DAVIS, Wilfrid
| Service Number: | 1180 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 March 1915 |
| Last Rank: | Sergeant |
| Last Unit: | 17th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Kendall, New South Wales, Australia, 4 February 1889 |
| Home Town: | Kensington, Randwick, New South Wales |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Tram Conductor |
| Died: | Cholera, Mesopotamia, 7 July 1918, aged 29 years |
| Cemetery: |
Tehran War Cemetery |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Haymarket NSW Government Railway and Tramway Honour Board |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Mar 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1180, 17th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 12 May 1915: | Involvement Private, 1180, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '12' embarkation_place: Sydney embarkation_ship: HMAT Themistocles embarkation_ship_number: A32 public_note: '' | |
| 12 May 1915: | Embarked Private, 1180, 17th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Themistocles, Sydney | |
| 7 Jul 1918: | Involvement Sergeant, 1180, 17th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1180 awm_unit: 17th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Sergeant awm_died_date: 1918-07-07 |
Great Sydney Central Station Honour Board
Wilfred DAVIS (Service Number 1180) was born 4 February 1889 at Kendall on the North Coast of NSW, and began his Tramway career on 30 March 1912, when he was casually employed as a conductor in Sydney. In November 1912 he became permanent. He joined the AIF on 1 March 1915 at the age of 26 and embarked from Australia on 12 May 1915.
Submitted 13 June 2023 by John Oakes
Biography contributed by John Oakes
Wilfred DAVIS (Service Number 1180) was born on 4th February 1889 at Kendall on the North Coast of NSW. He began his Tramway career on 30th March 1912 when he was casually employed as a conductor in Sydney. In November 1912 he became permanent. He joined the AIF on 1st March 1915 at the age of 26. He embarked from Australia on 12th May 1915.
He was hospitalised in Mudros (on the Greek Island of Lemns) late in December 1915. He had recovered by March 1916, He embarked at Alexandria (Egypt) on 17th March 1916 and joined the British Expeditionary Force. hee disembarked at Marseilles (France) on 23rd March 1916. He was found Absent Without Leave for 68 hours from 2nd April to 5th April 1916. As punishment, he was givn 96 hours of Field Punishment No. 2. He also forfeited eight days’ pay.
On 26th September 1916 he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for ‘services rendered during the recent fighting at Pozières’. The citation reads:
‘After the attack of night of 28/29 July at POZIÈRES a number of our dead and wounded were lying in No Man’s Land. Before daylight Pte. Davis had brought in several of these men under M.G. [machine gun] and rifle fire of a searching nature. For four hours after daylight Pte. Davis in the most gallant manner went fearlessly over the parapet; sometimes with a stretcher on his shoulder, and searched shell holes in No Man’s Land. During this daylight work he brought in the dead body of Capt. L.K. Chambers and also Lt. Maynard, wounded. During remainder of tour in trenches he assisted to carry wounded to Regimental Aid Post through barrages, and trenches which were battered by shell fire.’
He was admitted to the hospital again on 24th December 1916 in Rouen. He re-joined the fighting from the hospital on 29th March 1917.
As well as his Distinguished Conduct Medal, he was awarded the Military Medal.
‘During the operations near Westhoek on 20 Septr. 1917 when there were no more stretcher bearers obtainable, on reaching our objective this N.C.O. for 13 hours constantly attended to wounded men in the open regardless of self and carried them into the shelter of a captured blockhouse, His conduct inspired all ranks.’
He was sent to England for ‘special duty with the War Office’ on 20th January 1918. Then he was selected for special duty with the Imperial Army. He was alsompromoted to Sergeant.
Wilfred Davis died of cholera on 7th July 1918. He is buried in the Hamadan Military Cemetery in Persia. In addition to the Distinguished Conduct Medal and the Military Medal, his mother was also sent the 1914/15 Star, the British War Medal, and the Victory Medal for his service.
- based on notes for the Great Sydney Central Staion Honour Board
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