Daniel Poole

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Daniel Poole
Born(1882-04-21)21 April 1882
Birkenhead, England
Died 13 August 1959(1959-08-13) (aged 77)
Sydney, Australia
Allegiance United Kingdom
Australia
Service/branch Royal Navy
Australian Army
Royal Australian Naval Reserve
Years of service 1909–1918
1939–1941
Rank Sergeant (AIF)
Petty Officer (RANR)
Unit 20th Battalion
Battles/wars

First World War

Second World War
Awards Distinguished Conduct Medal & Bar

Daniel Poole DCM & Bar (21 April 1882 – 13 August 1959) was an Australian soldier and sailor. On 15 April 1917, during the battle of Lagnicourt, Poole collected a party of men and led them forward under heavy fire, killing nine enemy and capturing fifteen prisoners. For his leadership and bravery he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. [1] [2] [3] [4]

Distinguished Conduct Medal United Kingdom military decoration for bravery

The Distinguished Conduct Medal, post-nominal letters DCM, was established in 1854 by Queen Victoria as a decoration for gallantry in the field by other ranks of the British Army. It is the oldest British award for gallantry and was a second level military decoration, ranking below the Victoria Cross, until its discontinuation in 1993 when it was replaced by the Conspicuous Gallantry Cross. The medal was also awarded to non-commissioned military personnel of other Commonwealth Dominions and Colonies.

Medal bar

A medal bar or medal clasp is a thin metal bar attached to the ribbon of a military decoration, civil decoration, or other medal. It most commonly indicates the campaign or operation the recipient received the award for, and multiple bars on the same medal are used to indicate that the recipient has met the criteria for receiving the medal in multiple theatres.

Battle of Arras (1917) British offensive during the First World War

The Battle of Arras was a British offensive on the Western Front during World War I. From 9 April to 16 May 1917, British troops attacked German defences near the French city of Arras on the Western Front. The British achieved the longest advance since trench warfare had begun, surpassing the record set by the French Sixth Army on 1 July 1916. The British advance slowed in the next few days and the German defence recovered. The battle became a costly stalemate for both sides and by the end of the battle, the British Third and First Armies had suffered about 160,000 and the German 6th Army about 125,000 casualties.

Contents

Early life

Daniel Poole was born on 21 April 1882 at Birkenhead, England, son of Richard Poole, baker, and his wife Anne, née Warburton. [1] Leaving home at age 11, he worked on a German sailing clipper. He arrived in Sydney in 1909, and subsequently worked as a marine stoker and served for five years with the Royal Naval Reserve. [2] On 13 August 1910, Poole married Mary O'Donnell, a domestic servant and together they had one son. Poole was described as 5 ft 8 ins (173 cm) tall, with fair complexion, blue eyes, fair hair and tattooed on both arms and shoulders. Before joining the army, he gave his trade as marine fireman. [1] [2]

Birkenhead town in Merseyside, England

Birkenhead is a town within the Metropolitan Borough of Wirral in Merseyside, England. Historically in Cheshire, it is on the Wirral Peninsula, along the west bank of the River Mersey, opposite the city of Liverpool. In the 2011 census, the Parliamentary constituency of Birkenhead had a population of 88,818.

Baker person who prepares and sells breads, rolls, biscuits or cookies, and/or crackers

A baker is someone who bakes and sometimes sells breads and other products made using an oven or other concentrated heat source. The place where a baker works is called a bakery. Bakers normally bake breads, cakes, pies, pastries and other general items made of flour.

Sydney City in New South Wales, Australia

Sydney is the state capital of New South Wales and the most populous city in Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Port Jackson and extends about 70 km (43.5 mi) on its periphery towards the Blue Mountains to the west, Hawkesbury to the north, the Royal National Park to the south and Macarthur to the south-west. Sydney is made up of 658 suburbs, 40 local government areas and 15 contiguous regions. Residents of the city are known as "Sydneysiders". As of June 2017, Sydney's estimated metropolitan population was 5,131,326, and is home to approximately 65% of the state's population.

