanded 2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion during the assault landing at Balikpapan on 1st July 1945, and during subsequent operations. This battalion was an assaulting battalion and had been given the vital role of capturing as quickly as possible a ridge which completely dominated the landing beaches and was the key to the capture of the main town and dock area. This feature was known to contain extensive and well prepared defences including a number of heavy coast AA guns. Prior to embarkation Lt Col. Daly had skilfully prepared from aerial photographs and other information an outline plan of attack which he initiated on landing. The attack succeeded after several hours of hard fighting during which Lt Col. Daly's vigorous and capable direction was most apparent. Subsequent exploitation by 2/10th Australian Infantry Battalion, including the capture of another ridge directly overlooking the town, was also vigorously and efficiently carried out. The successes of this battalion on the day of the landing were decisive and were due in no small measure to the courage, initiative and brilliant leadership of the Commanding Officer." His OBE citation read: "For distinguished service and marked devotion to duty, during operations in New Guinea. As GSO.I 5th Australian Division, this officer has constantly carried out his duties with vigour and exceptional ability. By his energy and tact he has imbued his staff with a team spirit and has obtained the best from all who have worked with him. His sound judgement, attention to detail, and lively foresight have proved invaluable to his commander. He is an active, versatile and outstanding officer."

After the war, in 1946, Tom married Heather Fitzgerald in Victoria. ^[8]

Tom's military service continued with staff appointments and a period as an instructor at the Staff College, Camberley. He attended the Joint Services Staff College (UK), followed by a posting to RMC Duntroon.

Korean War

In June 1952 Tom took command of the 28th Commonwealth Infantry Brigade – a formation comprising two British and two Australian battalions – then fighting in Korea. He was the first Australian to hold this command. He was credited by the Commonwealth divisional commander, Major General (later Field Marshal Sir) James Cassells with having helped to make the 28th the best of his three brigades and having 'led [it] with skill and style'. ^[9] Such was his service in Korea that Tom was appointed Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) ^[10] and Officer of the Legion of Merit from the United States of America. ^[11]

Tom Daly was promoted to Major General in 1959 and appointed Companion of the Order of the Bath (CB) in the Queen's Birthday Honours of 1965. ^[12]

Chief of the General Staff

Tom felt a "deep sense of personal loss when[-ever] he heard that an Australian serviceman had been killed in Vietnam".

Promoted to Lieutenant General in 1966, Tom Daly was appointed Chief of the General Staff and created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire (KBE) the following year. ^[13] The Army’s striking power was multiplied under Daly's watch after he argued successfully for the acquisition by the RAAF of heavy troop-carrying helicopters (the Chinook), thus improving the air mobility of infantry units. He successfully fought for the creation of the position of Vice-Chief of the General Staff and functional commands to replace the old geographical districts. He envisaged these moves as the first steps in an ongoing process that would see the Army, in the post-Vietnam period, adopt new training methods, not only in field operations, but also in logistics and administration. His overriding concern was to ensure that Australia had a highly trained, completely professional army that, though small, could rank with any other regular army in the Western world. He was a keen supporter of national service, believing that exposing civilians to the military was beneficial to the services and to society. Along with General Sir John Wilton, Tom Daly is regarded as the most notable of the post-war Chiefs of the General Staff.

Retirement

In retirement, from 9th July 1971, Tom devoted his time to the Australian War Memorial. He held the office of chairman of its council from 1974 to 1982. Throughout this time, he supported his director, Noel Flanagan, in breathing new life into the memorial and laying the foundations for it becoming the dynamic institution it is today.

He was also invited onto several company directorships.

Death and Burial

Sir Tom Daly passed away, aged 90 years, on 5th January 2004 in Sydney. He was survived by his wife of 57 years, Lady Heather Daly nee Fitzgerald^[14], and their three daughters, Betty-Ann (better known as B-A), Susan and Edwina.

His ashes are placed in the Pinnaroo Lawn Cemetery and Crematorium, Bridgeman Downs, Queensland. ^[15]