User:Lochlan.kirk/sandbox

Colonel Frederick G Danielsen D.S.O

The purpose of this article is to note down the military career of Colonel Frederick Gustavus Danielsen D.S.O of the 1/6th Warwickshire Royal Fusiliers and The Territorial army and air force association of Warwickshire.

Early Life & Career

Frederick was born in the city of Birmingham in the UK on 24th May 1874 and there are very little known records of his early life before joining the service other than a short occupation as an export merchant.

On 8th of January 1896 Frederick joined the 1st Volunteer Regiment of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a 2nd Lieutenant at the age of 22. Over the next 4 years he had risen among the ranks to Captain, receiving his commission on 20th June 1900. As of April 1st Captain Danielsen and many other officers from the 1st Volunteer Regiment were appointed to the1/6th Battalion (holding the same rank).

A year before the outbreak of WW1 on the 27th August 1913, Captain Danielsen was promoted to Major and qualified as an interpreter of modern languages (French, Dutch and German).

WWI

Tuesday 4th August 1914 saw the 1/6th (and all other battalions) being mobilised to prepare for frontline combat. Following about half a year of intense training in drills, musketry and trench digging they landed in Le Havre on the 23rd of march 1915 and soon became part of the 143rd Brigade 48th Division.

For Major Danielsen and the rest of the Royal Warwickshire men the 17th of April saw them at the front line for the first time in the Douve trenches. During this time they alternated between 4 days in the trenches and 4 days in support at petit pont (along the Armentieres-Messines road), another 4 days in the trenches then to support at ''Jonesville''. Casualties were relatively light during this time occurring in ones and twos until they moved out of the area on the 23rd of June to train for two weeks around Auchel. Moving further south in July to Courcelles, staying in the surrounding area until June 1916.

The Somme

One month later was Major Danielsen's and many of his comrades first taste of full scale combat on the first day of the First Battle of the Somme, taking part in the great attack on the 1st of July 1916. At 7:30 am the attack was launched and the 1/6th attacked towards Serre right into the German line. Despite heavy losses they had made it to the 3rd German trench line by 8pm though were quickly routed and returned to their trench late in the evening with 436 other ranks and 10 officers killed or wounded.

During this time Major Danielsen was promoted to a temporary Lieutenant-colonel and is believed to have assumed command (previously Lt Col Walter H Franklin) of the 1/6th Warwickshire battalion during the fighting towards Thiepval. The Battalion moved around the Somme frontlines until January 1917 when they rested in Billets for one month behind the line.

By February they were back in the trenches this time at Biaches before Peronne. On the 4th Temp Lieutenant-Colonel Danielsen's Battalion repulsed an enemy raid at the cost of 37 men, then 4 days later, they led a successful counter-raid and captured enemy positions. Following this success they joined a force further south and moved through Driencourt and Longavesnes to Saulcourt. After a short but well deserved rest they moved to the front near Lagnicourt, staying until the end of June 1917 they moved behind the line for rest and training.

The End of Combat Service for Lt Colonel Danielson

Lt Colonel Danielsen was forced to relinquish his command (replaced by Lt Col A.J.N Bartlett) due to ill health which saw him hospitalised for a time, likely into mid 1918. During this time his work with St John's had him awarded with the grand priory of the order of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem knights grace level on the 11th July 1919.

He then returned to the Territorial force and received the territorial decoration in late 1919.

Inter-war & WWII

Danielsen remained in service of the Royal Warwickshire Regiment as a Lt Colonel until he was granted the title of Colonel by the Regiment in 1923, continuing his service in the home office and as of 1939 was the vice chairman of the Territorial Army and Air Force Association of the county of Warwick.

During WW2 Colonel Danielson continued his service with the territorial forces and saw no combat due to his age. Some time before late 1944 he had become the chairman of the Warwick territorial association. For his service he was decorated as a companion of The Order of Bath in the 1944 new years honours.

Medals & Awards

Below is a list of the various medals and awards presented to Colonel Danielson during his life:

• Distinguished service order, awarded during the 1917 new years honours (likely for actions at the Somme)
• The order of the hospital of St John of Jerusalem Knights Grace Level
• Companion of the Order of Bath (1944 new years honours)
• 1914-15 star
• British war medal
• Victory medal
• The Territorial Decoration
• The Belgian Order of the Crown 4th Class
• Legion of Honour officers level (France)
• The Order of Merite Agricole (France)
• The Order of the White Eagle (Serbia)

As can be seen this medal roll consists of many foreign orders which were likely awarded to Col Danielsen due to his knowledge of foreign languages as a staff officer.

Final years

It is not known if Colonel Danielsen still held his position upon his death at 76 on the 3rd of April 1951 in the city of his birth, though it is likely he had relinquished it after the end of WW2.

Known Family

Elizabeth Danielsen - wife, birth and death dates unknown

Major George F C Danielsen M.B.E - son, born 1913 Birmingham, died at sea off the Greek coast 23rd October 1943

Margaret Danielsen - daughter, birth and death dates unknown

Eila Danielsen - grand-daughter, birth and death dates unknown

References

photograph- the imperial war museum (name misspelt, Gustarus) - https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205293155

Birth, death and known family - find a grave website - https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/search?firstname=frederick&middlename=gustavus&lastname=danielsen&birthyear=1877&birthyearfilter=3&deathyear=1951&deathyearfilter=&location=Metropolitan+Borough+of+Birmingham%2C+West+Midlands%2C+England&locationId=county_11499&memorialid=&mcid=&linkedToName=&datefilter=&orderby=r&plot=

letter 3 of 3 from warwick regimental museum

All information regarding Colonel Danielsen's service provided by the royal regiment of fusiliers museum [1] and the Shropshire regimental museum at Shrewsbury castle

letter from royal warwick regiment 1 of 3

warwick regiment letter 2 of 3

letter from shrewsbury castle regarding medals and awards