Lieutenant John Albert Edward Robertson Daley (5 February 1898 – 8 July 1918) was a British

World War I World War I (28 July 1914 11 November 1918), often abbreviated as WWI, was one of the deadliest global conflicts in history. Belligerents included much of Europe, the Russian Empire, the United States, and the Ottoman Empire, with fightin ...

flying ace A flying ace, fighter ace or air ace is a military aviator credited with shooting down five or more enemy aircraft during aerial combat. The exact number of aerial victories required to officially qualify as an ace is varied, but is usually co ...

credited with six aerial victories. Daley was born in Kingston, Jamaica, the son of George E. Daley of New Market, St. Elizabeth, Jamaica, and attended the Potsdam School. He enlisted on 19 January 1916 as a private in the 2nd Jamaica Battalion,

British West Indies Regiment The British West Indies Regiment was a unit of the British Army during the First World War, formed from volunteers from British colonies in the West Indies. Formation In 1915 the British Army formed a second West Indies regiment from Caribbean ...

, and on 6 March 1916 he was confirmed as a temporary second lieutenant. The same day he was one of 25 officers and 1,115 other ranks of the Third Jamaica Contingent who embarked on at Kingston. Due to enemy submarine activity ''Verdala'' was routed to England via

Halifax, Nova Scotia Halifax is the capital and largest municipality of the Provinces and territories of Canada, Canadian province of Nova Scotia, and the largest municipality in Atlantic Canada. As of the 2021 Census, the municipal population was 439,819, with 348 ...

. En route she ran into a blizzard. ''Verdala'' was not properly heated and the soldiers had not been issued with enough warm clothing, causing 600 cases of exposure and

frostbite Frostbite is a skin injury that occurs when exposed to extreme low temperatures, causing the freezing of the skin or other tissues, commonly affecting the fingers, toes, nose, ears, cheeks and chin areas. Most often, frostbite occurs in the ha ...

, and five deaths. On arrival at Halifax 106 men were hospitalized. On 6 April 1917 Daley was appointed a flying officer (observer) in the Royal Flying Corps, with seniority from 27 December 1916, serving in No. 13 Squadron. On 27 December 1917 he was appointed a flying officer, serving in No. 24 Squadron, flying a S.E.5a. Between March and July 1918 he shot down five aircraft and a

kite balloon A kite balloon is a tethered balloon which is shaped to help make it stable in low and moderate winds and to increase its lift. It typically comprises a streamlined envelope with stabilising features and a harness or yoke connecting it to the mai ...

, but was killed in action only a week after his final victory.

Awards

His award of the Distinguished Flying Cross was gazetted a month after his death. :T./Lt. John Albert Edward Robertson Daley (formerly British West Indies Regiment.) :This officer has destroyed five enemy aeroplanes and two kite balloons, displaying marked skill and daring in these several actions, and also in attacking troops close to the ground.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Daley, John 1898 births 1918 deaths People from Kingston, Jamaica British World War I flying aces British West Indies Regiment soldiers Royal Flying Corps officers Royal Air Force personnel of World War I Recipients of the Distinguished Flying Cross (United Kingdom) People educated at Munro College British military personnel killed in World War I