Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Early Years

Arthur Vernon Davenport was born on 23 July 1893 in Adelaide, South Australia, to Florence Grace (nee Goode), age 27, and Samuel Alfred Davenport, age 31.

Arthur's Grandfather Robert, originally from Oxfordshire, United Kingdom, immigrated to Australia in 1843 shortly after the death of his Mother. He was 27 years of age and with him were his older brother George (Francis) and younger brother Samuel (later Sir Samuel Davenport). George known as "Francis" (his father was George also and an agent for the South Australia Company) had been to South Australia earlier in 1840 and commenced a survey of land in the Adelaide Hills which was to become known as Macclesfield. Francis had returned to England after the death of his mother but he too died from Typhus shortly after returning to South Australia in 1843. Robert and Samuel completed the survey and acquired property in the area. Later Robert acquired land in the Clare Valley at Barunga Gap where Arthur's father Samuel Alfred was born.

Arthur's father Samuel Alfred Davenport married Florence Goode in 1891 and settled in Park Terrace, Eastwood. At the turn of the Century the family spent time in England staying at Croydon, Surrey. A census in 1901 showed young Arthur as 7 years old.

His father had become a successful stockbroker and was a member of the firm Davenport, Smith & Roberts who had offices in Cowra Chambers in Grenfell Street, Adelaide. He was also a company director of several speculative mining companies. Arthur was enrolled at Saint Peter's College to complete his education.

Arthur's great uncle Sir Samuel Davenport (1818-1906), landowner, parliamentarian (a member of the original Legislative Council that passed South Australia's first Constitution) was also a member of the University of Adelaide Council from 1889 to 1897. It was logical that Arthur would be the first of the Davenport family to attend the University.

Education and Sport

At Saint Peter's College Arthur completed his Junior and Senior Public Examinations by 1909 and in 1910 sat for the University of Adelaide Higher Public Examinations in three subjects. He was also a keen sportsman playing football (1910 Intercollegiate v PAC), a member of the rowing teams and represented the school in tennis. He also competed in the State Junior Titles in 1910 making the semi-finals.

Adelaide University - Law and Sport

In 1911 Arthur Davenport was an articled law clerk in the office of the eminent Adelaide lawyer William James Isbister C.B.E., K.C. who was also at the time a member of The Council of the University of Adelaide (a position he would hold for 40 years 1905 -1945). Instead of opting to study full time for a law degree, he had chosen the other option which was to be articled in his first year and complete a combination of four years of "hands on" experience in a law firm and a prescribed course of subjects and examinations. At the end of his articles and examinations he would receive his "Final Certificate in Law" from the University.

His main sports at Adelaide University were tennis and cricket.

Cricket

Arthur was only a B Grade cricketer and had not played in the 1st X1 at school. However, he was a regular member of the team from the end of the 1911/12 season until the 1913/14 season and completion of his university studies.

Tennis

Arthur competed for the Adelaide University team in the SA Lawn Tennis Association inter-club competitions and also played in the State Championships doubles competition.

Other Sport

He was also a keen golfer and played regularly in competitions at the North Adelaide golf Club. Although he had played football at St Peter's College, during the colder months he preferred spending his time on the golf course. His father Samuel was also a very fine golfer, playing at the Adelaide Golf Club at Seaton (later "Royal Adelaide Golf Club"). Previously in 1905, Samuel had been a founding committee member of the North Adelaide Golf Club at Montefiore Park.

World War 1

By the end of 1914 Arthur had completed his course work at the University and his fourth years of articles would have to be completed early in 1915.

On the 17th May, shortly after the Gallipoli landing, he made the choice to enlist alongside others from his university contemporaries from the sporting teams and law faculty.

Arthur was assigned initially to the Australian Medical Corps, 1st Reinforcements, 3rd General Hospital with the rank of Private. While serving in France he was given training with the 13th Field Artillery Brigade and promoted to the rank of Temporary Bombardier. He was then transferred early in 1917 to the 12th Field Artillery Brigade and on to the Western Front.

In April 1918 he suffered an abdominal gunshot wound and was evacuated to the UK. In October 1918, after successful surgery and a period of convalescence, he returned to France. Fortunately the Armistice came soon enough on November 11th and in January 1919 he received his orders to return home to Australia.

While on active service in France, Mr. Isbister had in his absence moved that Arthur Vernon Davenport be admitted as a practitioner in the Supreme Court.

On his return to Adelaide and with little time for recuperation, he was well set to embark again on a legal career that had been on hold for 3 years.

After World War 1

One of Arthur's first activities was to become involved in Athletics. He had acted as Chairman of a meeting of the South Australian Amateur Athletic Association while a member of their Council in September of 1919 and in May 1920 was an Assistant Hon. Secretary.

In March 1920, he and a fellow WW1 volunteer Robert Shannon Davey formed a partnership and began a practice from offices at 22 Waymouth Street in the City. Their activities consisted largely of estate matters and foreign consulate work.
The partnership lasted only two years with Davey opting for a more rural lifestyle after purchasing a sheep grazing property at Mt Pleasant. Already by 1925 Arthur had formed a new partnership with Irvine Dale Wald who had served his articles in the same firm as Davenport and been admitted to the Supreme Court in July 1923. The firm Davenport and Wald was located in the Executor Trustee Building at 22 Grenfell St Adelaide. Arthur's brother Howard worked for the Excecutor Trustee & Agency Company at the same address. Together they handled some large estates. By 1939, Arthur was a sole practitioner and operating from the Exchange Buliding, 26 Pirie Street.

Marriage and Family

Arthur Davenport had married Gladys "Rita" Toms on 17th February 1923.

Arthur and Rita lived at 73 Tusmore Avenue, Tusmore until the early 1940s after which they moved to 12 Northumberland Street, Heathpool. Their marriage lasted 27 years until the untimely death of Rita in October 1950 at the age of 59.

Arthur and Rita had three children.

After Rita's death, the Heathpool property was auctioned in July 1952 and Arthur would move to Bridgewater where he would reside at for his remaining life.

Two years after Rita's death, Arthur married a second time to Miss Margaret Murray.

Arthur had continued to play golf at the North Adelaide Golf Club throughout his life and also later at the Mount Lofty Golf Links. He and Rita were avid bridge players with the "Duplicate Bridge Club" and mixed in wide Adelaide social circles.
Arthur Vernon Davenport died on 16 July 1964 in South Australia at the age of 69 and was interned at the Anglican North Road Cemetery, Nailsworth with his wife Rita, Mother, Father and two of his siblings who had died in infancy.

Family Legacy

Arthur and Rita's son John attended St Peter's College and then studied medicine at Adelaide University. In his first year he was awarded the Elder Prize. He graduated MBBS in 1952. In his final year he won the Charles Gosse Medal for Ophthalmology.

Their two daughters both attended Presbyterian Girls' College.

Elizabeth married Harold Quigley in 1952.

Hilaire married Colin Moodie in 1954. She had been working as secretary to the editor of the British publication "The Commonwealth".

Profile added with the permission of the author Rob O'Shannassy.

For the complete profile including photographs, newspaper articles, documents and sources prepared for the AUFC/AUCC WWI Memorial Project please see the document attached.