Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Edward was born in the Clare Valley town of Riverton on the 3rd July 1920. He was one of Harold Sydney (Sid) and Annie Louise Davis’ children. His four siblings included two sisters Annie and Joan and two brothers, Robert Bruce and Arthur. In 1923 the family moved to Yorketown on the southern Yorke Peninsula, an area renowned for its salt lakes, which were a major provider of employment to harvest the salt. Edward’s father was the first Chairman of the local District Council and was elected Mayor of Yorketown in ’33 and also was a Justice of the Peace. He operated ‘The Popular Cash Store’, remodelling and updating the shop front with plate glass windows. All the boys were enthusiastic members of the Boy Scout Troop with older brother, Bob also became a Cub Master in the Boy Scout movement. Joan was an officer in the Girl Guide Company whilst Annie was the town librarian.
Edward, affectionately known as Ted, attended the local Yorketown school, regularly appearing in the Honour list for his performance in arithmetic and spelling, gaining his Qualifying Certificate in ’32. He was also a competent debater on the contra side of the justification for Empire Day.
By 1934, Ted, his parents, Arthur and Annie moved to Salisbury on the Little Para River, when his father purchased an orchard with Edward eventually working as a gardener. Joan remained to live at Port Vincent and Bob at Yorketown.
With the outbreak of WWII, Edward’s older brother, 22-year-old Robert, described as 6ft. in his socks, was the first to enlist in November ’39, serving with the Signals Unit. Prior to heading overseas with the Second A.I.F, then Sig. Bob Davis returned to Yorketown with his father, to bid farewell to his sister, Annie (Mrs. MacFarlane) and brother-in law, Mr. Herb. MacFarlane. The locals were quick to wish him and his pals bon voyage and a safe return. By May Bob had been appointed as an Instructor in the Corps Signals.
Despite the family learning that Robert was seriously ill ‘as a result of an accident’ according to an early February issue of the News in ‘41, by the end of that month the Chronicle reported that he was ‘no longer seriously ill’. Aged 20, Edward followed his brother’s example by enlisting on the 19th July ’41 and was initially allocated to the 2/10th Battalion. At the end of his pre-embarkation leave, Edward took an extra four days of leave which proved to be a costly exercise in the loss of pay for that time. This may have been as a result of the news drifting back to Australia that Robert had sustained a gunshot wound to his arm and chest in June. Regardless, by the end of October Edward was assigned to the 2/48th Battalion and was on his way overseas to the Middle East, arriving on the 25th October.
Once in the Middle East, the 2/48th Battalion’s first orders were to hold Tobruk for two months, however this stretched out to defending the fortress for eight months. Tobruk was typified by dust, flies, heat, minimal water supplies and constant bombardment which provided a constant challenge to new enlistees. They were to become the famed Rats of Tobruk.
Edward was killed during the fierce fighting on the 26th October ’42, where conditions were ever-changing and the fighting continuous. He was just 22 years of age. The 2/48th Battalion had prepared for the second battle of El Alamein which began on October 23rd. That month, Montgomery had ordered the 9th Battalion to attack northward. This included an all-out attack on the strategically positioned Trig 29. The evening was described by John Glenn in ‘Tobruk to Tarakan’ as ‘an occasional burst from a machine gun disturbed the night of 24th October. Nevertheless, it was a busy time for the tired men. Little or no sleep could be had. A hot meal sent forward after dark was quickly swallowed. There was no time for yarning. Defences had to be improved, more digging and wiring done, and patrols sent out.’ He later added that ‘the 2/48th had stirred up a real hornets’ nest.’ On that night alone 9 of the Battalion were killed and 20 wounded in action. Of these 16 were from South Australia and the remainder from Western Australia.
