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Major Hugh Cecil DANIEL

1912-2004

Born in Lincolnshire, he lost his father when he was still a boy but remained at Framlingham until he reached 18. Although the award of the Richmond Prize for Mathematics and a Wallace Scholarship almost tempted him to study law at University, he decided to join the army as a regular officer in 1930. He trained at Woolwich, became a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Corps of Signals and , after a period at Catterick, was posted to India in 1936.

Hugh expected to serve the rest of his commission in India but the war intervened, which resulted in moves to Palestine, Kashmir, Iraq, North Africa, Sicily, Italy and Austria. He was mentioned in Dispatches and when he returned to the UK at the end of hostilities he was fortunate to meet Unice. They were married in 1949 and Hugh was soon sent overseas again, to Egypt and the Canal Zone, and, luckily, Unice was able to accompany him. At the end of his commission he and Unice drove home from Tripoli, in those days quite an adventure, as was their trip to South Africa soon after, which entailed overnight stops and daily flights.

Upon leaving the army Hugh joined the Civil Service and soon found himself working with the Territorial Army, particularly the cadet force, and was able to share his love of service life with teenagers from all backgrounds. After 47 years of service to the Crown he retired to Ampleforth in 1977.

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