Birth

Enlistment Information

Military Service

Embarkation Information

Military Awards

Death

Biographical Notes

Daniel was the fifth son of James and Catherine (nee Connor) Small, born at Fairlie on 11 August 1887. His father James, born in Glasgow, was farming at Fairlie Creek when he died in 1985. His mother Catherine, born in Kerry, Ireland, died later at Fairlie on in 1928. The couple had married in Timaru in 1875, and were both buried in the Fairlie Cemetery. Daniel was educated at the Silverstream and Fairlie schools, and secondary at the Marist Brothers Timaru. After leaving school he worked locally mostly driving horses, and then went to Hastings in the North Island where he went into business as a butcher. Later he returned to the South Island.

At the time of his enlistment Daniel was working as a shepherd for Mr R K Smith at Tarras, Otago. After his medical at Dunedin on 7 July 1915, he returned to his employment until called up on 24 August. He was a big man for the time: his enlistment papers described him as being single, of the Roman Catholic faith, aged 28, 5 foot 9 ½ inches tall, weighing 165 pounds (75kgs), with a chest measuring 38 to 39 ½ inches, having a ruddy complexion, blue eyes, light brown hair, good teeth. IOt was noted he had previously had typhoid. He also stated he had served for 2 ½ years with the McKenzie Mounted Rifles. His mother Mrs C. Small, Fairlie, was nominated as his next of kin and he gave his address on enlistment as care of his sister Mrs G. Popplewell, Culverden. On 24 August 1915 Daniel was one of 400 men of the Eighth Reinforcements from Otago and Southland who entrained at Dunedin Railway Station after the normal civil farewells, and by an enthusiastic 7000 Dunedin citizens. On arrival at Trentham Daniel was posted to D Squadron, 8th Reinforcements, Otago Mounted Rifles. Here he was issued with basic uniform, rifle and bayonet and began his first seven weeks on the ground. Recruit training followed for four weeks covering basic training with horses at Featherston Camp.

On 13 November 1915, from Wellington, Daniel embarked aboard HMNZT35 “Willochra” intended for Suez, Egypt. During the voyage they had a stop at Hobart where they enjoyed the hospitality of the locals, then a short stop at Albany. The ship was overcrowded but the cool weather kept things comfortable and they were occupied with fitness and weapon training along with the usual sports of boxing, novelty events, and the paying of homage to Father Neptune on crossing the equator. On arrival in Suez, on 18 December 1915, they entrained for camp at Zeitoun. Here they continued training until, on 23 January 1916, they took up positions on the Canal Zone before then moving to the railhead at Ferrypost on 7 March. In early 1916 the Otago Mounted Rifles was reduced in size. On 14 March Trooper Small was transferred to the Pioneer Battalion at Ismailia, then to the NZ Infantry Training Battalion the same day. On 13 April he embarked from Port Said aboard SS “Kinfauna Castle” for France and was attached to the strength of the NZ Infantry Base Depot at Etaples. From there, on 18 May 1916, he joined the 2nd Battalion Canterbury Infantry Regiment, 12th Nelson Company, in the field at Armentieres. It was considered a “quiet area”, they were to learn the art of trench warfare. It was here on 19 June 1916, that Private Small was killed in action. He was buried in the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.

After the war his mother Catherine was sent a scroll and plaque, along with his war medals consisting of the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. His name is commemorated on the Timaru Memorial Wall and Fairlie War Memorial.

Four of Daniel’s brothers also served during World War One: 9443 Trooper Maurice Small served during the 1899-1902 Boer War, and then again as 9/1738 Trooper Maurice Small with the Otago Mounted Rifles in Egypt; 9/1137 Lance Corporal Frances Small served in the Canterbury Infantry Regiment at Gallipoli and Western Europe, and died of wounds on June 9 1917; 6/723 Private William Small served with the Canterbury Infantry Battalion on Gallipoli and Western Europe; and 9/1739 Trooper Thomas Small with the Otago Mounted Rifles in Egypt.

Sources

NZ Defence Force Personnel Records, Archives NZ; "Medically fit" in Otago Daily Times 8 July 1915 p6, "The parting again : the roll" in Evening Star 24 August 1915 p6, "The roll of honour" in Southland Times 5 July 1916 p3, "Personal notes" in Lyttelton Times 13 July 1916 p9, and "Trooper Daniel L. Small (Fairlie). killed" [photograph] in Otago Witness 16 August 1916 p34 (supplement), courtesy of Papers Past at https://paperspast.natlib.govt.nz/; "Private Daniel Lawrence Small" on A Street near you at https://astreetnearyou.org/person/277339/; New Zealand ANZACs in the Great War 1914-1918 (University of New South Wales) at https://nzef.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=235633

External Links

• Auckland War Memorial Museum Cenotaph record
• Military personnel file
• Other military personnel file

Related Documents

No documents available. 

Researched and Written by

Ted Hansen, SC branch NZSG

Currently Assigned to

Not assigned.