Thomas Daly

Thomas Daly served in the Commandos from April 1941 until April 1946. He was with the HQ of No.12 Commando until it was disbanded and then at the Holding Operational Commando, final rank attained Sergeant.

Richard Daly adds the following, "My Father was born in 1913 in Darlington, the 5th of six children of a master plumber (also called Thomas Daly) and his wife, Mary Catherine. As the second eldest son, he was sent away to a Roman Catholic seminary to train for the priesthood, but he decided this wasn’t for him, and started working in the law instead. He served 5 years as an articled clerk and qualified as a solicitor in 1938.
He joined the forces around the time war broke out. I remember him telling me that the soldiers he was with were lined up and told that a new unit had been formed, and was looking for volunteers. Dad was aware of the soldiers’ rule “Never volunteer”, but thought it had to be better than where he was, so put his hand up. Hence becoming a commando.
He recalled training in Snowdonia and Scotland, and I think a raid on the French coast; but mainly because of his background he was given administrative work, in particular for Lord Sysonby; and he worked with a corporal called Fred Hunt (who always sent an Association Christmas card, and who wrote to me after Dad’s death – see the enclosures). He would put proposals in to Lord Sysonby, who would return them, endorsed “I concur. Sysonby”. This became quite a saying for my Dad, to the end of his life!
He was demobbed in 1946, and went to work in a law firm in Doncaster, where he met my mother at a New Year’s Eve dance. They married in May 1949, and I was born in 1957, they having moved to Darlington shortly before this. He treasured his green beret, though it did look increasingly disreputable down the years. His Association wall plaque is still pristine, though.
Dad was a gentleman, and indeed a gentle man – most unlike the popular image of a commando, but I believe he was quietly proud of his service. I well remember visiting the memorial at Spean Bridge with him, and his sadness at the death of many comrades in the war.

Thomas Daly
b. 18-07-1913.
d. 29-07-2002.