Anthony Robert Daniell DSO, DSC, RN

Birth details unknown


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Ranks

16 Nov 1937 S.Lt.
16 Dec 1939 Lt.

Retired: 20 Apr 1945


Decorations

12 Aug 1941 DSC
28 Sep 1943 DSO

Warship Commands listed for Anthony Robert Daniell, RN


ShipRankTypeFromTo
HMS P 552 (P 552)Lt.SubmarineMar 19426 Aug 1942
HMS Seadog (P 216)Lt.SubmarineAug 19424 Dec 1942
HMS Unison (P 43)Lt.Submarine29 Dec 19423 Aug 1943

Career information

We currently have no career / biographical information on this officer.

Events related to this officer

Submarine HMS P 552 (P 552)


30 Apr 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
P 552 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed New London, Connecticut for St. John's, Canada.

1 May 1942
P 552 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) picks up 3 survivors from the Norwegian merchant Taborfjell that was torpedoed and sunk the previous day by German U-boat U-576 about 95 nautical miles east of Cape Cod in position 41°52'N, 67°43'W.


Submarine HMS Seadog (P 216)


22 Sep 1942
P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed her builders yard for Holy Loch. She was escorted by HMS Butser (T/Lt. A.F. Cameron, RNVR). (1)

23 Sep 1942
P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch to begin a period of trials and training. (1)

24 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted full power trials on the Arran measured mile following which she was commissioned at Holy Loch. (1)

27 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

28 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

30 Sep 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. (1)

1 Oct 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area. These were followed by night attack exercises with HMS Graph (Lt. P.B. Marriott, RN). (2)

2 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) returned to Holy Loch on completion of last night's exercises. (2)

4 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to the torpedo firing range at Arrochar (Loch Long). (2)

5 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (2)

6 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted torpedo discharge trials off Arrochar. (2)

7 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
Having completed her torpedo discharge trials, HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN), shifted from Arrochar to Holy Loch. (2)

9 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted telemotor trials in the Clyde area. (2)

10 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery and S.T.U. (mine detection) trials in the Clyde area. (2)

13 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted gunnery exercises in the Clyde area. These included night exercises. (2)

14 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted attack exercises in the Clyde area. (2)

29 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) shifted from Holy Loch to Loch Goil. (2)

30 Oct 1942 (position 0.00, 0.00)
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted noise trials in Loch Goil. These were followed by night exercises in the Clyde area with HrMs Dolfijn (Lt.Cdr. H.M.L.F.E. van Oostrom Soede, RNN). (2)

31 Oct 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises in the Clyde area.

[note; no logs are available for the period of November 1942 - February 1943.] (2)

5 Nov 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Holy Loch for Lerwick to depart for her 1st war patrol from there. Passage North through the Minches was made together with HMS P 312 (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) and HMS Trooper (Lt. J.S. Wraith, DSO, DSC, RN). They were escorted by HMS La Capricieuse (Lt.Cdr. G.W. Dobson, RNR).

For the daily positions of HMS Seadog during this patrol see the map below.

(3)

6 Nov 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) and HMS P 312 (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN) are ordered to proceed with despatch to their patrol positions off the Norwegian coast and not to proceed to Lerwick first as a German 'heavy unit' was thought to be on the move from Norway to the Baltic. (3)

11 Nov 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) is ordered to take up a new patrol position off Northern Norway. (3)

30 Nov 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 1st war patrol at Lerwick. She departed for Holy Loch later the same day together with HMS P 312 (Lt.Cdr. R.M. Favell, RN). They were escorted by HMS Scalby Wyke (Skr. A. Mackay, RNR) until 1300/1 when HMS Foxtrot took over the escort. (3)

2 Dec 1942
HMS P 216 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) arrived at Holy Loch. (4)


Submarine HMS Unison (P 43)


29 Dec 1942
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) conducted exercises off Malta together with HMS Jervis (Capt. A.L. Poland, CB, DSO and Bar, DSC, RN) and HMS Javelin (Lt.Cdr. J.M. Alliston, DSC, RN).

Another source, ADM 199/424, Malta war diary 1942, gives HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) instead of HMS Jervis. (5)

31 Dec 1942
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 9th war patrol (7th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered make rendezvous with HMS P 311 (Cdr. R.D. Cayley, DSO and 2 Bars, RN) at 0400 hours on 4 January 1943, 3 nautical miles North of Ustica Island. P 311 meanwhile had been mined and sunk off the Island of Tavolara.

