Edward Alfred (Ted) Daley was born at Bendigo, Victoria and educated at Caulfield Grammar School. He graduated in medicine at Melbourne University and spent his junior resident medical officer year at Warrnambool Hospital and his second year at the Austin Hospital.

In 1928, as Flight Lieutenant Daley, 'Ted' began a career and long association with the Royal Australian Air Force and in 1930 he completed a pilot's course and was the proud recipient of his 'wings'. By 1936 he had become the senior permanent medical officer in the Service and was sent on a two year exchange with the Royal Air Force. While in the United Kingdom he gained the DTM at Liverpool and was able to assess the standards in use for the selection of air crew and other categories of personnel, together with the administrative procedures used to maintain an ongoing medical record. Upon his return he was promoted to the rank of wing commander and was appointed Deputy Director of Medical Services (Air) and Director in 1939. During this period, with World War II imminent, the armed services were undergoing change. A significant development was the decision to remove control of the medical services of the RAAF from the army and form a separate medical service. This was achieved in 1940 and Victor Hurley, later Sir Victor Hurley, a Melbourne surgeon, was transferred from the Army Reserve to become its head with Ted Daley as his deputy.

Group Captain Daley became Director General of Medical Services on Victor Hurley's return to civilian practice in 1945, a position he held until his retirement with the rank of air vice marshall in 1961. The publication Medical Services of the RAN and RAAF by Alan S Walker, in the series Australia in the War of 1939 45 makes numerous references to his role in those events. An interest in the transport of casualties by air, first developed in early 1930 and put into effect in various theatres during the war, saw him become expert in this facet of air operations.

A capable administrator, he was an active participant in the affairs of the Red Cross as a federal councillor, and was president of the Victorian section of the Royal Flying Doctor Service. In addition he had a close association with the St John's Ambulance Association and participated in the organisation of a medical facility for the Melbourne Olympic Games in 1956. Throughout his service career Ted Daley continually strove for the betterment of conditions and status of his medical officers. His organisation of a group of reserve specialists enabled many medical people to maintain their interest in the service and provided a powerful back-up to the RAAF Medical Branch. It has become an integral part of the present day service.

With the increasing sophistication of aircraft, the medical aspects of flight became of prime significance and led to the establishment of the discipline of aviation medicine. Ted Daley maintained an association with the United States Aero Medicine Association, and was proud when, through the efforts of himself and a number of others, the Australian Medical Postgraduate Federation established the Diploma in Aviation Medicine in 1971. He was the foundation chairman of the Aviation Medicine Group, later to become the Aviation Medicine Society. He was also an associate member of the Ophthalmological Society of Australia from 1947.

In 1927 Ted Daley married Katherine Grace Wrightsmith at Scots Church, Melbourne. The union was a long and happy one. While he had an interest in music his great recreational love was tennis. A player of pennant standard during his university days, he remained a formidable opponent into his later years. His wife 'Grey' shared his love of tennis and this gave them great enjoyment over the years.