Daniel Frederick Isted

A Lance Sergeant with 7th Battalion, Daniel died on 9th of April 1916 at the age of 36.

Daniel, also known as Dan, was born at All Saints, Lewes, Sussex, in 1879, a son of Frederick W. and Helena Isted. In 1891 his family lived at 6 Woodford Green, Walthamstow. By 1898 his family were living at 6 Lodge Place, North Finchley. 

Daniel was a labourer, working at Lewes, for Mr. Deacon of 16 Lansdowne Place, Lewes (this is also where Daniel lived), when he enlisted in the 3rd (Militia) Battalion Royal Sussex Regiment, at Lewes, on 16 February 1898. On 5 January 1899 he joined the regular battalions of the Royal Sussex Regiment, service number 5833. 

He was posted to the 1st Battalion on 7 April 1899; to the Depot on 20 September 1899; to the 1st Battalion, in Malta, on 1 December 1899 and back to the Depot on 18 March 1900. He returned to the 1st Battalion, in South Africa, on 26 June 1900 and then joined the 2nd Battalion, in India, on 7 March 1902. He went back to the 1st Battalion on 4 November 1902 and, on 1 April 1904, extended his engagement to serve eight years with the Colours. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 15 November 1905 but reverted to Private, at his own request, on 27 October 1906. He returned to England on 12 January 1907 and joined the Army Reserve on 14 January 1907.   

Daniel saw active service in the Boer War and was awarded the Queen's and King's South Africa Medals. 

On 19 March 1911 Daniel married Florence Maud Suggate at Lowestoft United Methodist Church. In 1911 they lived at 23 Lawson Road, Lowestoft, and Daniel was an office porter for the Post Office. In January 1912 Daniel was appointed postman at Lowestoft. 

Daniel volunteered and enlisted in the Army at Lowestoft on 29 August 1914. He was working as a postman and living at 2 Saint Mark's Villas, Bridge Road, Oulton Broad. Although Daniel enlisted for General Service, because of his previous service he was posted to his old regiment, the Royal Sussex Regiment, on 2 September 1914 and he joined the 7th Battalion. He was appointed Unpaid Lance Corporal on 12 September 1914; Paid Lance Corporal on 21 September 1914; Corporal on 5 October 1914, and Lance Sergeant on 1 December 1915. 

Daniel landed in France, with his Battalion, on 31 May 1915. 

On 29 October 1915 he was admitted to 38 Field Ambulance, with varicose veins and rheumatism, and the same day transferred to 33 Casualty Clearing Station at Bethune. On 31 October he joined 22 Ambulance Train and on 1 November was admitted to 9 General Hospital at Rouen. On 4 November he went to a Convalescence Camp and the next day to a Command Depot at Rouen. On 21 November he joined 12 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples and rejoined his Battalion, in the field, on 18 December 1915. 

On 9 January 1916 Daniel was admitted to 37 Field Ambulance with myalgia. He joined 12 D.R.S. on 12 January and returned to his Battalion on 24 January 1916. He was granted leave to England from 24 to 31 March 1916. 

On 7 April 1916 the 7th Battalion went into trenches in the D.2. Hohenzollern Sector. The Battalion War Dairy for 9 April has:

Enemy trench mortars were very active but our 60 pounders answered well and kept him down. Otherwise nothing official to note. Lieutenant Sutton buried 9.30 p.m. Vermelles British Cemetery. Casualties: 1 killed, 2 wounded (trench mortars)

Daniel was the soldier killed on 9 April. 

He is commemorated on the War Memorial at Saint Margaret's Church. 

Daniel's name is recorded in the General Post Office Memorial Book. See GPO War Heroes