James Hawdon DAVISON

Badge Number: 13236, Sub Branch: State
13236

DAVISON, James Hawdon

Service Number: 3796
Enlisted: 23 June 1916, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA
Last Rank: Private
Last Unit: 32nd Infantry Battalion
Born: Naracoorte, South Australia, 17 December 1897
Home Town: Naracoorte, Naracoorte and Lucindale, South Australia
Schooling: Not yet discovered
Occupation: Mill Hand
Died: Semaphore, South Australia, 30 April 1954, aged 56 years, cause of death not yet discovered
Cemetery: North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth, South Australia
Path 21 South, Plot B232
Memorials: Naracoorte and District Town Hall Honour Board WW1
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World War 1 Service

23 Jun 1916: Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 3796, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Enlisted at Adelaide, SA
21 Sep 1916: Involvement Private, 3796, 32nd Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '17' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Commonwealth embarkation_ship_number: A73 public_note: ''
21 Sep 1916: Embarked Private, 3796, 32nd Infantry Battalion, HMAT Commonwealth, Adelaide
27 Dec 1917: Discharged AIF WW1, Private, 3796, 32nd Infantry Battalion, Discharged at the 4th Military District as medically unfit due to chronic synovitis of the left knee

Help us honour James Hawdon Davison's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.

Biography contributed by Carol Foster

Son of Frederick William Davison and Eliza Jane Agar of Naracoorte, SA

Commenced return to Australia on 19 October 1917 aboard HT Port Lyttleton disembarking on 11 December 1917

Medals: British War Medal

Biography contributed by Paul Lemar

James the son of Frederick William DAVISON & Eliza Jane AGAR and was born on the 17th of December 1897 in Naracoorte, SA.

Frederick & Eliza were married on the 21st of May 1877 at the residence of Eliza’s parents in Naracoorte, SA.

His father was the son of Captain Francis DAVISON & Elizabeth HAWDON and was born on the 14th of October 1849 in Blakiston, SA.

His mother was the daughter of Thomas Walter AGAR & Margaret Elizabeth MATTINSON and was born on the 11th of December 1855 in Naracoorte, SA.

James was the eleventh child born into this family of 12 children; 4 boys and 8 girls.

James’s father was a barrister & solicitor in Naracoorte.

James and his siblings attended the Naracoorte School and by 1912 he had joined the Naracoorte Senior Cadets.

On leaving school James gained employment as a Mill Hand.

By 1914 his older brother Thomas, had moved to New Zealand and on the 12th of December 1914 he enlisted into the New Zealand Expeditionary Force and was allotted the service number 6/1508 and posted to the Canterbury Infantry Battalion (2nd).

James had just turned 17 years old when his father died on the 28th of December 1914

At the age of 18 James enlisted into the AIF on the 23rd of June 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number S5997 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot, Exhibition Camp.

He listed his mother of Naracoorte, as his next of kin and she also signed her consent as he was under age.

After 10 weeks of training he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on the 5th of September and was allotted the service number 3796.

James embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on the 21st of September 1916, disembarking in Plymouth England on the 14th of November.

He was posted to the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott for further training before proceeding to France.

However, James suffered from chronic synovitis of his left knee, possibly made considerably worst by the cold weather in England.

On the 4th of January 1917 he was classified as C1 which meant he was only fit enough for Garrison Service at Home Camps.

He remained on Garrison duty at Hurdcott until the 7th of August when he transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and then to No. 4 Command Depot in Codford 3 weeks later.

As James was not fit for active service he embarked for Australia on the 19th of October 1917 on board HT Port Lyttleton, disembarking in Adelaide on the 11th of December 1917.

James was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit due to chronic synovitis of his left knee, on the 27th of December 1917.

He returned to his family in Naracoorte but by 1931 was living in Tutye, near Ouyen, Victoria with his brother Cyril and employed as a farm hand.

He was not here very long before he moved back to Naracoorte.

James married Margaret May FAIRBANK in 1939.

Margaret the daughter of John Thomas FAIRBANK & Frances Fedora SULLIVAN and was born in 1911 in the Welcome Inn, near Medindie, NSW.

