Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Thomas John Herbert Davids (aka Bert) was born in Lobethel South Australia on the 7th of September 1893. His father was Julius Davids, who was a wool mill worker. His mother is unknown and he had a sister named Amalia Davids. Bert grew up in Lobethal, South Australia and worked as a labourer. On 13th July 1915 when he was 21 and 10 months old, he enlisted in the war at Keswick as part of the AIF (Australian Imperial Force). He embarked on HMAT A2 Geelong on the 18th November 1915 to Suez on the Western Front of Egypt. Bert fought as a part of the 32nd Battalian until the 24th of April 1916, where he was sent to an ambulance for defective eye sight. He rejoined the Battalion the next day, but the week after was sent back to the ambulance as the eye sight was in need of surgery. In June of 1916, Bert embarked from Alexandria to join the British Expeditionary Force on the Western Front. For the next month he fought in France, but was posted missing in action in July at Fromelles. In August 1916 he was found a prisoner of war, with two shrapnel wounds. After the war, Davids was repatriated to England, and then was sent to various hospitals in Scotland forinfluenza and bronchitis where he met a nurse named Janet Holliday Notman. He was discharged in February 1919.

Whilst there is minimal information about Thomas' sister Amalia Davids, there are multiple records of telegrams sent from AIF secretariess, telling Amalia not to worry and reassuring her. This perhaps portrays the close relationship between the two siblings and how much Amalia cared about her brother.

After recovering from casualties and sicknesses, Bert was determined to start his life. He married the nurse Janet Halliday Notman, on ANZAC day 1919 at Craiglockhart Parish Church in Edinburgh. 

The two of them returned to Australia soon after that, and Thomas received 3 medals for his service in The Great War. Thomas and Janet went on to have 2 children and lived in Adelaide.

He worked as a textile worker in Adelaide, and when he was 51 in 1946, he received the bronze Royal Humane Society for saving a man who fell off his roof onto an electrical wire. Bert dragged the man off the wire and thankfully only received minor shocks. 

Thomas John Herbert Davids passed on the 29th of July 1961 at age 67. He is buried and honoured at Centennial Park Cemetary in Adelaide. 

Bert truly was someone who did not give up, and persisted through all the troubles he faced. Throughout his life, he positively impacted the lives of many, and his story continues to do so today. Not only this, but he also saved many lives, as he was caring and always put others first. Bert really was a hero and his services and contributions are things that should be honoured and commemorated for many years to come.