Lieutenant-Colonel H.N. Daniels D.S.O.

On 5th April 1944, Lt-Col Daniels was ordered to harass the road and railway NABA-INDAW about the village of PINWE, which was being used as a forming up area for enemy troops concentrating against the Block astride the road and railway at HENU.

His columns had just been engaged in fierce fighting on the shore of the INDAW Lake, and were ravaged by fever resulting from several days spent in the unhealthy marshes beside it. Leaving his sick in hiding with the task of guarding his animals and heavy equipment, Lt-Col Daniels with some 120 men set off for the area given.

For the next five days he gave the enemy no peace, laying ambushes, digging in on his communications, setting up decoy positions and attacking the enemy as he formed up against them. The number of enemy in the neighbourhood greatly exceeded his own force, and his orders explicitly stated that he was not to become involved in a major action, since his troops were needed for such action later.

Lt-Col Daniels carried out his task with such skill and judgement, that when ordered to withdraw on 13th April 44, he had accounted for not less than 90 Japanese killed, several lorries and other vehicles knocked out and their contents destroyed, for a loss of only 7 wounded, of whom 2 afterwards succumbed. The effect on the enemy of these operations was greatly to harass his preparations, and to cause him to tie up troops in the effort to disembarrass his rear. Throughout Lt-Col Daniels displayed high qualities of judgement and personal courage.

(Signed) B.E. Fergusson
Brigadier