First World War

On 15 August 1914, Poole enlisted in the Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force to German New Guinea. Poole returned to Australia with that force and he was discharged on 5 March 1915. Like many other members of the expeditionary force, Poole subsequently enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 13 May 1915. [3] Poole was posted to the 20th Battalion, and that unit embarked from Sydney on 26 June 1915, on board HMAT A35 Berrima. [3] On 14 July 1915, he was promoted to lance corporal. The 20th Battalion landed at Gallipoli on 22 August and the unit took up a position at Russell's Top until evacuated on 20 December. [1] The battalion was taken to Egypt for further training and then moved to France, arriving at Marseilles on 25 March 1916. [2] He fought at the Somme and in July was involved in the heavy fighting at Pozières. On 16 August 1916, Poole was promoted to temporary sergeant, later confirmed on 1 December. [3]

Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force

The Australian Naval and Military Expeditionary Force (AN&MEF) was a small volunteer force of approximately 2,000 men, raised in Australia shortly after the outbreak of the First World War to seize and destroy German wireless stations in German New Guinea in the south-west Pacific. Britain required the German wireless installations to be destroyed because they were used by Vice-Admiral Maximilian von Spee's German East Asian Cruiser Squadron, which threatened merchant shipping in the region. Following the capture of German possessions in the region, the AN&MEF provided occupation forces for the duration of the war. New Zealand provided a similar force for the occupation of German Samoa.

German New Guinea colonial protectorate from 1884–1914

German New Guinea consisted of the northeastern part of the island of New Guinea and several nearby island groups and was the first part of the German colonial empire. The mainland part of the territory, called Kaiser-Wilhelmsland, became a German protectorate in 1884. Other island groups were added subsequently. New Pomerania, the Bismarck Archipelago, and the northern Solomon Islands were declared a German protectorate in 1885; the Caroline Islands, Palau, and the Mariana Islands were bought from Spain in 1899; the protectorate of the Marshall Islands was bought from Spain in 1885 for $4.5 million by the 1885 Hispano-German Protocol of Rome; and Nauru was annexed to the Marshall Islands protectorate in 1888.

First Australian Imperial Force Australian Army expeditionary force during World War I

The First Australian Imperial Force was the main expeditionary force of the Australian Army during World War I. It was formed on 15 August 1914, following Britain's declaration of war on Germany, initially with a strength of one infantry division and one light horse brigade. The infantry division subsequently fought at Gallipoli between April and December 1915, being reinforced by a second division which was later raised, as well as three light horse brigades. After being evacuated to Egypt the AIF was expanded to five infantry divisions, which were committed to the fighting in France and Belgium along the Western Front in March 1916. A sixth infantry division was partially raised in 1917 in the United Kingdom, but was broken up and used as reinforcements following heavy casualties on the Western Front. Meanwhile, two mounted divisions remained in the Middle East to fight against Turkish forces in the Sinai and Palestine.

On 15 April 1917, during the battle of Lagnicourt, Poole gathered a party of volunteers and led them forward under heavy fire, killing nine enemy and capturing fifteen others. For his leadership and bravery he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal. [1] [3] [4] Four days later, on 19 April, he was wounded and evacuated. The award was gazetted on 18 June 1917, with the citation: [5]

1422 Sgt. D. Poole, Infy.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. He collected a party of men and gallantly led them forward under heavy fire, inflicting many casualties on the enemy and capturing 15 prisoners.

Poole returned to his battalion on 7 September 1917 and he took part in the battle of Menin Road in Belgium. Near Westhoek on 20 September,as the barrage moved across the Hanabreek water course, machine guns in Hannabeek wood came into action and the front wave became slightly disorganised. Major A.K Hosking, M.C. quickly rallied the men in his immediate vicinity and was moving forward with them towards the wood when he was killed by a piece of shell. Many stirring deeds were of the order of the moment, but the berserk spirit of Sergt. D. Poole, D.C.M. appears to have stood out alone, no less than 5 machine guns in Hanabeek wood falling to him. He was the leading spirit in the clearing of the wood. Poole then noticed an enemy machine-gun which had come into action after the barrage and first wave had passed. He rushed the post single handed, captured the gun, killed the crew and took prisoner a large number of men emerging from the pill-box. [1] [4] Although the battalion recommendation was for award of the Victoria Cross, for what was called "reckless leadership", Poole received a Bar to his Distinguished Conduct Medal. [1] [2] [3] On the same day Poole was wounded again and evacuated to Australia, arriving there on 11 January 1918. [3] The Bar was gazetted on 6 February 1918, the citation read: [6]

Belgium Federal constitutional monarchy in Western Europe

Belgium, officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a country in Western Europe. It is bordered by the Netherlands to the north, Germany to the east, Luxembourg to the southeast, France to the southwest, and the North Sea to the northwest. It covers an area of 30,688 square kilometres (11,849 sq mi) and has a population of more than 11.4 million. The capital and largest city is Brussels; other major cities are Antwerp, Ghent, Charleroi and Liège.

