Corporal Verdi Daly and Boer War Memorial Plaque, Molong

The memorial is a metal plaque dedicated to the men and women from Molong and district who were the first to serve overseas in the Boer War, and to Corporal Verdi Daly who died on 11 June 1900 in South Africa. The plaque is located at the entranceway to the Molong RSL Club. 

Verdi Robert Daly, eldest son of Mr William Daly, was born in 1880. He was a talented musician and at age nine joined the 3rd Infantry Corps as a bugler. In 1890 he won the prize as best bugler, and in 1897 he was selected as bugler to accompany the Mounted Rifles Regiment to England to take part in Queen Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee celebrations. 

When the war in South Africa broke out Daly was among the first from Molong to volunteer for service and sailed from Sydney on the Aberdeen on 3 November 1899 (Bathurst Free Press and Mining Journal, 27 Jun 1900). Corporal Bugler Daly had been ill for some time in Bloemfontein Hospital, South Africa, when his father received news that his son had died from enteric fever on 11 June 1900 (Molong Express and Western District Advertiser, 16 June 1900). 

The Sydney Morning Herald, 21 June 1900, reported a proposal to erect a memorial tablet in St Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, Molong, to the memory of Verdi Daly as well as a monument of Molong marble in Bank Street to be established by public subscription. In July a public meeting elected to raise funds for a memorial to Verdi Daly and other Molong Riflemen who were killed or wounded in South Africa (Molong Argus, 13 July 1900). Further meetings were held later in the year with plans for concerts and sporting events to assist with fundraising. Despite this, no further action was taken to erect a monument for two years. Interest was however revived in mid 1902 (National Advocate, 2 May 1902).

The location of an earlier memorial dedicated to those from Molong who served in the Boer War is unclear. It is unknown when the plaque was moved to the Molong RSL Club.