Joseph Hartley Daniel

Rank:

Private

Regimental number:

1263353

Unit at enlistment:

Canadian Army Medical Corps

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Birth country:

U.S.A.

Birth county:

Santa Clara

Birth city:

Stanford, California

Address at enlistment:

124 George Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

124 George Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Salesman

Employer:

Howie and Feely

Religious denominations:

Methodist

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Letters and documents

BX September 10, 1915

Landed Safe In Old Land – Joe Daniels, C.A.M.C. Had Fine Trip Across The Ocean

Joseph Harlley Daniel, late president of the Epworth league of The First Methodist Church, Wellington Street, and formerly employed with Howie and Feely is safely in England with Canadian Army Medical Corps. He left Niagara Camp with his unit on Aug. 7, and immediately on his arrival in England he wrote the following interesting letter:

Canadian Army Medical Corps
St. Martin’s Plains,
Shorncliffe, Kent County
England

Dear Cousin,

Arrived safely in Old England and as I have just 20 minutes, I will send a line or two across the sea.
From Montreal where we expected to take a boat, owing to reports of mines in the gulf, they took us to Halifax, 1000 miles further by rail. We took a sleeper from Montreal and went through Quebec, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia to Halifax. Now I can’t take the time to tell you all the ins and outs but believe me, it was some trip and we had a fine time all the way. The fashions and customs and country seemed funny to me. I hardly believed I was in Canada.

We landed in Halifax in the morning at 5 o’clock and were marched to the immigration building on pier No. 2, where we got our breakfast. We went on board the Metagama at11 a.m. and to our surprise found we had a first, second and third class steamer. The Medical Corps was given the first class staterooms and we all ate together. Our meals were good and we had a fine voyage, not very many being sick. I never missed a meal. I think I would make a sailor.

The last day and a half we were convoyed by two destroyers, and we had our life belts on, ready to jump into the water. I wasn’t frightened at all, and the last night when we were in the worst zone, my lifebelt was in the hospital where I was on duty, and I forgot to bring it to my room that night, but I slept just the same.

We landed at Plymouth and took the train to Shorncliffe, through Old London and it is the finest trip I took or ever expect to take. I won’t stop to explain here. We landed about 10 o’clock where lunch and bed awaited us. We have our quarters in a building that holds 34 men. There are 14 windows and two doors. There is a wood floor raised about two feet off the ground, and a rubber sheets. All these go to make a comfortable bed.

Aeroplanes are like Ford cars in Brantford, and Fords here, too. Our duties are not assigned yet, so I can’t say what we will be doing; only they say we won’t be here very long. I don’t know. It’s only a report.

Well I must close for now. Remember me to all as I can’t tell when I will be able to write, but will just as soon as I can.

Joe Daniels

BX October 10, 1918

Dr. J.W. Porter today received official word that his nephew, Private Joseph Hartley Daniel, had been wounded on Sept. 30 – gunshot wounds in right thigh. He has been admitted to the 56th General Hospital at Etaples. Joe formerly worked at Howie Feely’s in this city.

BX May 15, 1919

Returning by Royal George

Dr. J.W. Porter, 57 Chatham Street, has received information that his nephew, Private Joseph Hartley Daniel, reached Halifax by the Royal George and that he entrained May 14. Private Daniels has been gone from Brantford four years. He enlisted with the 58th Battalion. He has many friends waiting to welcome him. Private Daniels was on many fronts during his war career. He fought at the Dardanelles; he was at Alexandria in Egypt and in Italy. Just before the armistice was signed he was wounded and he spent 14 weeks in hospitals. Pte. Daniels was only 19 years of age when he went overseas, was employed at Howie’s Hardware and was the president of the Epworth League of Wellington St. Church.