Herbert Davis
Bricklayer's labourer
- Family History
- Military history
- Extra information
- Photographs
Herbert Davis was born in Nottingham in 1880 he was the son of the late Samuel a blacksmith and Annie Davis née Franklin
His father Samuel was born in 1838 at Nottingham, he died in 1898 at Nottingham he was 60 yrs old, his mother Ann Franklin was born in 1833 at Thrussington, Leicestershire, they were married on 4th November 1866 at St Mary's Church, Nottingham, they went on to have 8 children, sadly 3 were to die in infancy or earley childhood.
In the 1911 census his widowed mother Ann is living at Plumtree Hospital, Plumtree Square, Nottingham, she is 77 yrs of age.
His wife, Rebecca Lawrence was born on 28th May 1880 also in Nottingham they were married in 1901 at Nottingham, They had five children; Eliza Ellen Lawrence Davis, born in 1899, William Henry born 8th January 1903, Grace born 18th July 1901, Emma born 3rd April 1914 and Francis born 1st December 1915, all the children were born in Nottingham.
The family lived at 7 Lewis Place, Newington Street, Sneinton, and also 6 Lower Eldon Street, Sneinton Road, Nottingham.
Commencing 8th July 1918 his widow was awarded a pension of 33 shillings and 9 pence a week.
Private Herbert Davis was called up for service at Nottingham he served with the 2/7th battalion Sherwood Foresters Regiment, following training he was drafted to France. After the successful German counter-attack at Cambrai it quickly became obvious that there needed to be a withdrawal to the Flesquieres Line. The retirement was successful, but German shelling grew fiercer during 06/12/1917, and German infantry attempted to advance. They were driven back but the Sherwood Foresters sustained casualties, including Pte. Davis who was killed in action. His body was never recovered, but his name was commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial,Louverval.
Death notice published 4th January 1918 in the Nottingham Evening Post :-
“DAVIS. – Killed in action, December 6th, 1917, Pte. H. Davis, Sherwood Forester, 6, Lower Eldon-street, aged 39. A noble sacrifice. – From his sorrowing wife and children, mother, brother Sam, and sisters.”
Above is courtesy of Jim Grundy and his facebook pages Small Town Great War Hucknall 1914-1918
Photo of Herbert Davis
Cambrai Memorial, France