For the daily positions of HMS P 43 during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

5 Jan 1943
In the evening HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) tried to pass a signal to Capt. S.10 reporting the non-arrival of P 311 at the rendez-vous. All attempts to pass this signal failed. It turned out that P 43's W/T equipment was defective.

At 0005/7, P 43 received a signal ordering her to make a situation report. This was successfully passed at 0416/8. In the evening of the 8th P 43 was ordered to proceed towards the Gulf of Asinara to recover the Chariot crews which participated in Operation Principle. (6)

10 Jan 1943
During the night of 10/11 January 1943, HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) sent out two folbots manned Sub Lieutenant Palmer and Surgeon Crowley to take off the Chariot crews of Operation Principle. Two recovery positions were inspected but nobody was seen. The folbots were recovered and P 43 set course towards Malta. (6)

16 Jan 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 9th war patrol (7th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

19 Jan 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) was docked in No.1 dock at Malta. (7)

24 Jan 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) was undocked. (7)

31 Jan 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 10th war patrol (8th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol in the Gulf of Gabes.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS P 43 during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

2 Feb 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) was ordered to patrol off the Gulf of Hammamet. (6)

7 Feb 1943 (position 36.27, 10.38)
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) attacked a lighter at the Hammamet anchorage with one torpedo. The torpedo most likely got stuck in the bottom.

(All times are zone -1)
1440 hours - In position 36°27'N, 10°38'E sighted the bridge of a motor barge bearing 240°. Enemy course was 020°. She was hugging the coast. P 43 followed the barge towards Hammamet anchorage. Several more vessels were sighted there. It was decided to fire a torpedo at a lighter.

1744 hours - Fired one torpedo from nr.1 tube. The torpedo was set to 2 feet and was heard to run for 30 seconds but no track could be seen through the periscope. It is thought the torpedo got stuck in the bottom. (6)

8 Feb 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) sank the Italian barges Carlo P. (64 GRT) and Angela (56 GRT) with gunfire off Al Hammamet, Tunisia. A third, Luigi Verni (58 GRT), was damaged and beached but was a constructive total loss.

(All times are zone -1)
0910 hours - In position 36°12'N, 10°31'E sighted three motor barges were sighted inshore steering 190°. Speed of the enemy was 6 knots. Closed up for gun action.

0928 hours - Surfaced and opened fire on the last barge in line which crew had abandoned ship on surfacing of P 43. Within a minute after surfacing all three barges stopped. Ten rounds were fired at the last barge in line. Target was then shifted to the second barge thereby considerably hastening its abandonment. Eleven rounds were fired at this barge before fire was shifted to the first barge. After three hits she caught fire and sank rapidly. Since the other barges were still afloat P 43 turned an opened fire on the other barges again. The last barge of the line soon rolled over and sank.

0945 hours - Dived and retired to the eastward. (6)

11 Feb 1943 (position 36.26, 10.55)
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) sank the German coaster Jaedjoer (309 GRT, built 1937, former Dutch) with gunfire off Ras Mahmur, Tunisia in position 36°26'N, 10°55'E. She had sailed from Palermo for Sousse with Skotfoss escorted by the torpedo boat Pallade but had lost contact with them in bad weather.

(All times are zone -1)
1744 hours - In position 36°26'N, 10°55'E sighted a small heavily laden merchant ship bearing 178°. Range was about 2 nautical miles, enemy course 165°.

1807 hours - Surfaced to give chase.

1824 hours - Opened fire with the gun from 1000 yards. The first two rounds scored hits. Two lifeboats had left the ship by now. Eleven more hits were then obtained.

1840 hours - A small fire had started on board the coaster but it did not appear to be sinking.

1846 hours - Fired one torpedo to finish her off but due to yawing in the seaway it missed ahead of the target. The fire then increased in intensity. As it seemed certain the target would be destroyed by fire P 43 cleared the area. A few minutes later several explosions occurred on the target.

1910 hours - The target blew up with a terrific explosion. (6)

14 Feb 1943
HMS P 43 (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 10th war patrol (8th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

24 Feb 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 11th war patrol (9th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the Gulf of Hammamet.

