DAVIS, Ewart William
| Service Number: | 500 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 5 March 1915, Geelong, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 22nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London, England, May 1880 |
| Home Town: | Belmont, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Clerk |
| Died: | Killed in Action, Gallipoli, Turkey, 17 October 1915 |
| Cemetery: |
Shrapnel Valley Cemetery, Gallipoli |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Belmont St. Stephen's Anglican Church Memorial Window 3, Waurn Ponds Shire of South Barwon Honor Roll |
World War 1 Service
| 5 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 500, Geelong, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 10 May 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 500, 22nd Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '14' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Ulysses embarkation_ship_number: A38 public_note: '' | |
| 10 May 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 500, 22nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Ulysses, Melbourne | |
| 17 Oct 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, ANZAC / Gallipoli |
Help us honour Ewart William Davis's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by John Edwards
"500 Private Ewart William Davis, B Company, 22nd Battalion, of Geelong, Vic, originally of London, England. Pte Davis enlisted on 6 March 1915 and was killed in action on 17 October 1915 at Gallipoli Peninsula, Turkey. Prior to joining the AIF Pte Davis served with the Queenstown Volunteers of South Africa for four years." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
“At St. Stephen’s Church on Sunday morning a large number assembled to witness te unveiling of an enlarged photo of the late Pte. Ewart W. Davis. The inscription was: “Pte. Ewart W. Davis, 22nd Battalion Infantry, A.I.F., killed in action, Gallipoli, October 17th, 1915. For King and Country. Also served 18 months at Boer War. Presented to St. Stephen’s by parishioners and friends, 1916.” The Rev. G. W. Ratten conducted the service, which was most impressive. There were special prayers on the occasion of the second anniversary of the war. He took his text from “Greater love hath no man that this, that a man lay down his life for his friends.” After speaking of the message of the Church at this time – thankfulness, penitence, courage, fortitude and prayer – he shewed the difference between a strong and a weak religion in the hour of trial. Belgium in her poverty to-day was far greater than Belgium rich with the rubber trade from Congo, for she stood pure in soul, untarnished in fame. She had lost her wealth, but had found her soul. There was a new France in the world to-day. In Russia, at the touch of the purging fire a great soul breathed. In a week vodka was flung aside. In comforting those who mourned the loss of their sons and brothers at the Front. He told them to hold on with both hands to this thought – that the boys had died in the most glorious cause. Their dear ones had died that Christian principles might dominate the world instead of the pagan doctrine that might is right. The late Pte. Davis was valued by his comrades for his quiet, stirling and manly character. He was one of the most cheerful and soldierly men in the ranks. He met his death at the port of duty on guard – a soldier’s death – by a stray bullet from the Turkish trenches just at dawn, having safely got through the night’s heavy firing. Heroes all! We leave them in our Heavenly Father’s keeping. After the address the Rev. Ratten unveiled the photo and dedicated it to the glory of God and in memory of his servant, Pte. Davis. The plate will be placed in the Parish Hall alongside the late Sergt. C. Grenfell’s. The organist, Miss Grenfell, played the “Dead march” in Saul.”
Geelong Advertiser, Vic, Thursday 8th February 1917, page 2.
Click images to start slideshow.