Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Excerpt from Blood Sweat and Fears: Medical Practitioners and Medical Students of South Australian who Served in World War 1. Courtesy of the Authors

Harold (Pete) Whitridge Davies was born on 27th June 1894 in Adelaide.  He was the eldest son of Dr Edward Harold Davies, and Ina Jane, nee Deland (daughter of a Gawler businessman). His father was a musician and Professor of Music and Director of the Elder Conservatorium of the University of Adelaide. Davies went to Prince Alfred College where he joined the Army Cadet Corps. He studied medicine at the University of Adelaide, graduating in 1917 and whilst at the University continued his military career in the Citizen Military Forces as a lieutenant in the 78th Infantry Bn.  He started medical practice as the Acting House Physician in the Isolation Block and assistant in the Venereal Night Clinic at the Adelaide Hospital.

Davies was appointed as a captain in the AAMC on 6 July 1917. He was described as 5ft 11ins in height, of medium complexion and fair hair with grey eyes. He was attached as general reinforcements and embarked in Sydney for England in August 1917. He went on to France and was posted to 1 AGH in Rouen in November 1917.  He was posted to 9 FdAmb in January 1918, and in April 1917 he was posted as MO to 33 Bn.  He subsequently became sick with what was described as ‘debility’ and sent on leave to England in July 1918. He was posted to 3 Pioneer Bn in France as the medical officer in September 1918.  Davies returned to London in early 1919 and was given leave to attend a Medical Research course.  He  then was given 3 months leave without pay from June 1919 to study the effects of dust inhalation at Ashurst Military Hospital in Oxford in the laboratory of Dr J.S. Haldane. It was reported that he had taken an ‘exceptionally keen’ interest in the subject of his research and he rendered ‘valuable service’ throughout his stay at Ashurst.  He returned to Australia in July 1920 and his appointment was terminated 12 August 1920. He was issued with the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. Davies’ younger brother George, a teacher at Prince Alfred College, enlisted in the AIF 27th Battalion in May 1915. He was killed in action in France on the 29th June 1916 whilst in 8th FdAmb. He was awarded the Military Medal.

Davies continued with his research interest after the war and went to Edinburgh with Professor JC Meakins with whom he had worked at Oxford. He was appointed a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow for one year in 1923 at the Rockefeller Institute of Medical Research in New York.  Davies returned to Australia in 1930 as the Professor of Physiology at the University of Sydney.  He encouraged others to undertake significant research. To this end he supported staff members to be awarded Rockefeller fellowships and made two expeditions to Central Australia to study the adaptation of aboriginal people to water deprivation in hot and arid conditions.  Due to the depression of the 1930s and work pressure of teaching Davies was not able to advance research in his department as he envisaged. However, he was an honorary consultant at three teaching hospitals and a Foundation Fellow of the Royal Australasian College of Physicians in 1938. Throughout this post war period Davies was a member of the Army Reserve. He was promoted to major in 1935 and lieutenant colonel in 1938 commanding 9 FdAmb in NSW.  At the outbreak of WW2 he was mobilized and continued to command 9 Fd Amb.  Due to health problems he relinquished his appointment in January 1942 after 7 months of service.  He was awarded the Efficiency Decoration. Harold Whitridge Davies never married and left Sydney University in May 1946.  He died one month later after falling down stairs in the Imperial Service Club in Sydney.