Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

From Ballarat & District in the Great War

As a teenager I spent a lot of time working with horses. As a result, I developed a greater understanding of not only a horse’s capabilities, but how they react in different situations – their strengths and their weaknesses. And just how inbuilt the flight mechanism is imbedded.

Imagining attempted cavalry charges across broken ground against machine guns have always terrified me, but never so much as the fear that horses and mules must have endured under constant shellfire. The men who worked with these teams were often equally the most fearless and most exposed as they worked to bring in supplies of food and ammunition. One of those remarkable horsemen was Ballarat’s Otto Davies.

Born at Ballarat in April 1896, Driver Otto William Davies was the youngest son of David Joseph Davies and Isabella Bennett. His parents were born in South Australia – David Davies being the son of Welsh immigrants. The lure of gold brought both families to Victoria, where David and Isabella were married in 1879.

David Davies set up business as a butcher at 86 Armstrong Street, Ballarat. Generally, the family lived above the shop, and, as a boy, Otto spent much of his time in and around the shop watching his father work.

When he reached school age, Otto was able to walk to the nearby Dana Street State School. From the outset he had the familial support of his older siblings – and, in turn, he was able to look after his little sister, Isabella, when she joined him at the school two years later.

An incident on 7 May 1909, when David Davies was involved in an accident, was to have an eerie echo of similarity just eight years later. Driving his cart along Peel Street in Ballarat East, David encountered a bank-up of traffic as he neared Bridge Street. Pulling his horse up, he was unprepared for the collision precipitated by a dairyman’s cart coming from behind. The shaft of the rear vehicle hit the butcher’s cart, and, in leaping to safety, David badly broke his right ankle. He was transferred to the Ballarat Hospital where the compound fracture was attended to.

Fortunately, by this time his eldest son, William, was able to take over the running of the family business. Likewise, Otto had reached an age where he was preparing to leave school and was also to become a butcher.

The business had been relocated to 909 Sturt Street by that time. As a family the Davies’ worshipped at the Ebenezer Presbyterian Church in Skipton Street. The men were also members of the City branch of the Australian Natives Association in Camp Street. Everything was within walking distance.

As news of the Landing at Gallipoli began to filter through, attention-catching headlines of ‘a stupendous achievement’ covered up the truth and the increasingly high numbers of casualties.

Otto, who had just turned 19, saw either a chance for a well-paid adventure or, like so many of his fellow countrymen, a need to “do his bit.” He enlisted at Ballarat on 7 July 1915.

Dr F. B. Crawford conducted Otto’s medical examination the following day. Although he was described as having ‘normal physical development,’ Otto was just a slight lad at 5-feet 6-inches and weighing a mere 128-pounds. His chest measurement of 31½-inches could have been problematic; however, he was capable of expanding it to a more than acceptable 35-inches on taking a good deep breath. The recording of his fair complexion, blue eyes and brown hair completed his physical description.

The fact that Otto was serving with Ballarat’s 18th Army Service Corps and had twelve months experience, was clearly a factor in his posting – he was assigned to the Australian Army Service Corps at Seymour Camp.

His training at Seymour and then Broadmeadows continued over several months, before he was assigned to the Headquarters Company of the 3rd Divisional Train on 25 March 1916.

After nearly 12-months in camp, Otto finally embarked from Melbourne on 3 June. The voyage was relatively fast and the troopship Persic docked at Plymouth on 25 July.

Another delay of four months then ensued before Otto sailed for France on 23 November.

Early in the New Year, Otto found himself on a charge sheet when he was absent from a 6:30am Parade. Fortunately, he was only admonished by the Officer Commanding the 867th Company. All-in-all, it wasn’t a great start, but Major W. H. Berry obviously recognised promise in the young recruit.

From 21 February until the 27 March 1917, Otto was on detachment to the 3rd Division School. Then, once again, he found himself in trouble – the official language making the issue sound even more dramatic. ‘…Offence: whilst on active service, neglecting to obey a Divisional order regarding animals in draught, in that he on the 10 April 1917 allowed his horses to trot…’

For this misdemeanour, Otto was ‘deprived of 1 day’s pay’ – 6-shillings – by Major Berry.

