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Guardsman. Daniel Daniels
British Army 2nd Batt. D Coy, Grenadier Guards
from:Burslem, Stoke on trent
(d.1st Sep 1914)
Danny Daniels, my great uncle, was born on the 20th November 1893 at No 3 Hot Lane, Burslem, son of Alfred and Annie Elizabeth Daniels. He was previously a miners wagoner and a 5th Batt. N. Staffords Territorial soldier, his enlistment with the Colours was in April 1913. He was shipped to France in August 1914 from Chelsea Barracks onboard the Cawdor Castle, leaving Southampton for Le Havre in France along with the 4th Guards Brigade was part of 1 Corps under Gen.Douglas Haig.
He then commenced the long march retreat from Mons seeing limited action even at Landrecies where D Coy 4th Btn were covering a bridge south of the town. Arriving at Villers Cotterets on the 31st August he was part of the rear guard action at the Rond dela Reine in the Foret de Retz that took place the following day. Along with his brother soldier Guardsmen he was killed either in the action to the west of the clearing with some of the Coldstream Guardsmen when the fighting in the dense undergrowth was very confusing or during the bayonet charge led by 2Lt Edward Cecil as reported in his excellent book 'Fifteen Rounds a Minute' by Major 'Ma' Jeffries. Danny now lies in the Guards Grave along with ninety eight other fatalities suffered during the action, whilst others remain undiscovered to this day in the surrounding forest. On a recent visit in November 2014 we placed a wreath on the anniversary of his birthday and said a small prayer to his everlasting memory. Sadly the date recorded on his gravestone is shown as the 20th September because this was when his death was reported back to 3rd echelon just after his body was recovered
