DAVIES, Archibald Neil
| Service Number: | 505 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 2nd Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Booral, New South Wales, Australia, 31 August 1895 |
| Home Town: | Waratah West, Newcastle, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Locomotive fireman |
| Died: | Hit By Shell - Minnewerfer, Left of Hill 60, Ypres, Belgium, 5 September 1916, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm) Plot VI Row M Grave 20 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Hamilton Loco Employees Great War Honour Roll, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board, Waratah Memorial Gates |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 505, 2nd Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 18 Oct 1914: | Involvement Private, 505, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Battle for Pozières , --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '7' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Suffolk embarkation_ship_number: A23 public_note: '' | |
| 18 Oct 1914: | Embarked Private, 505, 2nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suffolk, Sydney | |
| 30 Apr 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 505, 2nd Infantry Battalion, GSW right rib | |
| 4 Jun 1915: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 505, 2nd Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli, Ptomaine poisoning |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Archibald Neil DAVIES (Service Number 505) was born on 31 August 1895. He began his Railways career on 6 May 1914 as a cleaner at Hamilton, in the Locomotive Branch. He joined the AIF very soon after, on 8 August 1914, at the age of 19, and he was allocated to the 2nd Battalion.
He was killed in action on 5 September 1916 at the age of 21 in Belgium, in the Ypres Salient. An account from one of the soldiers in his battalion states that he was ‘blown to pieces by a shell’ whilst resting in a dugout. He was buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, one and a half miles SSE of Ypres, Belgium.
Submitted 10 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From Gary Mitchell, Sandgate Cemetery
Awaiting memorialisation at Sandgate Cemetery.
104 years ago today, on the 5th September 1916, Private Archibald Neil Davies, 2nd Battalion (Reg No-505), loco-fireman (Hamilton Railway sheds), of Cambridge Park, "Liddlesdale", 38 Ada Street, Waratah, New South Wales, was Killed in action, age 20.
https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1726762/
Red Cross Wounded and Missing - https://www.awm.gov.au/people/rolls/R1480453/
http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133848100
Born at Booral, (Stroud) New South Wales on the 31st August 1895 to Leslie Frederick (died 1933 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135081455, http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article135093729) and Margaret Annie (died 1957) Davies, Archibald enlisted August 1914 at Randwick, N.S.W.
Wounded in action - 25/30.4.1915 (GSW right rib, Gallipoli Landing), and admitted to hospital 6.6.1915 (ptomaine poisoning), 7.11.1915 (jaundice), 27.2.1916 (influenza, mild - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article137100494), 25.4.1916 (cellulitis, face), Mr Davies is now resting at the Railway Dugouts Burial Ground (Transport Farm), Belgium. Plot VI Row M Grave 20. Headstone photo courtesy of Eddy Lin, Belgium.
Archibald has been remembered on the Waratah Park Memorial Gates, Waratah-St Philip's Anglican Church Roll of Honour, Waratah & Mayfield Roll of Honour, Raymond Terrace Public School Boys Roll of Honour, Hamilton Loco Employees Honour Roll (photo, unveiled on the 8th October 1916 - http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article133842346, 97 names now inscribed) and the NSW Govt Railways and Tramways Roll of Honour, 1914-1919.
Unfortunately, there is no memorial inscription on the headstone plaque of Archibald’s parents to tell us of the supreme sacrifice of their son during The Great War, and I am unable to erect a memorial cross, so I have placed poppies to honour his service for Home, King & Empire. ANGLICAN 2-116. 87.
http://sandgate.northerncemeteries.com.au/index.php/war-heroes/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=51&aso=exact&s_f=id&data_search=31503#2
Younger brother Stanley Gordon (Reg No-2422, 35th Battalion, born 1897, died 1977) also served 1st A.I.F.
Lest We Forget.
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Archibald Neil DAVIES (Service Number 505) was born on 31st August 1895. He began his Railways career on 6th May 1914 as a cleaner at Hamilton in the Locomotive Branch. He joined the AIF very soon after this on 8th August 1914. at the age of 19. He was allocated to the 2nd Battalion.
He embarked at Alexandria to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force in the Gallipoli Campaign on 5th April 1915. He was injured at Gallipoli, with a gunshot wound to his rib sometime between 25th and 30th April. He was admitted to hospital in Cairo on 30th April 1915. After recovering from his wounds, he re-joined his battalion in Gallipoli on 1st June 1915. He was admitted to hospital again on 4th June 1915 for ptomaine poisoning, which was similar to food poisoning. He was admitted to St Georges Hospital in Malta on 12th June 1015.
After recovering from his illness, he embarked from Malta on the ‘Seeang Bee’ to Alexandria. From there he re-joined his battalion at Gallipoli on 26th June 1915. On 31st October 1915, he was sick again. He was sent to the field ambulance in Gallipoli. He was admitted to a hospital ship, the ‘Nevasa’, and disembarked at Alexandria on 7th July 1915. He was discharged and considered bo be fit for active service in Cairo on 10th December 1915. He was punished for being absent from a parade in Zeitoun on 30th January 1916. This resulted in him losing one day’s pay. On 27th February 1916, he was sick again, this time with influenza. He was admitted to hospital in Heliopolis. After moving around hospitals and convalescent depots in Heliopolis and Helouan, he was discharged to Cairo on 28th March 1916. In late April in Tel-el-Kebir he was admitted to hospital again, this time for cellulitis on his face. He re-joined the battle when he recovered, on 1st May 1916. He re-joined his unit in France on 11th August 1916.
He was killed in action on 4th September 1916 at the age of 21 in Belgium in the Ypres Salient. An account from one of the soldiers in his battalion states that he was ‘blown to pieces by a shell’ whilst resting in a dugout. He was buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, one and a half miles SSE of Ypres, Belgium.
Some of the personal items that were sent to his next of kin, his mother and father, following his death included letters, a card, photos, and two souvenirs. They also received the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal for his service.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Click images to start slideshow.