Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

William Henry Davis was a husband, son, father, painter, and first world war soldier who fought for the Australian Imperial Force for over three and a half years. William was born in London in 1883 and moved to Australia. Davis had brown hair, fair skin, brown eyes, stood at 5 feet 7 inches, and tattoos along both his forearms. Before the war Davis worked as a painter and was married to Sarah E Davis, they had 3 children. As most soldiers do, William joined the war as a Private, however, after transferring to the 50th Battalion was promoted to a Sergeant. 

On September 22nd, 1914, 31-year-old William joined the AIF in Morphettville South Australia. With 8 years of Royal Marines experience, he embarked from Adelaide, South Australia, on board HMAT A24 Benalla on 27 October 1915. Australian men originally volunteered to enlist which was done for reasons such as they were seeking regular pay, wanted to be adventurous, wanted to escape from their life at home.

The 10th Battalion was created in August 1914 in South Australia and departed around October on HMAT for Egypt arriving in early December. Egypt was a camp for Australia and other Allies as it was a British colony. The Battalion fought at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December 1915 where they moved to the Western Front, particularly at Pozières in the Somme valley and Ypres in Flanders. The purpose of the placement of Australian soldiers was to assist a British naval operation that intended to capture the Turkish capital, Constantinople. The 10th was greatly involved in the Allies' defence against the German Spring Offensive of March-April 1918.

The 50th Battalion was formed in Egypt in February 1916 when the 10th Battalion split and new recruitments were welcomed. William was transferred to the group, on the 3rd of January 1916 William was promoted to temporary Sergeant in the 50th Battalion, and a few hours later he was promoted as official Sergeant of the Battalion. This Battalion became known as 'Hurcombe's Hungry Half Hundred', named after its first Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Frederick Hurcombe. The Battalion served in Mouquet Farm and Noreuil in France during 1916 and early 1917. In 1917 the 50th moved to Belgium and fought in Messines and Polygon Wood. In 1918 the battalion moved back to France, now in Dernancourt and Villers-Bretonneux.

William quickly advanced ranks in the first month of a new battalion, being any leader in the war came with great responsibility. However, as William had previously served the Royal Marines for 8 years, so he was familiar with the expectations of an army leader.

William survived the First World War and did not have any notable events recorded that happen to him, his documents included a complaint was shared stating there were no medical reports on William Davis, those in control of the filling organization may have misplaced the documents, as each soldier was required to go through a medical examination. However, some documents show that on the 31st of February 1918 Deputy Assistant Attorney General of the 4th Military District asked William’s wife Sarah Davis for her latest address. After the address of the soldier’s Wife was located usually the Husband would return home and conclude his war career, however, William’s war documents show no record of him returning home. William was likely kept in the AIF to complete 4 months of work once the war had officially finished – as stated is required for survived soldiers. 

The fate of William Henry Davis is not shared however it is estimated he passed at 85 years of age. 

NAA: B2455, DAVIS W H. (n.d.).

https://digital.collections.slsa.sa.gov.au/nodes/view/2657.

www.awm.gov.au. (n.d.). William Henry Davis. 

https://www.awm.gov.au/collection/R2309248edu.au/aif/