She had previously married Thomas MITCHELL in 1932 in Broken Hill.

In 1940 James was employed by Miller Anderson & Co, drapery business in Adelaide.

They welcomed their first child; John Hawdon was born on the 10th of December 1941.

Colleen Frances was then born on the 5th of November 1945 at 20 Argyle Street, Prospect, but sadly she died on the 6th of December, aged 4 weeks. They buried her in the North Road Cemetery; Path 21 South, Plot B232.

In 1951 they were living at 122 Brighton Road, Glenelg and they then moved to 62 California Street, Nailsworth & James was a salesman.

James died on the 30th of April 1954 at his residence, 26 Semaphore Road, Semaphore and was buried the following day in the North Road Cemetery; Path 21 South, Plot B232 with his infant daughter.

James’s grave was never marked.

Margaret died on the 5th of May 1955.

Military Service;

At the age of 18 James enlisted into the AIF on the 23rd of June 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number S5997 and posted to B Company, 2nd Depot, Exhibition Camp.

He listed his mother of Naracoorte, as his next of kin and she also signed her consent as he was under age.

After 10 weeks of training he was transferred to the 32nd Battalion, 9th Reinforcement on the 5th of September and was allotted the service number 3796.

James embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A73 Commonwealth on the 21st of September 1916, disembarking in Plymouth England on the 14th of November.

He was posted to the 8th Training Battalion in Hurdcott for further training before proceeding to France.

However, James suffered from chronic synovitis of his left knee, possibly made considerably worst by the cold weather in England.

On the 4th of January 1917 he was classified as C1 which meant he was only fit enough for Garrison Service at Home Camps.

He remained on Garrison duty at Hurdcott until the 7th of August when he transferred to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth and then to No. 4 Command Depot in Codford 3 weeks later.

As James was not fit for active service he embarked for Australia on the 19th of October 1917 on board HT Port Lyttleton, disembarking in Adelaide on the 11th of December 1917.

James was discharged from the AIF, medically unfit due to chronic synovitis of his left knee, on the 27th of December 1917.

_____________

James’s grandfather was Captain Francis DAVISON and Blakiston, in the Adelaide Hills, near Mount Barker, was founded by Captain Francis Davison. He named the town after an English town.

The following is a fantastic insight into the trials and tribulations that James’s grandparents endured as pioneers of South Australia……………………….

Captain Davison came from Durham, England, arriving in South Australia on Christmas Eve, 1839.

As a midshipman, he was at the siege of San Sebastian on H.M.S Queen Charlotte. Later he commanded H.M.S. Sir William Congreve (wrecked on the Jamaica coast), and as Commander of the Ceylon he had actually visited Australia in 1833.

He married Elizabeth HAWDON, sister of the famous pioneer and explorer, Joseph HAWDON who came to Australia in 1834 and was partner with a brother in a cattle station in New South Wales.

The Hawdon and Davison families were neighbours in Durham, and it was through Joseph Hawdon’s persuasion and glowing accounts of Australia that Captain Davison decided to become a pioneer.

The Captain, Mrs. Davison two infant sons, James and Frank, a nurse (Bessie Tamar), John Guy (man-servant), a dog Spot, a cat, a cow and calf, left London Docks on the ''Cleveland" (Captain Marley) on the 24th of July 1839.

In his diary, Captain Davison poignantly wrote:—"Our heart breaking duties commence, those of bidding goodbye, perhaps for ever, to friends and scenes we so dearly love

Our children ought never to forget the sacrifice we have made for their sakes."

There were eight cabin passengers, some of them taking barrels of apples and parcels of baked bread crusts as a safeguard against scurvy. At Plymouth, 180 emigrants were taken on board, according to Captain Davison, some "flighty females" amongst them.

The cabin passengers often visited the emigrants in cases of sickness, taking to them little dainties from their own store, or procurable on the ship. The only excitement on the voyage was seeing whalers strike three whales.

