Harry Reginald Davis
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- Military History
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Harry Reginald was the younger son of Joseph Hill and Mary Maria Davis (née Crow). His father Joseph Hill Davis was born in Redditch, Worcestershire, in 1856 but was living in Loughborough, Leicestershire, in 1881 when he was a railway clerk lodging with a warehouseman and his family on Freehold Street. His mother Mary Maria was born in Graveley, Cambridgeshire, in 1853 the daughter of James Crow, a farmer, and his wife Ann. In 1881 Mary was living with her parents at Rookery Farm, Gravelly. Joseph and Mary were married at Sneinton St Stephen in August 1887 and had three children: Frederick James b. Sneinton 1891 bap. Nottingham St Ann 1892; Gladys Eleanor b. Lenton 1898 bap. Lenton St Anthony July 1898 d. 1913 and Harry Reginald b. 4 September 1894 bap. St Anthony July 1898. Joseph and his wife have not yet been traced on the 1891 Census, but were living on Sherwin Road, Lenton by 1898 when their two youngest children were baptised at Lenton St Anthony. The family was recorded at 82 Sherwin Road, Lenton, Nottingham, in 1901: Joseph a leather manufacturer's cashier, Mary, Fred, Gladys and Harry. Also in the household was a general domestic servant. In 1911 Joseph, secretary for a tanning and leather dressing company, his wife and their three children, Frederick, a coal merchant, Gladys (no occupation) and Harry a bank clerk, were living at 82 Sherwin Road. Joseph employed a general domestic servant. Gladys died two years later in 1913. Harry's brother, Frederick James, also served in the RNVR (Bristol Z/4927), Royal Naval Division, from 13 January 1916 (Ordinary Seaman, advanced Able Seaman 13 April 1916). He was still living with his parents when he enlisted, occupation carting contractor. Joseph died in 1924; he and his wife were still living at 82 Sherwin Road, Lenton. In 1939 when the England & Wales Register was compiled, Mary Maria was living on Glen Road, Burton Joyce, with her married son Frederick, a book keeper (civil servant 1st Class, Royal Ordnance Factory) and his family (m. 1916, Evelyn M Hanson). Mary, who had been described as 'incapacitated' on the 1939 Register, died the following year (March 1940, buried Nottingham Church (Rock) Cemetery ).
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Hawke Bn Royal Naval Division The Royal Naval Division was formed in 1914 and comprised the Royal Marine Brigade and two Naval Brigades (total of 8 battalions named after naval commanders). The Division moved to Egypt in 1915 in anticipation of the Gallipoli Campaign. After the Division was evacuated from the Gallipoli peninsula. The RND transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office in April 1916 and was redesignated the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division in July 1916 by which time it was in France where it remained on the Western Front for the rest of the war. Harry enlisted on 25 February 1915. According to the RND record he was ex-Public Schools Battalion, volunteers from which joined 'D' Company. He joined Hawke Bn from the 1st Reserve Bn. He was advanced Able Seaman on 1 June 1915. Hawke Battalion served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force (Gallipoli Campaign) from 30 May 1915-January 1916, then with the BEF France & Belgium from May 1916 as part of 189th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. It is not clear whether Harry served in Gallipoli but his record shows that he contracted enteritis, 4 May 1915 to 1 July 1915. There is also an undated record that Harry was treated at No. 15 General Hospital, Alexandria, for Furunculosis (abscess/es). Harry 'rejoined Hawke Bn' on 31 July 1916 (no record of service in the interim) by which time the battalion was serving on the Western Front. In November 1916 a final attempt was made during the first Battle of the Somme to take Beaumont Hamel, a first day objective on 1 July but which was still in German hands. Attacking masses of barbed wire in thick mist Hawke battalion suffered heavy casualties but pushed the enemy line back on Hawthorn Ridge and at Beaumont Hamel. Davis was killed during the assault. Harry was buried in 'shell holes near German 3rd line at O.17 B94'. However, his grave was later lost and he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France (Pier and Face 1 A.). He qualified for the 1914 Star with Clasp, British War Medal and Victory Medal.
Journal of the Institute of Bankers - Roll of Honour CWGC: 'Son of Mrs. M. M. Davis, of "Thornywood", Sherwin Rd., Lenton, Nottingham, and the late Mr. J. H. Davis.' Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 3 October 1913: ‘Davis. On the 1st inst., at Thorneywood, Sherwin-road, Lenton, Gladys Eleanor, the beloved and only daughter of JH and MM Davis, in her 21st year.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 4 October 1913: ‘Davis. On the 1st inst., at Thorneywood, Sherwin-road, Lenton, Gladys Eleanor, the beloved and only daughter of JH and MM Davis, in her 21st year. Interment Church Cemtery, Monday, 3.30’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Nottingham Evening Post, 'Roll of Honour', 2 December 1916: 'Davis. Killed in action November 13th, Harry Reginald Davis (Royal Naval Division) younger son of JH and MM Davis, Sherwin Road, Lenton.' (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk) Probate: Davis Joseph Hill of 82 Sherwin-road Lenton Nottingham died 7 February 1924 Administration Nottingham 23 May to Mary Maria Davis widow. Effects £5489 3s. 11d. Nottingham Evening Post, ‘Deaths’, 8 March 1940: ‘Davis. On 7th March, at Glen-road, Burton Joyce, Mary Maria, widow of the late JH Davis, in her 87th years. Church Cemetery 1.30pm Monday.’ (www.britishnewspaperarchive.co.uk)
