Daniel was born in Bacchus Marsh, VIC in 1887 to William Hollis⁽³⁾ and Eleanor Jane Hilton.

Daniel was a carpenter and gave his address as Box Hill, VIC when he enlisted in the AIF, 4^th Reinforcements, 2^nd Pioneer Battalion on the 4^th of March 1916, aged 28. He embarked aboard the HMAT A32 Themistocles in late July, disembarking at Plymouth, England in September.

He was promoted to Lance Corporal in February 1917, then to Acting Corporal in April then finally to Corporal in June. In July Daniel reverted to the rank of Private and was sent to France to reinforce the 4^th Pioneers. Once he joined the 4^th Pioneers he was promoted back to Corporal and by December he was a Sergeant. A month later he had a few days leave in Paris and in August 1918 was granted two weeks leave in England before finally returning to England in May 1919. Daniel was granted six weeks leave to attend the Guildhall School of Music in June before embarking from England in January 1920, returning to Australia in March and discharged from the AIF in May.

Daniel died in 1971, aged 83 - possibly in Brighton, VIC.

He is listed on the Roll of Honour for Bacchus Marsh and District, published in The Bacchus Marsh Express on the 21^st of December 1918.

Notes

1. Pioneer battalions differed from normal infantry in that they would be composed of a mixture of men who were experienced with picks and shovels and some who had skilled trades . A Pioneer battalion would also carry a range of technical stores that infantry would not.
2. He was promoted to Sergeant in December 1917.
3. Daniel's father, William, was at one time a Baker in Bacchus Marsh.