General News
11 July, 2026
Veteran's Voices: Life led after war
Daniel Sidney Aarons was born in Donald on August 1, 1885, to Solomon and Annie Aarons of Orange, NSW. Prior to enlistment, he was a business manager with Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd, based in Fremantle, WA.
Daniel Sidney Aarons was born in Donald on August 1, 1885, to Solomon and Annie Aarons of Orange, NSW.
Prior to enlistment, he was a business manager with Vacuum Oil Company Pty Ltd, based in Fremantle, WA.
Aarons was a Private, then was promoted to Sergeant on October 8, 1915.
Aarons enlisted on October 25, 1915, at 30 years old, being promoted again to 2nd Lieutenant in the 15th reinforcements, 16th Infantry Battalion.
Reinforcement units were the groups used to replace wounded to maintain the Battalion’s strength on the Western Front.
Aaron’s unit embarked from Fremantle on board HMAT A38 Ulysses on April 1, 1916.
On April 26, 1916, Daniel marched with his unit into Tel-el-Kebir, Egypt.
He was taken on strength by the 16th Infantry Battalion in Alexandria and proceeded to join the British Expeditionary Forces on June 1, 1916.
On June 9, he disembarked in Marseilles, France.
He was commissioned in the field to the rank of 1st Lieutenant for his skills and leadership with the 16th Infantry Battalion on September 15, 1916.
On June 18, 1917, Aarons was awarded a Military Cross for leading his men forward under intense fire.
He was promoted to Captain with the 16th Battalion on July 11, 1917.
Aarons was admitted to 3rd London General Hospital with gunshot wounds to his legs, right arm, and back received in action on October 27, 1917, from which he made a recovery and rejoined his unit in December.
On March 27, 1918, Aarons was recommended for a DSO for his display of gallantry and leadership when near Hebuterhe, France, he assisted in outflanking the enemy and manoeuvring them out of a strongly held position.
On the morning of April 1, 1918, during the attack on enemy positions near Hebuterhe, he again displayed great skill and resourcefulness in the handling of his Company, where prior to the commencement of the attack, his personal reconnaissance of the enemy position was carried out in conjunction with the push by Captain 0.
Ahearn, outflanking the enemy on the left flank of the main attack, contributed to Allied success.
Again, on April 5, 1918, when the enemy delivered a counterattack, he showed courage and devotion to his duty in moving about amongst his men and encouraging them to their highest endeavour, despite the very heavy bombardment.
The high number of casualties inflicted on the enemy on this occasion was indicative of his work.
Throughout the whole of the operations referred to above, Aarons’ bravery and powers of leadership were of a high order.
The recommendation for a DSO was not heeded, and Aarons was awarded a Bar to his Military Cross on September 16, 1918.
With hostilities over and the armistice of November 11, 1918, Aarons remained in service.
After his services were no longer required in England, he sailed on board “Olympic” for America at his own expense, where he stayed for some time.
Aarons returned to Australia on June 6, 1919, and was granted leave without pay the following day to resume his pre-war commitments with Vacuum Oil Company, where he rose to become general manager of New South Wales in the 1930s.
On April 3, 1920, his AIF appointment was terminated.
For his war service on the Western Front, he received a Military Cross and Bar, British War Medal, and Victory Medal.
Daniel Aarons married Jessie Stronach in 1925.
For the next five decades, he was involved in numerous civic organisations.
As a member of the Liberal Party of NSW, he was Chairman of its Finance Committee from 1960-1965, Deputy Chairman from 1966-1970, and Treasurer from 1969-1974.
In the Queen’s Birthday Honours List of 1966, Aarons was made an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for public service, and on June 13, 1970, he was created a Knight Bachelor and dubbed Sir Daniel Sidney Aarons at Government House, Canberra, on October 23, “In recognition as Treasurer of the Liberal Party of NSW.”
Sir Daniel Sidney Aarons, Kt OBE MC & Bar, died in Sydney on June 23, 1983, just short of his 98th birthday.
Daniel’s older brother, Private John ‘Jack’ Fullarton Aarons of Orange, NSW, enlisted in the 16th Infantry Battalion on July 10, 1916, at 34 years old.
John embarked from Fremantle, WA, onboard HMAT A8 Argyllshire as a Private with 7th reinforcements, 51st Battalion on November 9, 1916, arriving in Devonport, England on January 10, 1917.
He was taken on strength by the 16th Infantry Battalion after his younger brother, Daniel, arranged for John to join him.
On July 11, 1917, coincidentally the same day Daniel Aarons was promoted to Captain, John Aarons was wounded after resting in a dugout in a quiet sector of the trench when a rogue bomb hit the shelter, receiving a shell fragment to his head.
He was admitted to the 2nd Australian Casualty Clearing Station, Messines, France, where he died as a result of his wounds.
He was buried in a grave near the Casualty Clearing Station, where his brother, Daniel, ensured that the Star of David cross was placed on it.
John Aarons’ widow, Marion Aarons, chose the inscription on her husband’s permanent headstone: “He died as he lived; honourable, true & bold”.