John George Davis
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
John George was the son of Frederick William and Minnie Davis (née Taylor). His father Frederick William was born in Wellow, Nottinghamshire, on 9 January 1852, the son of John and Susannah Davis. He was baptised at Wellow St Swithin on 8 February the same year. His mother Minnie was born in Rufford on 2 October 1866, the daughter of George Taylor, a woodman, and his wife Sarah. Frederick and Minnie were married at Ollerton St Giles on 3 March 1890 and had eight children two of whom died before the date of the 1911 Census. Their eldest child, John George, was born in Ollerton but the other children in Rufford: John George birth registered 1891 (J/F/M); James birth registered 1893 (J/F/M) d. 1909 (A/M/J); Florence b. 6 August 1897 bap. Wellow St Swithin 5 September 1897; Miriam birth registered 1900 (J/F/M); Jefferson b. 7 May 1902; William b. 28 November 1904; Constance b. 26 April 1908 and Frank b. 1911 (J/F/M) d. 1911 (J/F/M). Frederick (38), a domestic gardener, and Minnie (24) were living on Wellow Road, Ollerton, with their son John (under 1 year) in 1891. By 1901 they had moved to Manor Farm Cottages in the Liberty of Rufford where they were living with their four children John, James (8), Florence (3) and Miriam (1). Also in the household was Miriam's widowed father, George Taylor (75). James died in 1909 aged 16 and of the four children born after 1901 a son Frank, who was born in early 1911, died before the census. Frederick and Minnie were still living at Manor Farm Cottages in 1911. Their six surviving children were in the home on the night of the census: John (20) a domestic gardener, Florence, Miriam, Jefferson (8), William (6) and Constance (2). His parents were probably living at Rhododendron Lodge, Rufford, when John was killed in March 1915 as this was the address quoted in an army memo of November that year regarding the return of John's personal belongings. In May 1919 John's father completed a form for the army listing his son's surviving blood relatives. Frederick and his wife were still at Rhododendron Lodge along with their sons Jefferson (16) and William (14) and their daughter Constance (11). Their other two daughters, Florence (21) and Miriam (19), were in service in Nottingham and Sheffield respectively. Frederick and Miriam were recorded at Rhododendron Lodge when the 1939 England & Wales Register was compiled; Frederick had retired as a gardener. Also in the home was their unmarried son, William, a public works labourer. Frederick died in 1941 and Minnie in 1952. Their son William died in 1947.
John George Davis enlisted on 27 August 1914, aged 23 years and 210 days. He was only 5 feet 2 and a three quarter inches in height. He gave his occupation as gardener. On 29th August he arrived at the depot of the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) and on 3rd September was posted to the 3rd Reserve battalion for training. He moved to France on 9 February 1915 and joined the 1st battalion. Thirty days later he was killed in action on 11 March 1915 during the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. War Diary 11th March 1915 - "10 am, C. Coy [company] advanced through the orchard on the left of our line and occupied some broken down houses. Lt. Weigall killed in this advance. Weather fine but dull. Battn [battalion] shelled throughout the day by the enemy. 4 pm, D Coy. charge enemy's breastworks but suffering heavy loss from machine gun fire forced to abandon the enterprise. Capt. Stackhouse and 2/Lt Coxon killed, 2/Lt Burton i/c Grenadiers and 2/Lt Waters wounded. Capt. Hodgson wounded early morning, Capt. Webb midday. 4.30 pm, 2/Lt Webster in afternoon and Major Mortimore at 4.30 pm. Command now devolves on Major Morley, 12 m.n, [midnight] Draft of 25 men joined the Battn." John George was killed at some point during the action. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, France (Panel 26 and 27). He had served in the army for 197 days, 31 in France. Le Touret Memorial: 'The Memorial commemorates over 13,400 British soldiers who were killed in this sector of the Western Front from the beginning of October 1914 to the eve of the Battle of Loos in late September 1915 and who have no known grave.' (www.cwgc.org) John Morse
Mansfield Reporter, 23 April 1915: Photograph with caption: ‘Private JG Davis, 1st.Sherwood Foresters, Rufford, Ollerton, wounded in action March 11th. He joined the Army in September.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Mansfield Reporter, 26 May 1916 (extract): ‘Rufford. Cricket Club. The annual general meeting was held last week … Mr J Baker, who is acting as hon. sec., pro. tem., referred with much regret to the fact that two members of the club had been killed in action, namely, Jack Davis and Chris. Caudwell, both of the Sherwood Foresters.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
