Regimental number | 1456 |
Place of birth | Hyde Park, South Australia |
Religion | Roman Catholic |
Occupation | Bricklayer |
Marital status | Single |
Age at embarkation | 19.2 |
Height | 5' 8.5" |
Weight | 140 lbs |
Next of kin | Mother, E.Davy, Ring Street, Exeter, South Australia |
Previous military service | Nil |
Enlistment date | |
Place of enlistment | Oaklands, South Australia |
Rank on enlistment | Private |
Rank from Nominal Roll | Corporal |
Unit from Nominal Roll | 10th Battalion |
Fate | Killed in Action |
Age at death from cemetery records | 21 |
Place of burial | No known grave |
Commemoration details | Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux, France Villers-Bretonneux is a village about 15 km east of Amiens. The Memorial stands on the high ground ('Hill 104') behind the Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy, which is about 2 km north of Villers-Bretonneux on the east side of the road to Fouilloy. The Australian National Memorial, Villers-Bretonneux is approached through the Military Cemetery, at the end of which is an open grass lawn which leads into a three-sided court. The two pavilions on the left and right are linked by the north and south walls to the back (east) wall, from which rises the focal point of the Memorial, a 105 foot tall tower, of fine ashlar. A staircase leads to an observation platform, 64 feet above the ground, from which further staircases lead to an observation room. This room contains a circular stone tablet with bronze pointers indicating the Somme villages whose names have become synonymous with battles of the Great War; other battle fields in France and Belgium in which Australians fought; and far beyond, Gallipoli and Canberra. On the three walls, which are faced with Portland stone, are the names of 10,885 Australians who were killed in France and who have no known grave. The 'blocking course' above them bears the names of the Australian Battle Honours. After the war an appeal in Australia raised £22,700, of which £12,500 came from Victorian school children, with the request that the majority of the funds be used to build a new school in Villers-Bretonneux. The boys' school opened in May 1927, and contains an inscription stating that the school was the gift of Victorian schoolchildren, twelve hundred of whose fathers are buried in the Villers-Bretonneux cemetery, with the names of many more recorded on the Memorial. Villers-Bretonneux is now twinned with Robinvale, Victoria, which has in its main square a memorial to the links between the two towns. |
Panel number, Roll of Honour, Australian War Memorial | 58 |
Miscellaneous information from cemetery records | Parents: William George and Elizabeth DAVEY, 'Kerry', Separation Street, Northcote, Victoria |
Medals |
Military Medal 'L/Cpl. DAVEY displayed great bravery and devotion to duty near LE BARQUE on the 24th and 25th February, 1917. This N.C.O. rendered valuable service patrolling to our front before it was certain whether the enemy had evacuated their front line, and it was largely due to him that we were able to establish this fact. On the afternoon of the 25th the team of a Lewis Gun well out in front were all wounded. L/Cpl DAVEY immdiately went forward under a heavy machine gun and rifle fire, and succeeded in bringing the gun back. On his own initiative he then organised a team and got the Lewis gun into action.'
Source: 'Commonwealth Gazette' No. 140 Date: |
Other details |
War service: Egypt, Gallipoli, Western Front Taken on strength of 10th Bn, Gallipoli, 7 May 1915. Found guilty, 9 August 1915, of using obscene language to a NCO: awarded 3 days' Field Punishment No 2. Found guilty, 14 December 1915, of conduct to the prejudice to good order and military discipline: awarded 14 days' confined to barracks, Mudros, 14 December 1915. Disembarked Alexandria, 29 December 1915. Found guilty, Tel el Kebir, 2 January 1916, of breaking camp until apprehended by a picquet (absent 1 day): awarded 14 days' detention. Wounded in action, France, 22 August 1916; admitted to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Etaples, 23 August 1916 (gunshot wound, right shoulder); transferred to England, 27 August 1916; to Stoke on Trent War Hospital, 28 August 1916; marched into No 2 Command Depot, 8 September 1916. Proceeded overseas to France, 11 November 1916; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 13 November 1916. Proceeded to unit, 21 November 1916; rejoined 10th Bn, 24 November 1916. Promoted Lance Corporal, 16 January 1917. Promoted Corporal, 3 March 1917. Evacuated to hospital, 6 March 1917; admitted to New Zealand Stationary Hospital, 28 March 1917 (inflammation of connective tissues); transferred to No 5 General Hospital, Rouen, 28 March 1917; to No 2 Convalescent Depot, Rouen, 9 April 1917; marched into 1st Australian Divisional Base Depot, Etaples, 18 April 1917. Proceeded to unit, 30 April 1917; rejoined 10th Bn, 1 May 1917. Killed in action, 6 May 1917. Medals: Military Medal, British War Medal, Victory Medal |
Sources | NAA: B2455, DAVEY Claude |