DAVIES, Harold
| Service Number: | 184 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 17 August 1914, Melbourne, Victoria |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 6th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | North Fitzroy, Victoria, Australia, 24 December 1894 |
| Home Town: | Fitzroy, Yarra, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Victoria Park State School and Melbourne High School, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | School Teacher |
| Died: | Severe, SW to rt forearm and back, penetrating abdomen, 15th Casualty Clearing Station, Ebblinghem, France, 18 April 1918, aged 23 years |
| Cemetery: |
Ebblinghem Military Cemetery Plot I. Row C. Grave No. 32 |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 17 Aug 1914: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 184, Melbourne, Victoria | |
|---|---|---|
| 19 Oct 1914: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 184, 6th Infantry Battalion, Enlistment/Embarkation WW1, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '8' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Hororata embarkation_ship_number: A20 public_note: '' | |
| 19 Oct 1914: | Embarked AIF WW1, Private, 184, 6th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Hororata, Melbourne | |
| 25 Apr 1915: | Involvement AIF WW1, Private, 184, 6th Infantry Battalion, ANZAC / Gallipoli | |
| 17 Apr 1918: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 184, 6th Infantry Battalion, GSW (back) |
Help us honour Harold Davies's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Richard Horton
Harold was an original ANZAC who took part in the original landing at Gallipoli as part of the second wave. He was first wounded during this action and was subsequently sent to hospital in Alexandria.
Harols was later transferred for service in France and ultimately passed away as a result of wounds suffered from the impact of a HE shell whilst returning from HQ on the 18th April 1918 nearly three years after being involved at the original landing at Gallipoli
"184 Private Harold Davies, 6th Battalion of North Fitzroy, Victoria, an Anzac... A school teacher prior to enlisting, he embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata (A20) on 19 October 1914. On 17 April 1918, as he was returning to battalion headquarters and when in La Motte Wood, France, Pte Davies was mortally wounded by a high explosive shell which landed near him. He died of wounds on 18 April 1918 at the 15th Casualty Clearing Station, Ebblinghem, France, aged 23 years. He is buried in the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, France." - SOURCE (www.awm.gov.au)
Biography contributed by Evan Evans
From On This Day - Australian Military History
#OTD: We Remember Private Harold Davies
Today we pause to remember the life and service of 184 Private Harold Davies, who died of wounds on the 18th of April 1918 whilst serving in France.
Originally from North Fitzroy, Victoria, Harold enlisted with the 6th Battalion and embarked from Melbourne aboard HMAT Hororata (A20) on 19 October 1914. On 17 April 1918, as he was returning to battalion headquarters and when in La Motte Wood, France, Privatee Davies was mortally wounded by a high explosive shell which landed near him.
He died of wounds on 18 April 1918 at the 15th Casualty Clearing Station, Ebblinghem, France, aged 23 years. He is buried in the Ebblinghem Military Cemetery, France
Biography contributed by Andreena Hockley
Harold Davies, son of Mr. A. Davies, of 37 Best-street, North Fitzroy, was born on the 24th of December, 1894. After completing his elementary-school education, he attended, in 1910-11, the Melbourne High School. In 1912, he was appointed junior teacher at the Victoria Park School, Collingwood. He made the earliest possible progress through the various grades of his junior-teacher's course. His promotion as a classified teacher came to him on active service.
Having enlisted in August, 1914, he embarked with the 6th Battalion. He went through a period of training in Egypt, proceeded with his unit to Gallipoli, and took part in the Landing. After the evacuation, he returned with his unit to Egypt.
On the 26th of March, 1916, he went with his unit to France, and served there till the 17th of April, 1918, when he was wounded in action. He died the next day.
The esteem in which he was held is shown in the following extracts from letters received by his mother.
Chaplain Carter, 6th Battalion, A.I.F., said: " I write on behalf of the officers and men to convey to you our deep sympathy in the sad loss you have sustained by the death of our comrade, Private H. Davies, 184, who died of wounds received in action during our recent resistance to the enemy offensive on the Hazebrouck front. He died at the 15th C.C.S. at Ebblingham, 18.4.18, and his body is buried in the cemetery attached to the C.C.S. We were all greatly appreciative of the splendid work he had done in the Battalion, and all very deeply regret the loss of a comrade of such devotion and service."
Nurse Constable wrote: " I just hate to have to write this sad letter to you. Your dear son was brought into my ward last night very seriously wounded. We worked hard and did all we could for him, but he never rallied. He was so splendid too, so plucky, and gave his great big smile right up to the end. I asked him if he would like me to write to you, and he seemed very pleased and sent his love; he was too ill to bother about any more. He had absolutely no pain and was quite comfortable, and died quite peacefully. I'm always so especially sorry for your boys so far away from every one who cares for them. It may be some comfort to you to know he had Australian doctors to look after him. You must have been so proud of him too; he was such a great, fine boy. With very sincere sympathy, yours sincerely, N. Constable. Your boy was not in the least bit disfigured, because injured in the arms and one leg. If there is anything I can do for you, please ask me—it will be a pleasure."
Source: The Education Department's Record of War Service, Victoria, 1914-1919.
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