Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Biography for SRP William John Fraser Davidson - Service Number: 68

SRP William John Fraser Davidson was born in Oatley, Hurstville, Australia, on May 26th 1897(1).Davidson’s father was William Davidson and his mother was Annie Davidson. William Davidson worked as a gas engineer fixing, repairing and maintaining gas systems which produced heat and light for people. There is no information on what his mother Annie Davidson did but it was common for women to take care of the household and care for the family. William John Fraser Davidson attended Sydney Technical School in the late 1910’s, graduating 4 years later and working as a clerk for E.G.H Hogg, a Sydney-based firm involved in the commercial sector(2).

Davidson enlisted on 17th August 1914, embarking for war and leaving Australia on the 30th September 1916 as reinforcements for the Mesopotamian campaign. Davidson was a driver in the 1st Divisional Signal Company and later became a Sapper for the 1st Australian Wireless Squadron. Davidson participated in several significant battles during World War 1, his most prominent including the Battle of Marne(1914) at northeastern France, Gallipoli Campaign (1915-1916) at Ottoman, Turkey and the Battle of Verdun (1916) at the western front in France(3).In the battle of Marne, Davidson was called in as general reinforcements. His role as a driver would have included transporting soldiers and other authorities, equipment and other heavy supplies in military vehicles. Davidson would find himself making necessary repairs and maintenance checks regularly. His role as a driver was vital to make sure that the 1st Australian Wireless Squadron could move around efficiently and the mobility allowed the military to make effective communication(4). Davidson John Fraser Davidson was promoted to a Sapper which he fought in the Gallipoli Campaign and the Battle of Verdun. A sapper is a military engineer, which tells us that Davidson would have been digging up trenches and building other defensive structures. As Davidson was part of the 1st Australian Wireless Squadron he would have also been maintaining and installing wireless communication devices, such as the radio, at their base to help transmit battlefield information and coordinate military attacks which were vital to find success in the war(5). Davidson’s roles as a driver and sapper in the 1st Australian Wireless Squadron was an important pillar of support for the military.

Unfortunately, he passed away on 21st June 1996, commemorated at Northern Suburbs Crematorium(6). William John Fraser Davidson’s life is a testament to his dedication, service and resilience. Davidson’s legacy is one of honour and sacrifice, reflecting a life devoted to duty and the service of his country.

References

Australian War Memorial
Sydney Technical Australian Wooden War Memorial.
InfoPlease Encyclopedia
Australian War Memorial
Ibid.
AIF UNSW Canberra

Bibliography

 National Archives Australia - https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/DetailsReports/ItemDetail.aspx?Barcode=3491668&isAv=N 

Australian War Memorial - https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/281321 

AIF UNSW Canberra - https://www.aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=73212 

Info Please Encyclopedia - https://www.infoplease.com/encyclopedia/history/modern-europe/wars-battles/world-war-i/from-the-marne-to-verdun 

Trove - https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/websites?keyword=William%20John%20Fraser%20DAVIDSON 

Australian Defence - https://www.defence.gov.au/adf-members-families/honours-awards/medals/imperial-awards/world-war-one/british-war-medal-1914-20 

Book titled “Death’s Men Soldiers of the great War”

Ken Stevenson, Research on Google Drive

William John Fraser Davidson from Oatley, Hurstville, Australia was born on May 26th 1897 to parents William and Annie Davidson. He served in several key campaigns as a sapper.

There is limited information about Davidson’s life before World War I. Davidson attended Sydney Technical High school from 1906 through to 1911. In his senior years, it can be seen that he has chosen subjects such as: Math, English, Geography, Physics, Chemistry, Drawing and Carpentry, which implies he seeked a career in mechanical design, or a drafter. After he graduated, he found a job as a clerk at E.G.H Hogg, a company in Sydney in the commercial field, which he was employed at until World War I began. Davidson aspired to be someone in the engineering area with his subjects at Sydney Technical High school, and ended up employed as a clerk at E.G.H Hogg.

Davidson enlisted to join the military at 19 years old (17th August 1914), his role being a sapper, a soldier that takes tasks related to engineering such as repairing roads and bridges or clearing mines, an essential role to the war effort in WWI. Davidson embarked to a myriad of places to help his comrades fight, such as Egypt, arriving approximately at 18th November 1914, or disembarking at Lemnos Island on approximately 8th May 1915, a critical logistical base for the Gallipoli campaign. 

He suffered a head wound at the Battle of Lone Pine (8th August 1915) and was hastily evacuated to the hospital ship HMHS Assaye, and was further transferred to British Red Cross Hospital, Le Touquet in France for disordered action of the heart, but fortunately Davidson was discharged from the hospital on 4th November 1915. Despite returning to Australia afterwards, he re-inlisted as a driver, who drives high-grade military vehicles to deliver vital resources to others, returning to service after recovery. F

There is unfortunately not a substantial amount of information given of Davidson’s life after World War I. During the end of World War I, Davidson has incurred several infractions, including “Failing to appear at place of parade appointed by his commanding officer” and “Losing by neglect his rifle value Rupees Fifty Eight”, resulting in Davison being rewarded 56 days of Field punishment No 2 (Disciplinary punishment that were for minor offences, and the person doesn’t have to be fixed to an object while carrying out heavy labour duties), and a stoppage of 58 rupees. Thankfully, Davidson returned back home, surviving the whole ordeal, but it is unclear where his life led him from thereon. He passed away from natural causes at the old age of 99, and was buried in the Northern Suburbs Memorial Gardens and Crematorium.

Bibliography:

https://anzacportal.dva.gov.au/wars-and-missions/ww1/where-australians-served/gallipoli/august-offensive/lone-pine

https://www.anzacmemorial.nsw.gov.au/our-stories/our-stories/australia-and-lemnos-great-war

https://vwma.org.au/explore/people/281321

https://recordsearch.naa.gov.au/SearchNRetrieve/Interface/ViewImage.aspx?B=3491668

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/P10346017

https://www.awm.gov.au/articles/encyclopedia/field_punishment

https://trove.nla.gov.au/search/category/websites?keyword=William%20John%20Fraser%20DAVIDSON

https://aif.adfa.edu.au/showPerson?pid=73212