Frank Watts DAVIS

Frank Watts DAVIS Update Details

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DAVIS, Frank Watts

Service Number:	1524
Enlisted:	3 December 1914, Oaklands, South Australia
Last Rank:	Second Lieutenant
Last Unit:	50th Infantry Battalion
Born:	Wilcannia, New South Wales, Australia, 9 November 1894
Home Town:	Port Lincoln, Port Lincoln, South Australia
Schooling:	Wilcannia Public School and Broken Hill Public School, New South Wales, Australia
Occupation:	Fisherman
Died:	Killed In Action, Flers, France, 2 February 1917, aged 22 years
Cemetery:	Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban Grave Reference: K. 46
Memorials:	Adelaide National War Memorial, Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Port Lincoln & District Honor Roll WW1, Port Lincoln Garden of Remembrance

World War 1 Service

3 Dec 1914:	Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1524, Oaklands, South Australia
19 Feb 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1524, 10th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '10' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Runic embarkation_ship_number: A54 public_note: ''
19 Feb 1915:	Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 1524, 10th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Runic, Melbourne
9 May 1915:	Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 1524, 10th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli
19 Feb 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 10th Infantry Battalion
26 Feb 1916:	Transferred AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 50th Infantry Battalion
12 Jun 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Sergeant, 50th Infantry Battalion
12 Aug 1916:	Involvement AIF WW1, Sergeant, 1524, 50th Infantry Battalion, Mouquet Farm
26 Aug 1916:	Promoted AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 50th Infantry Battalion
2 Feb 1917:	Involvement AIF WW1, Second Lieutenant, 50th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: awm_unit: 50 Battalion awm_rank: Second Lieutenant awm_died_date: 1917-02-02

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Biography contributed by Aberfoyle Park High School

"...2nd Lieutenant Frank Watts Davis, 50th Battalion from Port Lincoln, South Australia. A 20 year old fisherman prior to enlisting as a Private (service number 1524) on 3 December 1914, he embarked for overseas with the 3rd Reinforcements of the 10th Battalion from Melbourne on 19 February 1915 aboard HMAT Runic. After joining the 10th Battalion at Gallipoli on 9 May 1915, he continued to serve there until the evacuation in December. While in Egypt he was promoted through the ranks from Lance Corporal to Corporal to Sergeant before going to France in June 1916 with the 50th Battalion. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant on 26 August 1916 and then killed in action at Bernafay, France on 2 February 1917. 2nd Lt Davis is buried in the Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, Montauban, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)

"THE LATE LIEUTENANT DAVIS

Second Lieutenant F. W. Davis, of B Company, 50th Battalion, was killed in action on February 2, 1917. He was the second son of Mrs. M. Kelly, of Port Lincoln, and was born in the Barrier district of New South Wales. He was 22 years of age. He joined the A.I.F. as a private on February 3, 1915, and left South Australia with his battalion some months afterwards for the front. His manliness and soldierly qualities soon won for him his promotion, and his gallantry on the field was recognised on more than one occasion. He was deservedly popular with a large number of friends. He was to have been married on his return." - from the Adelaide Chronicle 20 Oct 1917 (nla.gov.au)

"I, myself, voted in favour of conscription, and it would have done Australia the world of good to have it. If ever I get back there will be a few people who will know what we lads out here think of them; we who are juggling with death for the sake of the freedom which they enjoy. If they will not fight or do their bit, why don't they give us a chance, and not fight against us? They do us more indirect harm than our enemies."— From a letter received from the late Lieut. F. W. Davis, who was killed the day after he wrote it." - from the Adelaide Register 17 Dec 1917 (nla.gov.au)

Medals: 1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal

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