Glenn explains they were ‘running into particularly stiff opposition to the west of the Trig point. It was only after hard fighting, with heavy casualties on both sides, that they were able to consolidate on their objective. Gradually the platoon, small in number to start with, was being whittled away and those remaining were being forced to go to ground.’ Many years later, in November 2019, in an interview with Harry Lock, the ‘Murray Pioneer’ reported that ‘On the night of October 25 – 26, 7 Platoon was ordered to eliminate a German strong post and suffered heavy casualties, leaving only seven men in the platoon. ‘
Kenneth Slessor the Official War Correspondent also wrote an article which was reproduced in several newspapers. This detailed the battle of El Alamein at the end of October. Referring to the outstanding work of the 2/48th Battalion on that occasion, Slessor wrote: ‘Within one week, in the last great battle of El Alamein, two men of the 2/48th Battalion won the Victoria Cross. Sgt. Bill Kibby, VC, and Pte. Percy Gratwick, VC, lie under the sand in soldiers’ graves today. Australia is far away over the rim of the world, and no one comes near the wooden crosses painted with their names except the wandering Bedouin and the little lizards of the desert.
‘But their battalion is rich in its pride and in its memories. They will never be forgotten. From the stories of their mates, those reluctant-tongued soldiers who fixed bayonets with them in the great offensive which drove Rommel from Egypt, come portraits of these two men in action which no other source could furnish.’ A fitting tribute, also to Edward and those who died with him.
Back home, the November edition of the Advertiser carried the unwanted news that ‘Mr. and Mrs S. H. Davis, of Salisbury, have been notified that their youngest son, Pte. Edward G. Davis, was killed in action in Egypt on October 26. He enlisted in July, 1941 and left for overseas in October of that year. Pte. Davis was 22.’ The Yorketown Pioneer carried similar news. ‘Mr S. H. Davis, of Salisbury (formerly of Yorketown), has been advised that his son, Edward, has been killed in action in Egypt. Ted, who is a brother of Mrs H. L. MacFarlane, was well known here, and received his education at the Yorketown School. His brother Bob is still serving with the 2nd AIF abroad.’ The Yorketown District Council at its November meeting voted to write to Ted’s family, expressing their sympathy in the loss of Ted.
The Chronicle later carried the list of those killed in action. They included 36-year-old Private Ernest W.S. Moore SX11130 from North Kensington and Edward, both from the 2/48th Battalion. Also from their battalion seriously wounded were Henry Laughton SX8096 from King’s Park (who survived the war, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal). Two from the 2/43rd were also listed as wounded, Robert G. Fergusson SX13533 from Murray Bridge and Robert T. Wilson SX8540 from Burra (both survived the war).
Edward’s family placed a single announcement of Edward’s death in the November Advertiser; ‘DAVIS.—Killed in action in Egypt, Oct. 26, Pte. Edward George, dearly beloved youngest son Mr. and Mrs. S. H. Davis, Salisbury, brother of Annie, Joan, Bob (A.I.F.) and Arthur. It is not death—it is eternal life.’ Their grieving was thereafter done in private.
Initially his fellow soldiers buried Edward in the field in Grave 12 Plot 4 Row C. A poignant photo was taken of his grave. Then in March ’45 his remains were reburied in the El Alamein War Cemetery in Plot A2 Row H Grave 18. His parents chose the inscription, ‘There is No Death, It Is Eternal Life’ for his headstone. Edward now rests with 23-year-old Private Max Meyers SX7659, also from the 2/48th Battalion and others from the 2/13th 2/17th 2/24th 2/43rd and the 3rd Australian Anti-tank Regiment. Most were in their early 20’s and killed at a similar time to Edward.
Edward’s brother Robert survived the war, achieving the rank of Lance Corporal. He was eventually discharged in September ’45. Edward’s medals, the 1939/45 Star, African Star, Defence Medal, War Medal and Australian Service Medal were sent to his family in March ’53. His parents were buried in the Salisbury Cemetery, Harold Sydney in February ’65 and Annie in April ’71. Their headstone carries Edward’s name.
Researched and written by Kaye Lee, daughter of Bryan Holmes SX8133, 2/48th Battalion.

A dedication is left today by Edward Davis's nephew Andrew MacFarlane and niece Jennifer Kubank (nee Davis), this 26th day of October 2022, to commemorate the 80th anniversay of Private Edward Davis being KIA at El Alamein. This dedication is on behalf of all the immediate MacFarlane and Davis families, and all the extended families, who will always remember the sacrifice that he has made.