Crimean War Victoria Cross Recipient. He received the award from British Royal Navy Captain Francis Marten at Gyah Bengal, British India on July 13, 1858 for his actions as a midshipman in the British Royal Navy Brigade on three separate occasions during the Crimean War. His Victoria Cross was later rescinded by British Queen Victoria due to his desertion from duty, giving him the distinction of being the first recipient to forfeit the award. Born in Clifton, Bristol, England, at the age of 14 he enlisted in the British Royal Navy, serving aboard the gunship HMS Victory. In 1852 he saw action during the Second Anglo-Burmese War. In 1854 he was on board on the HMS Diamond that was patrolling in the Black Sea when the Crimean War broke out and remained there through June 1855. Following the Crimean War, he was sent to British India where he participated in the Indian Mutiny of 1857, and afterwards was promoted to the rank of lieutenant. After his friend and mentor, British Royal Navy Captain William Peel, died of smallpox while recovering from his wounds received during the Siege of Cawnpore in British India, he became depressed and turned to alcohol. Consequently, in January 1861 he was arrested while serving aboard the HMS Victor Emanuel in the Mediterranean Sea and deserted when the ship was docked at Corfu, Greece, causing him to forfeit his Victoria Cross in a Royal Warrant sighed by Queen Victoria. He then made his way to Liverpool, England where he secured passage on an American clipper ship bound for Melbourne, Australia, landing there in December 1861. Three years later, he joined the Taranaki Military Settlers and traveled to New Zealand and participated in the campaign against the native Maori. In November 1867 he enlisted in the New Zealand Armed Constabulary and was promoted to the rank of lance corporal. He died at Hokitka, South Island, New Zealand, at the age of 31. His Victoria Cross citation reads: "On the 17th October 1854, during heavy shelling, Midshipman Daniel and Midshipman Evelyn Wood volunteered to bring up boxes of ammunition to the Diamond Battery, under heavy Russian fire which had disabled the horses. On the 5th November 1854, during the Battle of Inkerman, Midshipman Daniel who was serving as an ADC to Captain William Peel RN and was a conspicuous figure on the battlefield as he was mounted on a pony. Daniel was at his Captain Peel's side throughout the day, and took part in seven separate charges against the Russians. The Naval Brigade also assisted the Grenadier Guards defend their colours. On 18th June 1855, during the unsuccessful assault on the Redan at Sebastopol, Captain Peel, who had volunteered to lead the first Ladder Party, was shot through his left arm and fell back, half fainting. Midshipman Daniel coolly rendered first aid under a very heavy fire, and brought Peel back to safety - actions that are said to have saved Peel's life. Although Daniel escaped injury, his pistol-case was shot through in two places and his clothes were cut by several bullets." In addition to the Victoria Cross, he received the India General Service Medal (with Pegu clasp), the Crimea Medal (with Sebastopol and Inkerman clasps), the Turkish Crimea Medal, the Sardinian Crimea Medal, the India Mutiny Medal (with Relief of Lucknow and Lucknow clasps), the Turkish Order of Medjidie (5th Class), and the French Legion d'Honneur.