DAVIES, John
| Service Number: | 512 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 8 July 1915, 2nd Reinforcements |
| Last Rank: | Gunner |
| Last Unit: | 13th Field Artillery Brigade |
| Born: | Myrthr, Wales, United Kingdom, December 1890 |
| Home Town: | Maylands (SA), Norwood Payneham St Peters, South Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Miner |
| Died: | Pneumonia Recovering from wounds, Glamorganshire, United Kingdom, 28 November 1918 |
| Cemetery: |
Mountain Ash (Aberffrwd) Cemetery Grave 2413 Chaplain the Re. George Neighbour officiated Undertaker was Mr F. Mills of Mountain Ash and the coffin was made of polished oak with polished metal fittings. |
| Memorials: | Adelaide Maylands Methodist Church Honor Roll (Book), Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Maylands Methodist Church DAVIES Memorial Window, St Peters Heroes War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 8 Jul 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Gunner, 512, Siege Artillery Brigade, 2nd Reinforcements | |
|---|---|---|
| 8 Jul 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 512, Enlisted at Keswick, SA Men who had served in the militia Garrison Artillery were often recruited straight to the Siege Artillery Brigade | |
| 8 Nov 1915: | Embarked AIF WW1, Gunner, 512, Siege Artillery Brigade, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '4' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Warilda embarkation_ship_number: A69 public_note: '' | |
| 5 Oct 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Gunner, 512, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, "The Last Hundred Days", Multiple shell wounds to the face, foot and right thigh | |
| 28 Nov 1918: | Involvement AIF WW1, Gunner, 512, 13th Field Artillery Brigade, "The Last Hundred Days", Died of wounds / illness--- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 512 awm_unit: 13th Australian Field Artillery Brigade awm_rank: Gunner awm_died_date: 1918-11-28 date_of_death: '1918-11-28' location: - 2nd Australian General Hospital - Kitchener Military Hospital, Brighton, England - No. 1 Command Depot, Sutton Veny, Salisbury Plains - First General Hospital, Sutton Veny |
Help us honour John Davies's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Carol Foster
Husband of Lucy Dora (nee Addison) Davies of 45 Phylis Street, Maylands SA
John and Lucy were married on the 8 July 1915 in the residence of Lucy's parents in Maylands, SA
Medals: British War Medal, Victory Medal
Biography contributed by Adelaide Botanic High School
John Davies was born in Merthyr Tydfil in South Wales. He was born in the December of 1890, to father George Davies. As a young child, John attended Abercwomboi Public School. John grew up to be 5''4, with a fair complexion accompanied by his auburn hair and brown eyes. It is very possible John was 22 when he moved to Australia, according to his wife. Mr Davies lived in Maylands, Norwood, South Australia working as a miner. John was a follower of the church of England. John Married his wife Lucy Dora Addison on the 8th of July 1915. According to the enlistment papers, he enlisted on the same day as his marriage.
John Davies enlisted for the war on the 8th of July 1915. He did this when he was 25 and 4 months old. John was enlisted as a gunner in the siege artillery brigade given the service number 512. A gunner's role was crucial in providing artillery support. Gunners operated heavy guns, deployed to aim and fire at the enemy. Gunners would need to withstand the effects of the recoil and weapon noise, making it a difficult job. It was on the 8th of October when John Davies embarked on the HMAT Warilda A69 that departed from Sydney. It was on the 5th of November that John Davies disembarked at Suez, Egypt.
According to a biography by Cathy Sedgwick, John joined the 55th Field Artillery battery from the reinforcements (14th Field Artillery Brigade) on the 17th of April 1916. This provides sufficient evidence to conclude John was in Sinai, Egypt. After 3 months with the 14th Field Artillery Brigade, John was transferred to H.Q. 36th Heavy Artillery Group on the 9th August 1916. The group had also been renamed the 55th Siege Artillery Battery once it had arrived in Europe. Cathy Sedgwick believes John took leave from the 31st of July 1917 until the 15th of August.
On the 24th November 1917, John Davies had been transferred to the 5th Divisional Artillery, from the 55th Siege Battery. It is possible John was part of the fourth battle of Ypres also associated with the battle of Lys. Ypres was the home of 200,000 casualties in only that specific battle. Mr Davies then took leave to the United Kingdom on the 27th of July 1918. However, whilst still on leave John was admitted to hospital on the 15th of August. Nine days later John was well and finished his leave. John was detached on the 16th September 1918 to the 14th Australian Field Artillery Brigade, he was then detached on the same day.
On the 5th of October 1918, John was wounded in action. Mr Davies suffered shrapnel wounds on the side of his face and his right foot. He was taken to the 12th Casualty Clearing Station, then to be taken to the Australian General Hospital in Boulogne. John was discharged from the hospital. John and his unit marched to No.1 Command Depot at Sutton Veny, Wiltshire on November 7th. John undertook a medical test and he classified as B1 A2. This meant John should have been fit for an overseas training camp. Unfortunately, that was not the case.
John Davies was admitted to Sutton Valley Military Hospital on the 20th of November 1918. John was seriously ill, battling with influenza and pneumonia. It is likely that it was 5:20 AM when John Davies passed away. John was buried on the 3rd of December at the Old Mountain Ash Cemetery. John's father George, his step-brothers, his brothers, and his friends all attended his funeral. Due to his service, John Davies was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Those wanting to celebrate John's service can visit the National War Memorial in Adelaide.
Links
Cathy Sedgwick Biography
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/uploads/4/9/7/8/4978039/davies__john.pdf
National Archives Record
https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=1900494&S=1
Australian War Memorial
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R1726895
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/U51105
https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/C388065
Wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2nd_Siege_Artillery_Battery_(Australia)
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