Ernest Harold Davison

Army Service Record survives. He enlisted on 8 November 1915 at the age of 24yrs 368 days. He formerly served as 32161 (private) in the Notts & Derby Regiment then transferred to the Machine Gun Corps. Home service 8 November 1915-9 August 1917 and France from 10 August 1917-24 November 1917. He was promoted corporal 15 February 1916 and later to sergeant and served with No 10 Depot Coy MGC at Grantham (Belton Park). He was severely reprimanded and forfeited three days pay for being absent without leave for three days in September 1916. On 3 April 1917, he was transferred to A3 Service Bn for pay and attached to (-) unit for rations, duty and accommodation. He was under arrest awaiting trial (rank now corporal) 23 June 1917-20 July 1917 and '(-) sentenced to be reduced to the ranks and to (-) detention for 84 days for an act to the prejudice of good order and military discipline.' The sentence was confirmed at Grantham on 22 July 1917 but 56 days detention were remitted. He was reduced to the rank of private on 20 July 1917 and was transferred to the 5th Bn on 29 July 1917. Ernest embarked at Folkestone for France on 10 August 1917, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. He joined the base depot at Camiers on 11 August and joined 108th company 'in the field' on 20 August 1917. He was wounded on 22 November 1917 (GSW abdomen) and died two days later on 24 November at the 21st Casualty Clearing Station. He was buried in Rocquigny Equancourt British Cemetery, Manancourt, Somme, France (grave ref II.E.7).

CWGC headstone personal inscription: 'Adieu dear son till we meet again' St Giles, Ollerton, ROH: listed as serving with the Sherwood Foresters. Probate: Administration Nottingham 22 May 1917 to William Gore Davison [father] retired miner. Effects £155.17s.4d. Listed in Nottinghamshire County Council register of employees who served (Nottinghamshire Archives ref CC CL 2/12/1/1). Ollerton (Girls) School Log 1865-1932 (Nottinghamshire Archives SL128 1/2): Dec 2nd 1912 – Mr E H Davison ‘cert’ commenced work 11.30am vice Mr Wood [temporary assistant, absent sick from 20 November] April 2nd 1913 – Mr E H Davison absent ill today April 8th - Mr E H Davison away today with Ollerton Choral Society May 6th 1914 – Mr E H Davison left work at 2pm with permission May 14th 1915 – Mr E H Davison absent through illness today Nov 3rd 1915 – E H Davison absent today for medical examination. The above teacher resigns school duties in order to enlist Dec 5th 1917 – It is with deep regret that we received the sad news of the death of Mr E H Davison, a cert. asst. in our school, who was killed while serving his country in France. Ollerton National School minute book, 12 January 1916 (Nottinghamshire Archives SBX 317/2): 'The Correspondent reported that the following increase of salary had been granted by the (a) Nottinghamshire Education Committee as from 1 October 1915 … Mr E H Davidson £5 per year. (b) Mr E H Davidson had enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in November and since that date the work of the school had been rearranged and carried on with reduced staff. 15 January 1918: On the motion of the Reverend LJ Hudson, the Correspondent was desired to write to the parents of the late Sergeant E H Davison, Assistant Master, who enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters in November 1915 and had recently died from wounds in France, and convey to them the managers’ sincere sympathy in their great loss. Signed chairman.' Nottinghamshire County Council minutes of Education Committee Elementary, 29 January 1918, Item 11 Teacher Killed in Action: 'The Committee regret to report the death in France ... on November 24th 1917 of Mr E H Davison, Sherwood Foresters, a certificated teacher on the staff of Ollerton Church School.' Mansfield Reporter, 21 December 1917: ‘Ollerton. Roll of Honour. Though not a native of Ollerton, much sympathy is expressed with the relatives and friends of Sergt. EH Davison, whom it was announced about a week ago, had died in France from wounds received in action. Prior to his enlistment in 1915 he had filled the post of assistant master at the Ollerton National School for over two years, and made himself very popular in the village. Of fine physique, he was a good athlete, and as a member of the Ollerton cricket team proved himself a sound and reliable bat, and a very useful bowler. He was very musical, and acted as accompanist to the Ollerton Choral Society, and was a member of the Ollerton Church choir. Before going to France on transfer to the MGC, Sergeant Davison was drill instructor at Belton Park Camp, near Grantham, and his promotion to the rank of sergeant was very rapid.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Retford Times 11th January 1918: 'Sergt E. H. Davison. Died of Wounds. This gallant young soldier, who died of wounds in the 21st Casualty Clearing Station in France on Nov 24th, was prior to enlistment in 1915 assistant master at Ollerton National School, a position which he filled for over two years. He was a fine athlete, and made himself very popular in the village. He was also of a musical turn of mind and acted as accompanist to the Ollerton Choral Society, and was a member of the church choir. Before going to France he was a drill instructor at Belton Park Camp near Grantham.'