For the daily positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

8 Mar 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 11th war patrol (9th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. The patrol had been uneventful. (6)

18 Mar 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 12th war patrol (10th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol off the south and east Calabrian coast.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

23 Mar 1943 (position 37.57, 16.10)
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian tanker Zeila (1835 GRT, built 1898) off Cape Spartivento in position 37°57'N, 16°10'E. Zeila was in convoy together with the Italian salvage vessel Artiglio (386 GRT, built 1908). They were escorted by the Italian torpedo boats Angelo Bassini and Antonio Mosto, the German auxiliary submarine chasers UJ-2201 and UJ-2204 and several VAS-boats. THey were en-route from Crotone to Messina. Fourteen survivors, including six wounded, were picked up, ten were missing.

(All times are zone -1)
1245 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 060°. Started attack.

1322 hours - The enemy was seen to be a convoy made up of two merchant vessels escorted by an older type torpedo boat, two large trawlers and two MAS-boats. A large number of aircraft were seen to be patrolling in the area.

1409 hours - Fired four torpedoes from a range of approximately 2000 yards. A hit was heard 1m 43s after firing the first torpedo. P 43 meanwhile had gone to 90 feet but due to an error in drill the depth gauge was shut off. When opened up the depth was 280 feet and going down.

1412 hours - Unison hit bottom at a depth of 345 feet. She bounced off and then rose to 100 feet at which depth a good trim was caught.

1417 hours - Depth charging started.

1600 hours - By now eighty-eight depth charges had been dropped but none had been very close.

1745 hours - Depth charging ceased. A total of 133 had been counted. Only one light bulb had been broken as a result of the depth charging. (6)

29 Mar 1943 (position 37.07, 15.51)
At 2223 hours (zone -1), HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN), sighted an enemy submarine in position 37°07'N, 15°51'E. Enemy course was 045°. Started attack but soon the enemy turned away at speed and dived. (6)

31 Mar 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 12th war patrol (10th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

10 Apr 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 13th war patrol (11th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the North of Sicily.

Before proceeding on patrol exercises were carried out with HMS Nubian (Cdr. D.E. Holland-Martin, DSC, RN) and HMS Paladin (Lt.Cdr. L.St.G. Rich, RN).

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

21 Apr 1943 (position 37.50, 11.30)
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant Marco Foscarini (8073 GRT, 1943) about 40 nautical miles west of Favignana, Italy in position 37°48'N, 11°32'E. She was escorted by the Italian torpedo-boats Ardimentoso and Libra and was en-route from Bizerta to Naples. Of the 120 crew members and passengers, ninety-six were picked, including a German officer who later died of his wounds. Libra counter-attacked with depth charges and claimed the submarine as probably damaged.

(All times are zone -1)
1154 hours - In position 37°48'N, 11°32'E heard slow diesel HE bearing 230°. Went to periscope depth.

1157 hours - On coming to periscope depth sighted a large merchant vessel escorted by a torpedo-boat. Started attack in which four torpedoes were fired from 1100 yards. Two torpedo hits were heard after 1m and 1m 6s after firing the first torpedo.

1213 hours - The escort started a counter attack but was never in contact. She dropped fourteen depth charges but none were close.

1312 hours - HE faded and A/S transmissions ceased. (6)

23 Apr 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 13th war patrol (11th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

4 May 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 14th war patrol (12th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the north of Sicily. Before she proceeded on patrol exercises were carried out with aircraft based at Malta.

For the daily positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

17 May 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 14th war patrol (12th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. No suitable targets were found. (6)

1 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 15th war patrol (13th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to conduct a special operation. Beach reconnaissance had to be carried out off Gela by a Chariot.

For the daily positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

2 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) was off Gela, Sicily but the weather was not suitable for the beach reconnaissance to be carried out. (6)

3 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) was off Gela, Sicily but still the weather was not suitable for the beach reconnaissance to be carried out. It was decided to return to Malta. (6)

4 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) returned to Malta. (6)

5 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta to resume her reconnaissance mission. (6)

6 Jun 1943
In the evening HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) launched a Chariot and a folbot for beach reconnaissance of Gela, Sicily. The Chariot sank immediately to the bottom due to a malfunction but the folbot successfully carried out her mission. (6)

7 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 15th war patrol (13th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

13 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 16th war patrol (14th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the south of the Straits of Messina.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

16 Jun 1943 (position 37.29, 15.13)
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) torpedoed and sank the Italian merchant Terni (2998 GRT, former French Azrou, built 1931) off Catania, Sicily, Italy. Terni was en-route from Naples to Syracuse, escorted by the torpedo boat Orione and the corvettes Driade and Persefone. Ten survivors were picked up by Driade, thirty-nine of her crew perished as well as a number of her passengers. The two corvettes hunted the submarine and Driade claimed it sunk but Antisom rejected the claim, assessing it as ‘slightly damaged’.

