Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

When Gilbert Heneage Davies was born on 27 April, 1879, at Jolimont in Victoria, his father, George Schoen (1841 to 1910), was 37 and his mother, Sarah Ann, nee Staples (1843 to 1879), was 36. He lost his mother when he was only an infant. His father married Jessie Agnes Machurtie in 1887. Gilbert would have three half brothers as a result of this marriage; George Vernon (1889 to 1983), Alan Cathcart (1890 to 1918) and Basil Rayner (1891 to 1979). All three of Gilbert’s half-brothers would enlist during the war with Alan dying of shrapnel wounds in 1918.

When Gilbert enlisted on the 8 January, 1915, at Melbourne, Victoria, he was a single, 35-year-old station hand whose address at enlistment was given as 148 High St, Malvern, Victoria. His medical examination details a man standing 5 foot 6 inches tall (168 cm) and weighing 140 lbs (64 kg). His complexion was given as fair, eyes blue and hair brown. He had two vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar inside his right knee. Gilbert gave his religious denomination as Presbyterian.

Initially, Gilbert was taken on strength with the 8th Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse and was allocated the service number 50. Gilbert embarked on HMT Megantic on the 28 May, 1915, at Melbourne and proceeded on active service in Egypt. After initial training, his unit once again boarded HMT Megantic on the 4 September, 1915 and sailed to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli.

After spending a few days on the island of Mudros, the 13th Light Horse arrived at Anzac Cove on the morning of the 11 September, at about 1:30 am. After disembarking the Regiment bivouacked between Rest Gully and Shrapnel Gully. For most of its time at Gallipoli the Regiment manned the trenches at Lone Pine.

While at Gallipoli, Gilbert was promoted to Corporal on the 25 September and then to Temporary Sergeant on the 18 October. On the 12 December, just before the final evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Gilbert was admitted to the 5th Field Ambulance with a septic hand due to a shrapnel wound which had fractured his right index finger. He was transferred to the 13th Casualty Clearing Station. He then boarded HMHS Oxfordshire at Mudros, was sent back to Alexandria and then finally Heliopolis, where he was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital. He was transferred to HMHS Karoola at Suez and returned to Australia on 20 January, 1916. His injuries were such that the first finger on the hand had to be amputated.

After spending time in hospital and convalescing, Gilbert returned to duty with the 3rd Military District. The 3rd Military District was an administrative district of the Australian Army. It covered all of Victoria and that part of New South Wales south of the Murrumbidgee River, with its headquarters at Melbourne.

He re-embarked for active service abroad on HMAT A6 Clan Maccorquodale on the 6 May, 1916, from Melbourne with the rank of Sergeant. At this stage he was still attached to the 8th Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse. Upon arriving back in Egypt he was taken on strength with the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment.

On the 10 August, 1916, Gilbert embarked on HMT Tunisian at Alexandria and sailed across the Mediterranean, arriving at Marseille in the south of France. Travelling by train across France he marched into the Base Depot at Etaples on the 20 July. One month later he was taken on strength of the 2nd Anzac Light Horse Regiment, however this seems to be more of an administrative move as the Regiment was serving in Egypt at that time. One week later he was detached for duty with the 2nd Anzac Australian Provost Marshal. Gilbert’s duties here would have included public safety inside military installations, gate duty, fire and ambulance services.

In April of 1917, Gilbert was detached for duty with the New Zealand Division. This posting was only for a period of eight days before he found himself back with the 2nd Light Horse. On the 8 May, 1917, he was detached to the School of Instruction. Eight days later he was admitted to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from epilepsy. He remained in hospital for nine days and was then transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Wimereux in the Hauts-de-France region of France. He was classified as unfit for duty on the 11 of June and sent to the 3rd Rest Camp at Boulogne. Three days later he was transferred to the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles.

In late July he was fit enough to rejoin the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. Gilbert received a weeks leave from the 19 August. On returning from leave he was detached to the 2nd Anzac Horse Depot. In late September he was transferred from the Light Horse to the Reinforcements alloted to the 39th Infantry Battalion.

Early in 1918, he was allocated another weeks leave. On rejoining the Battalion he was selected to attend an Infantry Cadet Course at the No 4 Officers Cadet Battalion in Oxford, England. Two months later, while on course, he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford dangerously ill with pneumonia. He would remain here for three months before he was classified as fit to rejoin the Officers Course.

Three days before the Armistice was signed with Germany he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. On 22 December he proceeded overseas to France to rejoin the 39th Battalion. On Boxing Day 1918, he was once again admitted to hospital in France suffering from scabies. He was transferred to England on 23 January, 1919, and admitted to hospital with severe dermatitis.

Nearly two months later he was classified as fit for general service and was transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade. On 25 March he was censured by the Commandant of AIF Headquarters for failing to comply with instructions for reporting for duty. On the same day he was readmitted to hospital with scabies, remaining there for almost two weeks.

On the 21 April, 1919, he proceeded once again overseas and rejoined the 39th Battalion in France. In early May he marched out from his unit to base for return to Australia. He proceeded to join the No. 3 Group at Codford in England. In late June, Gilbert was once again admitted to hospital but this time suffering from delirium tremens. His experiences during his long years of service were clearly taking its toll. He relinquished his duties at the No. 7 Mess at No. 3 Group and was admitted to the Mental Hospital at Tidworth in England. He would remain here for over four months.

On 22 November, 1919, over a year after the war had finished, Gilbert embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas and sailed home for Australia. He disembarked on the 9 January 1920 and was discharged over two months later on 22 March, 1920.

Electoral roll records indicate that Gilbert lived in the Corio area in 1914 and again once he had returned from overseas service. He also lived in the Frankston area between 1937 and 1952

Gilbert Davies moved to the Mornington Peninsula after the war, working first in sales and then as an inspector. At some stage, he married his wife Nellie. He returned to the military in World War 2, claiming to have been born in April 1893, fourteen years later than his actual birthdate (1879). In 1949, he claimed his employment as 'soldier'. He died on 22 August, 1952, at Frankston, aged 72.

Extract from "Light Horsemen of the Upper Murray", Year 5 and 6 Project, Corryong College.