DAVIES, Frederick William
| Service Number: | 1638 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 29 January 1916 |
| Last Rank: | Corporal |
| Last Unit: | 44th Infantry Battalion |
| Born: | London England, 10 July 1897 |
| Home Town: | Cannington, Canning, Western Australia |
| Schooling: | Not yet discovered |
| Occupation: | Shop assistant |
| Died: | SW left thigh amputated & wounds to right leg, The War Hospital, Clopton, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom, 5 September 1918, aged 21 years |
| Cemetery: |
Stratford-on-Avon Cemetery Stratford-on-Avon Cemetery, Stratford-on-Avon, Warwickshire, England, United Kingdom |
| Memorials: | Australian War Memorial Roll of Honour, Canning Honor Roll, Cannington War Memorial |
World War 1 Service
| 29 Jan 1916: | Enlisted AIF WW1, Private, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
|---|---|---|
| 6 Jun 1916: | Involvement Private, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '18' embarkation_place: Fremantle embarkation_ship: HMAT Suevic embarkation_ship_number: A29 public_note: '' | |
| 6 Jun 1916: | Embarked Private, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Suevic, Fremantle | |
| 3 Jun 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion, Remained on duty | |
| 8 Jul 1917: | Wounded AIF WW1, Private, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion, Battle of Messines, SW left hand and chest Awarded DCM for action | |
| 20 Dec 1917: | Honoured Distinguished Conduct Medal, Battle of Messines, 8th June, 1917, attack Messines on Green Line beyond Betlheem farm. 'For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty whilst acting as quartermaster to his platoon. He carried food and water over the open under heavy fire to his men and, when his officer and platoon sergeant were killed, he took charge and held on to an important tactical position until relieved, showing the greatest gallantry throughout.' Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 219 Date: 20 December 1917 | |
| 29 Dec 1917: | Promoted AIF WW1, Lance Corporal, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 21 Jan 1918: | Promoted AIF WW1, Corporal, 44th Infantry Battalion | |
| 5 Sep 1918: | Involvement Corporal, 1638, 44th Infantry Battalion, --- :awm_ww1_roll_of_honour_import: awm_service_number: 1638 awm_unit: 44th Australian Infantry Battalion awm_rank: Corporal awm_died_date: 1918-09-05 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Evan Evans
The summary below was completed by Cathy Sedgwick – Facebook “WW1 Australian War Graves in England/UK
Died on this date - 5th September..... Frederick William Davies was born in London, England in 1897.
According to information supplied by his father for the Roll of Honour - Frederick William Davies came to Australia when he was 14 years old.
Frederick Davies enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force on 29th January, 1916 as a 19 year old Shop Assistant from Cannington, Western Australia.
Private Frederick William Davies embarked from Fremantle, Western Australia on HMAT Suevic (A29) on 6th June, 1916 with the 1st Reinforcements of 44th Battalion & disembarked at Plymouth, England on 21st July, 1916. He proceeded to France on 25th November, 1916.
Private Davies was wounded in action on 3rd June, 1917 but remained on duty.
Private Frederick William Davies was recommended for a medal:
“No. 1638 Private Frederick William Davies.
44th Bn., Australian I.F.
This man was a member of the Company during the attack on the GREEN LINE beyond BETHLEEM FARM on the 8th June 1917.
During the fighting he acted as platoon Quartermaster, and carried food and water over the open under heavy fire to his men, and when his Officer and Platoon Sergeant were killed he took charge and handled the platoon with much skill.
He held on to an important tactical position until relieved. Throughout he showed great bravery, coolness and devotion to duty.”
Private Davies was wounded in action (2nd occasion) on 4th July, 1917 with GSW to left hand & chest.
Private Frederick William Davies was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty on 28th August, 1917. (The London Gazette – 25 August, 1917 & The Commonwealth of Australia Gazette – 20 December, 1917).
Private Davies recovered from his wounds in France & rejoined 44th Battalion on 9th October, 1917. He was appointed Lance Corporal on 24th October, 1917 then Temporary Corporal on 1st November, 1917. He reverted to rank of Lance Corporal on 29th December, 1917 on the return of the permanent ranked soldier.
Lance Corporal Davies was appointed Corporal on 21st January, 1918. He was wounded in action (3rd occasion) on 22nd August, 1918 & invalided to England where he was admitted to The War Hospital, Clopton, Stratford on Avon on 31st August, 1918 with G.S.W. (gunshot wound/s) shrapnel wounds to left thigh amputated & wounds to right leg. He was reported as dangerously ill.
Corporal Frederick William Davies died at 6 am on 5th September, 1918 at The War Hospital, Clopton, Stratford on Avon, Warwickshire, England from wounds received in action – GSW thigh, shrapnel wounds to right leg. He was buried in Stratford-upon-Avon Cemetery, Stratford-upon-Avon, Warwickshire, England.
(The above is a summary of my research. The full research can be found by following the link below)
https://ww1austburialsuk.weebly.com/stratford-on-avon.html
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