On 6 June 1917, Otto was admitted to the 9th Field Ambulance, stationed in Belgium, with what was believed to be a shrapnel wound to his thorax and abdomen. He died shortly afterwards.

Confusion as to what had occurred necessitated a Court of Enquiry, which was held on 14 July at La Crèche, found that Otto Davies had not been wounded, but had been severely injured as the result of an accident whilst proceeding on duty to the 24th Battery. A shell burst in the vicinity of his wagon caused his horses to bolt, and Otto had been knocked off the wagon, the wheels then passed over his body.

Bombardier W. O’Brien was one of the witnesses called to give evidence. He stated that, ‘…about 4.30am on the morning of June 6th 1917 while proceeding to the 24th Battery with rations, a shell burst about 5 yards in the rear of the wagon. The horses took fright and Driver Davies lost control of them for the time being, and before he could regain control of them, the wagon ran into a shell hole, the jolt threw him from the seat, to between the pole and the off horse.

I endeavoured to gain control of the horses, and as the reins were dragging on the ground, all I could do was to jam the brake on, which I did, and they stopped in a shell hole about 100 yards further on. I dismounted and ran up to the driver and asked him where he was hurt, he said that both wheels had passed over his chest. This was all he said to me.

With the assistance of another man I carried him on a stretcher to a DS about a quarter of a mile away. I unhooked the horses and with the assistance of some men from the 24th Battery managed to pull the wagon from the shell hole. I delivered the rations and brought the wagon back to the 22nd Company AASC horse lines…’

Driver Theo Macaw was able to add, ‘…My wagon was following Driver Davies wagon, about 100 yards in rear, and I saw a shell burst close in rear of his wagon. His horses reared up and bolted along the road; Davies appeared to be using every effort to check the bolting horses. I also noticed that he did not appear to be able to put on the brake, or sit in his seat, and the wagon only proceeded about 10 yards when I saw him fall down between the horses.

As soon as my wagon reached the place where he was lying I pulled up, but my horses were very restless and I could not dismount and examine him, but from where I was sitting I could see he was in great agony and his legs appeared to be broken, or severely injured from the position in which he was lying…’

Given the panic of the injured and terrified horses, the broken ground they were travelling over, it was always going to be a recipe for disaster. And, tragically reminiscent of what had occurred to his father eight years earlier.

Lance-Corporal Reg Palling-Fox, went to the hospital hoping to see his mate. He arrived at 7:45am on 6 June, but Otto had already died nearly two hours earlier. Visiting Otto’s body in the morgue, Palling-Fox was distressed to notice damage to the young man’s chest and leg, and the blood that had run from Otto’s mouth.

Chaplain Sydney Armson, attached to the 48th Battalion, performed the burial service for Otto Davies in the Pont d’Achelles Military Cemetery, three miles northwest of Armentières.

If the fate of a soldier could be captured in a letter, then the last hours of Otto Davies remain as vivid today as they were in 1917. His commanding officer, Major Berry, wrote the following words to Otto’s parents.

'…He died while doing his duty like a true and brave man…he left camp at 3 in the morning to take food supplies to the men in the front trenches, and about 4:30 am a shell from the enemy burst just behind the wagon. Several pieces striking the horses, causing them to become unmanageable. Your son endeavoured to get them under control, but before this could be done the wagon lurched into a shell hole and he was thrown from his seat, both wheels passing over his chest.

As soon as possible he was rendered every assistance, but it was to no avail and he died bravely at 6 am and was buried that afternoon. All the company deeply regret his death...'

The flags on the Ballarat Town and City Halls were flown at half-mast on 24 June 1917, in memory of Otto Davies. Then, in the Ballarat Avenue of Honour, a Canadian Giant Elm was planted to commemorate his service.