(All times are zone -2)
1822 hours - In position 37°26'N, 15°15'E sighted a funnel and smoke bearing 349°. Two ships could be seen but their course could not yet be made out.

1840 hours - Returned to periscope depth to have a second look. The enemy was seen to be a single merchant ship escorted by a destroyer ahead and two torpedo boats on either beam. Started attack.

1905 hours - In position 37°29'N, 15°13'E fired four torpedoes from 1000 yards. One torpedo hit was heard. This explosion was followed by a heavier one and then what was judged as another hit. At 1909 hours this was succeeded by a terrific concussion which severely shook the submarine (and her inmates) breaking about thirty lamps and bringing down from the pressure hull a rain of rust and cork-paint. This was the target blowing up.

1914 hours - A counter attack was started in which thirty depth charges were dropped but none were very close.

2328 hours - Surfaced to the north-eastward of the attack position. Nothing in sight. (6)

24 Jun 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) ended her 16th war patrol (14th in the Mediterranean) at Malta. (6)

6 Jul 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed from Malta to act as beacon for operation Husky, the invasion of Sicily. This is her 17th war patrol (15th in the Mediterranean).

As no log is available no map can be displayed.

9 Jul 1943 (position 0.00, 0.00)
At 2300 hours near Cape Passero, HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) began transmitting for the invasion fleet.

10 Jul 1943
At 0011 hours, HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN), sighted the convoy and, her duty done, returned to Malta in company of the armed trawler HMS Gavotte (T/Lt. D. Bates, RNR).

17 Jul 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Malta for her 18th war patrol (16th in the Mediterranean). She was ordered to patrol to the north of the Straits of Messina.

For the daily and attack positions of HMS Unison during this patrol see the map below.

(6)

22 Jul 1943 (position 38.20, 15.16)
At 0737 hours in position 38°20’N, 15°16’E, HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) fired four torpedoes at a 3000 ton merchant vessel escorted by two torpedo boats. They all missed. This was probably Alfieri (4573 GRT, built 1943) escorted by the torpedo boats Partenope and Ardimentoso, on passage from Naples to Milazzo.

30 Jul 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) arrived at Bizerta together with HMS Unrivalled (Lt. H.B. Turner, DSC, RN). They had to wait there for onward passage to Malta in the next convoy. (6)

2 Aug 1943
HMS Unison (Lt. A.R. Daniell, DSC, RN) departed Bizerta together with HMS Unrivalled (Lt. H.B. Turner, DSC, RN) to join convoy KMS 21 for onward passage to Malta. Late in the evening, shortly after joining the convoy, both submarines were taken under fire by one of ships of the convoy, the US steam tanker Yankee Arrow which had apparently not been informed about their presence.

Unison was hit on the conning tower and the pressure hull. The officer of the watch, T/Lt. J.P. King, RNR was killed and the commanding officer, Lt. Daniell, DSC, RN and the two lookouts, petty officer Day and leading seaman Halliday were wounded.

Both submarines then returned to Bizerta escorted by ORP Slazak (Lt.Cdr. R. Nalecz-Tyminski, ORP). (6)

3 Aug 1943
After having returned to Bizerta, HMS Unison now commanded by her 1st Lieutenant Lt. J.E.E.D. Haward, RN, underwent repairs while laying alongside HMS Abercrombie (A/Capt. G.V.B. Faulkner, RN). When this ship had to proceed to sea she shifted to HMS Vindictive (Rear Admiral (retd.) G.R.S. Watkins, RN) to continue repairs alongside this ship.

During the morning Lt. Haward visited the American hospital where the casualties were still being operated on or were still under the effects of the anaesthetics. Also T/Lt. King was buried at sea with Naval Honours from HDML 1241 (T/Lt. A.D. Kingsford, RNVR)

In the evening the hospital was again visited. Lt. Daniel and petty officer Day were in good spirits but leading seaman Hallidag was still asleep. (6)

Sources

  1. ADM 173/17445
  2. ADM 173/17446
  3. ADM 199/1871
  4. ADM 199/2570
  5. ADM 173/17398
  6. ADM 199/1822
  7. ADM 173/17899

ADM numbers indicate documents at the British National Archives at Kew, London.


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