Sighting Kangaroo Island on December 17th, they arrived in Adelaide on December 24. They boarded at Miss Bathgate's (now the site of Foy and Gibson's) for the enormous sum of nine guineas a week. Mrs. Davidson said:—"We were much disappointed with Adelaide, the surrounding country nothing but a sand hill, not a green blade of grass, the only green the gum trees. The weather was insupportably hot and food very dear. We rented a wooden box of four rooms at the rate of £100 a year until we decided where to settle.

We spent our time unpacking and packing, washing and sweeping the dust off ourselves; we were either scorched with heat or choked with dust. The children were very ill with dysentery, and we were very thankful to leave the most disagreeable place I ever saw."

Captain Davidson was offered £100 for his cow, which he declined, and purchasing a mare for £86 he rode on a tour of inspection over the country. He finally settled on five sections near Mount Barker, and named the estate Blakiston, after the family seat in Durham.

He had brought out two Manning cottages for the domestic staff, which were set up on the home site. Ten bullocks and a dray were purchased for £210.

It took three bullock drays to take up the necessary goods, two drays and 24 bullocks lent by Joseph Hawdon.

The house was built, and on March 16th, 1840, the family left Adelaide in two bullock drays.

The last they saw of Adelaide was two bushrangers being hanged on trees in the parklands.

Mrs. Davison wrote of the beauty and romance of the journey, especially the lovely and extensive view of the plains from the ridge of the first hill and again she was enchanted with the beauty, when they camped on the banks of the Onkaparinga to rest the bullocks and have dinner.

The drovers wanted to stay there overnight, but when a brilliant moon rose over the hills, they pushed on, travelling two miles an hour, and arrived at the homestead at 11 p.m. very tired and happy.

Next morning, Mrs. Davison described the beauty of the land, the valley where cattle grazed, and densely wooded hills, and with her husband walked round the home section.

There were neighbours living in tents nearby.

Mrs. Davison proved a wonderful pioneer, tackling the job of settling in with the help of Bessie Tamar and Jane Wright. The first heavy rains split the shingles of the roof, and water poured in everywhere.

Spot died from a snakebite—a great tragedy, especially for the children.

Soon she was making candles (she says a great success), and churned her first pound of butter.

A Mr. Gripper, of Germantown, taught her how to skin birds, another how to make cheese, and as the months went on she was sending butter to town and getting 3/- a pound.

Two German girls from Germantown did the family wash, which, owing to the inconveniences, sometimes took three days. All mending and making for the family, and even the maids, was done by hand.

A carpet for the parlour was made, strips sewn together, which took two days to complete, and through it all Mrs Davison was often ill, suffering especially from her eyes.

The maids were discontented, keeping her in a perpetual ferment, with demands to be sent back to England, or threats to leave.

The captain had the same difficulty on the land. He purchased cattle from his brother-in-law, Joseph Hawdon, for £200, and 570 lambs from Charles Bonney. He engaged sawyers cutting timber for stock and station purposes at 14/ a hundred feet; they left the contract half completed.

Splitters were engaged to split timber for stockyards at 10/- a rod, so badly done that some logs could be broken by hand. He paid men to cut posts and rails at 25/- a hundred.

Labourers were continually deserting their jobs, leaving chimneys half finished and fences half up.

Mrs. Davison remarked:—"Only the masters are supposed to work in this colony."

Dams were sunk, in one of which Captain Davison put crayfish brought to him by a friend.

Before the stockyards were completed, and while sheep were being washed, a raging cyclone, with pouring rain, made it necessary to pack the sheep in the parlour and kitchen.

The shepherd, Galloway, for no reason, left the next day.

Captain Davison made his own sheep wash of arsenic and soft soap, and for scab he added tobacco water and spirits of tar to the wash. He shore his first wool in November, 1840, and sold it to Mr Waterhouse for 10d a pound, unwashed.

In 1841 he got 10½d washed and 6d unwashed, and in 1843 he only got 8d a pound for washed.

In 1843 Captain Davison was badly crushed under a falling tree. It took seven men to extricate him and his health was never the same.

He had been quite active in politics but after his injury he refused to take an active part in politics.

In 1840 Captain Davison was appointed Magistrate, Police Commissioner, Police Magistrate, and Stipendiary Magistrate, and presided over courts at Woodside, Gumeracha, Mt. Barker, Strathalbyn and Port Elliott. He was always accompanied by a police escort when on circuit.

