Obituaries Australia

Thomas Darley, being decorated with the Order of the British Empire by Sir Robert Munro Ferguson, 1919

Australian War Memorial, P03533.005

Lt-Col. Thomas Henry Darley, who died recently, was the original and only secretary of the 9th Light Horse (1st AIF) Old Comrades' Association, formed 27 years ago. He enlisted in the 9th Queen's Own Lancers, British Cavalry, in 1891, and was chosen in the winning team which represented the British Army at the Olympic, in celebration of Queen Victoria's Jubilee. In 1837 he transferred to the 1st King's Dragoon Guards, at Colchester. He was with this regiment in the Boer War, and after attending the Hythe School of Musketry, was appointed staff sergeant instructor to the regiment. After spending six years with the regiment in India, he was selected to come to Australia as a member of the Australian Instructional Corps. In 1915 he transferred to the AIF, and left Australia with the 9th Light Horse Regiment. He took part in the Gallipoli campaign, and later in the Sinai and Palestine operations. Mr. Darley was awarded the OBE. He retired from the Army in 1933. As an active member of the SA Rifle Association he conducted many of its competitions. In 1939 Mr. Darley became manpower officer for South Australia, and remained in that service until 1945. In the War Museum, Canberra, is the helmet which he was wearing on Gallipoli when the fuse of a shell passed through it and caused a small scalp wound. He has left a widow, four sons and one daughter.