Westhoek (region)

Westhoek or Maritime Flanders is a region in Belgium and France and includes the following areas:

  1. Belgian Westhoek including the West Flanders arrondissements of Diksmuide, Ypres, and Veurne including the cities of Veurne, Poperinge, Wervik, Ypres, De Panne, Langemark-Poelkapelle, Diksmuide and Koekelare. However, the three Belgian coast municipalities of De Panne, Koksijde, and Nieuwpoort are frequently considered a separate region known as the Belgian or Flemish West Coast (Westkust).
  2. French Westhoek, roughly the arrondissement of Dunkirk, including the cities of Dunkirk, Gravelines, and Hazebrouck, itself part of a larger area known as French Flanders.
Victoria Cross highest military decoration awarded for valour in armed forces of various Commonwealth countries

The Victoria Cross (VC) is the highest and most prestigious award of the British honours system. It is awarded for gallantry "in the presence of the enemy" to members of the British Armed Forces. It may be awarded posthumously. It was previously awarded to Commonwealth countries, most of which have established their own honours systems and no longer recommend British honours. It may be awarded to a person of any military rank in any service and to civilians under military command although no civilian has received the award since 1879. Since the first awards were presented by Queen Victoria in 1857, two-thirds of all awards have been personally presented by the British monarch. These investitures are usually held at Buckingham Palace.

1422 Sjt. D. Poole, Infy.

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. This N.C.O. noticing an enemy machine gun which had come into action after the barrage and first wave had passed, immediately rushed the post single-handed, captured the gun, killed the crew, and took prisoners a large number of the enemy emerging from the pill-box. But for the action of this N.C.O., a large number of casualties would have been caused and the advance held up. (D.C.M. gazetted 18th June, 1917.)

Post-war and later life

Poole was discharged from the Australian Imperial Force on 10 August 1918. [2] He then returned to his work as a seaman working for McIlwraith, McEacharn & Co and from 1937, the Adelaide Steamship Company. On 25 October 1939, Poole reported for duty on mobilisation of the Royal Australian Naval Reserve. He was allocated to HMAS Manoora, an armed merchant cruiser, as a petty officer stoker. After service in Australian, Papuan, New Guinea and South-West Pacific waters, Poole was discharged as medically unfit on 28 November 1941. He died in Sydney on 28 July 1959 and was cremated after an Anglican service. He was survived by his son. [1]

Able seaman unlicensed member of the deck department of a merchant ship

An able seaman (AB) is a naval rating of the deck department of a merchant ship with more than two years' experience at sea and considered "well acquainted with his duty". An AB may work as a watchstander, a day worker, or a combination of these roles. Once a sufficient amount of sea time is acquired, then the AB can apply to take a series of courses/examinations to become certified as an officer.

Malcolm McEacharn Australian politician

Sir Malcolm Donald McEacharn was Mayor of Melbourne from 1897 to 1900. He was a well-known Australian shipping magnate in the early part of the twentieth century and successfully stood for the Division of Melbourne at the inaugural federal election, held in 1901.

Adelaide Steamship Company Australian shipping company

The Adelaide Steamship Company was formed by a group of South Australian businessmen in 1875. Their aim was to control the transport of goods between Adelaide and Melbourne and profit from the need for an efficient and comfortable passenger service. For its first 100 years, the company's main activities were conventional shipping operations on the Australian coast, primary products, consumer cargoes and extensive passenger services.

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References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 Foldi, N.S. (1978). Poole, Daniel (1882–1959)'. Australian Dictionary of Biography, Volume 11, Melbourne University Press, p. 255. Retrieved on 9 August 2009.
  2. 1 2 3 4 5 6 Daniel Poole (2009). New South Wales State Government: About NSW. Retrieved on 9 August 2009
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 Daniel Poole (2008). University of New South Wales: The AIF Project. Retrieved on 9 August 2009.
  4. 1 2 3 Bean, Charles Edwin Woodrow (1933). The Australian Imperial Force in France 1917, Vol. 4, Angus & Robertson, Sydney. OCLC   59249704. ISBN   9780702217005.
  5. ↑ "No. 30135". The London Gazette (Supplement). 15 June 1917. p. 6015.
  6. ↑ "No. 30512". The London Gazette (Supplement). 5 February 1918. p. 1726.
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