As a magistrate, his first case was against some unknown person, who cut a hole in the tent of Mr. Breton, a neighbour, and stole a box containing £40 and valuable papers.

John Guy, appointed constable, and Capt. Davison visited a suspected man; but, for want of evidence, could not convict.

The next was a man charged and imprisoned for stealing a goose; the man escaped.

Two men were convicted for stealing a calf and partly burning it. Mr. Davison and Mr. Hunt left Blakiston at 3 a.m. for Adelaide to give evidence. The men were transported for 10 years.

Until the fences were up the cattle and sheep were continually straying; some did not return, some wandered as far as Adelaide, and returned after three months. John Guy was lost in the bush several days while hunting for strays. The cows calved away from home. The English cow as the greatest wanderer, her pioneer spirit leading the others many miles, sometimes as far as the lakes.

Mrs. Davison wrote:—"May 12—Lovely day; all the cattle lost."

The settlers round about were continually coming to Mrs. Davison for advice with sick children or accidents.

One poor woman came for protection against her husband who had brutally struck her about the head with his gun. Mrs. Davison dressed her wounds, and in the evening Captain Davison took her home and spoke to her husband.

Blakiston was a very popular place of call for travellers. Riding parties including ladies continually called, stayed the night and went on next day to other distant stations, even as far as the lakes. Mention in both Mr. and Mrs. Davison’s diaries are made of Mr and Miss Baker, of Morialta, Mr. and Mrs. Bartley, Mrs. Jackson, Colonial Treasurer's wife, the Watson and Hack family, who were continual callers on their way to Mr. Duncan McFarlane's station at Mount Barker.

Other notable pioneers who called, dined, and stayed at Blakiston were Governor Grey, Governor Robe, Captain Frome, Bishop Short, Messrs. Elder, Hamilton, Duncan and Allan,

McFarlane, Disher, Gleeson, Lieutenant W. G. Field, a passenger on the "Rapid," Colonel Light's ship, Hon. Smillie, Hawker, Cleggett, Burr, Bull and Nixon, a surveyor.

On December 18th, 1840, Captain Davison and Bessie Tamar cut the first corn grown; potatoes sold at 22/ a cwt., the finest in the colony. Some were sent as a present to Governor Grey; one turnip weighed 31 lb. 15 oz. and was four feet round.

As the children grew older a tutor was engaged, Fitzwillian Evans. He lived in one of the Manning cottages brought out from England. John Guy lived in the other; his wages were 10/ a week and meat free.

Mr. Evans was afterwards ordained by Bishop Short.

From the very beginning, Sunday was always observed by holding services in the large parlour, a beautiful room where two cedar columns rose to the roof from the centre of the floor resembling the saloon of a ship. The neighbours and the domestic staff were invited to attend and Captain Davison officiated.

Mrs. Davison’s first birthday present in South Australia was "Morrison's Family Prayers."

In 1842 services were held in the barn, the Colonial Chaplain, Rev. Howard, officiating, and on Christmas Day, Rev. White preached to 65 people. Meetings were held at Nairne to arrange about building a church at Blakiston.

Mr. G. Morphett and Mr. Stock gave the land for the church and rectory and Glebe. Captain Davison gave £400 as an endowment trust.

Rev. James Pollitt, his wife, four children, and maid boarded at Nairne, and after service in the beautiful dining room at Blakiston, he married the first two couples married in the district; their names were Mott and Gartrick.

Mrs. Davison laid the foundation stone of the church on October 3rd 1846.

The Pollitt family were installed in the new parsonage and on April 27th 1847, the little church of St. James was dedicated by Bishop Short. Among many important pioneers from the city and district present were Governor Robe and Mr. Frome.

Captain Davison’s infant daughter Elizabeth Anne, was baptised in the church and she married the Rev. J. W. Gower, who was the rector of St. James' for many years. In her 90th year she still occupied the pew chosen by the Davison family in 1847.

The last entry of Mrs. Davison’s diary ended on a happy note. "Sept. 30th, 1840. The garden seeds are coming up and our sow has brought forth twelve little piglets."

 

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