MS2814
DAVIES, James Edward
| Service Number: | 1904 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 1 February 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 48th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | Lake Mundi, Victoria, Australia, 1881 |
| Home Town: | Not yet discovered |
| Schooling: | Lake Mundi, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Station Hand |
| Died: | Norwood, South Australia, 18 January 1961, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: |
Naracoorte Cemetery, S.A. Old section, Plot 466 |
| Memorials: |
World War 1 Service
| 1 Feb 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, 1904, 48th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 13 Jul 1916: | Involvement Private, 1904, 48th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '19' embarkation_place: Adelaide embarkation_ship: HMAT Seang Bee embarkation_ship_number: A48 public_note: '' | |
| 13 Jul 1916: | Embarked Private, 1904, 48th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Seang Bee, Adelaide | |
| 29 Oct 1917: | Discharged AIF WW1, 1904, 48th Infantry Battalion |
Help us honour James Edward Davies's service by contributing information, stories, and images so that they can be preserved for future generations.
Add my storyBiography contributed by Paul Lemar
James was the son of James Robert DAVIES & Jessie Janet Shervan ELLIS and was born in 1881 in Lake Mundi, VIC.
His parents were married on the 24th of July 1880 in Lake Mundi, VIC.
His father was the son of Charles DAVIES & Maria WILLIAMS and was born on the 19th of July 1846 in Port Fairy, VIC.
His mother was the daughter of James ELLIS & Agnes MCDONALD and was born in 1857 in Penola, SA.
James was the eldest child born into the family of 6 children.
His father was a labourer on Lake Mundi Station.
James and his siblings attended the Lake Mundi School and after he completed his schooling he gained employment as a station hand.
The Davies family then moved to Kybybolite in 1911.
At the age of 34, James enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 1st of February 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 1904 and posted to the Base Light Horse, 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition Camp.
On the 16th of April James was transferred to the 48th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.
James embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on the 13th of July 1916, disembarked in Plymouth on the 9th of September and marched into the 13th Training Battalion in Codford.
He proceeded to France and suffered from Influenza and Rheumatism.
James embarked from England on the 27th of July 1917 on board HS Demosthenes, disembarked in Melbourne on the 24th of September and entrained to Adelaide the following day.
James was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 29th of October 1917 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.
He was granted a War Pension of £2/5/ per fortnight.
James married Clara MIELS on the 29th of September 1920 in Christ Church, Mt Barker, SA.
Clara was the daughter of Frank MIELL & Eliza GIDDINGS and was born on the 26th of December 1882 in Littlehampton, SA.
They made their home in Naracoorte and welcomed their first child; Rodger Miels on the 19th of March 1922.
Mary Edith was then born on the 16th of March 1924, but sadly she died 3 months later on the 15th of June 1924 and they buried her in the Naracoorte Cemetery; Old Section, Plot 466.
Marion was then born on the 27th of November 1925.
James gained employment as a labourer and they lived at Sandstone Quarry Road in 1939 and he joined the Naracoorte RSL Sub-Branch.
With the outbreak of WW2 their son Rodger enlisted on the 31st of March 1943 (SX31835).
Clara died on the 8th of September 1950 in Naracoorte and her funeral service was held in their home before she was buried in the Naracoorte Cemetery; Old Section, Plot 467.
James later moved to Adelaide and died on the 18th of January 1961 in Norwood and was buried 2 days later in the Naracoorte Cemetery; Old Section, Plot 466, with his little daughter Mary and next to his wife Clara.
Military
At the age of 34, James enlisted into the 1st AIF on the 1st of February 1916 in Adelaide and was allotted the service number 1904 and posted to the Base Light Horse, 2nd Depot Battalion at Exhibition Camp.
He listed his mother, of Kybybolite, SA, as his next of kin.
He was then transferred to the 9th Light Horse Regiment, 17th Reinforcements in Mitcham Camp on the 1st of March and then transferred back to the Base Light Horse on the 31st of March.
On the 16th of April James was transferred to the 48th Battalion, 3rd Reinforcements.
James embarked from Adelaide on board HMAT A48 Seang Bee on the 13th of July 1916, disembarked in Plymouth on the 9th of September and marched into the 13th Training Battalion in Codford.
After 2 months of training James proceeded to France on the 20th of November and was taken on strength with the 48th Battalion on the 4th of December at Dernancourt.
On the 17th they entrained for Flesselles and then marched into their billets where they continued training and spent Christmas Day 1916.
They then marched 14 miles to Franvillers on the 2nd of January 1917 and the following day they marched to Dernancourt.
From here they moved to Fricourt and then onto Brazentin in the support line on the 6th.
Two days later they were in the cold wet trenches at Flers. They were then relieved by the 47th Battalion on the 16th and moved into Brisbane Camp for 1 week before moving to Brazentin Camp on the 24th.
They were then moved to Albury Camp where they were employed on railway and road work before moving into the reserve line on the 9th of February.
On the 15th they were relieved and moved to Townsville Camp and the following day they moved into the front line in Bulls Trench.
They remained here for 10 days before being relieved and moved to Becourt Camp.
On the 1st of March they moved to Henencourt Wood, via Albert, for further training, before moving to Shelterwood Camp, Fricourt.
From here they moved to Noreuil and Bullecourt and were employed in fatigue work in the front line.
On the 11th of April they were relieved by the 45th Battalion and entrained to Albert, marched to Fricourt and then onto Henencourt Wood for training.
They then moved to Steenwerck and whilst here on the 1st of June, James became ill with Influenza and was admitted into the 9th Australian Field Ambulance at Le Pont d’Achelles.
The following day he was transferred to the 2nd Australian General Hospital in Wimereux and then invalided back to England on the 5th and admitted into the Shorncliffe Military Hospital in Kent. After 3 weeks here James was transferred to the 3rd Australian Auxiliary Hospital in Dartford on the 29th of June and further diagnosed with Rheumatism in his limbs and back.
James was discharged to No.2 Command Depot in Weymouth on the 13th of July where the medical board found him unfit for further service and recommended his return to Australia.
James embarked from England on the 27th of July 1917 on board HS Demosthenes, disembarked in Melbourne on the 24th of September and entrained to Adelaide the following day.
He was admitted into the 7th Australian General Hospital in Keswick on the 25th and then discharged from hospital on the 15th of October.
James was discharged, medically unfit, from the AIF on the 29th of October 1917 and awarded the British War & Victory Medals.
He was granted a War Pension of £2/5/ per fortnight