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Name: DRISCOLL, Daniel Patrick 'Jim' CMG, DSO (Lieut.-Col.)

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Nee: son of John Driscoll

Birth Date: 11 May 1858 Limerick

Death Date: 6 Aug 1934 Mombasa

First Date: 1922

Last Date: 1934

Profession: Soldier settler

Area: 'Therika' Ruiru

Married: In Calcutta 9 June 1880 Isabella Eugenie Marchall b. 1865 India, d. 18 Apr 1944 Richmond, Surrey

Children: Catherine Lewis (5 July 1883 Burma); Eileen Ida (27 Dec 1884 Burma-1952); Daniel Brian O'Neill (28 Oct 1885 Burma-1966); Dermot Patrick O'Neil (20 Nov 1890 Mandalay-1918); Felix Terence (14 May 1893 Mandalay-1960); May Brooke Mirabell (18 Aug 1895 Mandalay-1960)

Book Reference: KAD, Red 25, Debrett, Red 31, Hut, Curtis, Kill, Red 22, Web, DSO, SS, Barnes, Chandler, mini-SITREP XXXIII

War Service: Formed Driscoll's Scouts in Boer War

School: Burma

General Information:

Debrett - formerly Major Upper Burma Vol. Rifles; Upper Burma 1887-8, S. Africa 1900-02, as Lieut.-Col. Driscoll's Scouts, which he raised (despatches twice, DSO), E. Africa 1915-19 (despatches, Croix de Guerre, CMG); late Lieut.-Col. Roy. Fusiliers (City of London Regt.) Frontiersmen
Curtis - p. 26 - Legion of Frontiersmen
Web - Legion of Frontiersmen - 1914 - the War Office … rejected a wonderful offer by Colonel Driscoll to provide 2,000 tough, experienced, and knowledgeable Frontiersmen, 500 of them mounted, to undertake similar work to that done by the commandos and airborne troops in the 1939-45 war. Instead he was permitted to form the 25th (Frontiersmen) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers, which served with distinction in East Africa, where Lieut. Dartnell an Australian, won a Victoria Cross.
DSO - He received instruction at school in Burma but at an early age turned to service in the Mercantile Marine. He subsequently served in the Burma Campaign 1886-88 (Medal and Clasp) Capt. Driscoll served in S. Africa throughout the war 1899-1902 first as Captain of Scouting Party, attached to the 'Colonial Division' and later as Commander of Driscoll's Scouts and in 1901 as Column Commander (promoted to Lieut.-Col.). He was mmentioned in Despatches twice; received the Queen's medal with 2 clasps, and was created a Companion of the Distinguished Service Order (London Gazette 19/4/1901) - In recognition of services during the operations in South Africa ……
Driscoll's Scouts are often mentioned in the official "History of the War in South Africa" …..Lieut.-Col. Driscoll was appointed Chief Executive Officer, Legion of Frontiersmen. He served in the European War from 1915, in command of the 25th Battn. Royal Fusiliers with great distinction, and his genius of resource greatly contributed to victory achieved against heavy odds on more than one momentous occasion. Lieut.-Colonel Driscoll was mentioned in Despatches 4 times by General Smuts; was awarded the Croix de Guerre and created a CMG in 1919.  Having been offered a Grant of Government land in British East Africa, Colonel Driscoll decided to accept it and resigning the command of the Legion of Frontiersmen with which World-Force he had been associated for about 12 years, he sailed for East Africa early in Dec. 1919. Before his departure Colonel Driscoll was the recipient of many marks of esteem from the Legion as a whole and also from separate units and individuals. Entertained at a farewell banquet a few days before his departure, Colonel Driscoll eulogized the high spirit distinguishing the Legion of Frontiersmen as a whole, and, in particular, the wonderful pluck, power of endurance, dash and bravery of those who had served throughout the campaign in East Africa and he called upon all present to stick to the Legion as one of the finest organisations on earth.
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Lieut.-Col. D.P. Driscoll, CMG, DSO, 6 Adam Street, Strand, WC2 - Farm 984 - Representative, Sir W.N. McMillan, Nairobi
Soldier Settlement Scheme after WW1 - Class B - Mrs E.B. Driscoll, c/o Lieut.-Col. D.P. Driscoll, 6 Adam Street, Strand, WC2 - Farm 1063
Barnes - Mombasa Cemetery - Colonel Driscoll, died 6 Aug 1934, Catholic
mini-SITREP XXXIII - Legion of Frontiersmen - 1919-30 - During this period Col. D.P. 'Paddy' Driscoll, CMG, DSO, CdeG who had commanded the 25th 'Frontiersmen' Battalion in the BEA Campaign from 1915-17, returned to Kenya. He had resigned from the LoF and established the Imperial Oveseas Legion of Frontiersmen (IOLF). He would, therefore, have been seeking new members and was known to have been in Ruiru in 1931. However, he passed away in Mombasa in 1934 and by 1935 the LoF and IOLF were to reunify.
Kill - Col. "Jim" Driscoll, my old friend of Boer War days. This fine old soldier is still living in Kenya (1933] growing coffee just outside Nairobi.
Dolbey - Colonel Driscoll, who, for all his 60 years, has found no work too arduous and no climate too unhealthy for his brave spirit. I knew him in the Boer War when he commanded Driscoll's Scouts, of happy, though irregular memory; their badge in those days, the harp of Erin on the side of their slouch hats, and known throughout the country wherever there was fighting to be had.

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