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William Davis - Information

The Davis family came from Thirlmere, where William was born at Cowindjah in 1894. He attended Thirlmere Public School and later became a timber cutter. At the age of 21, William enlisted in the AIF on the 20th of September 1915 at Holsworthy Camp. He commenced training, assigned to the 2nd Battalion as a Private. He embarked Sydney on the HMAT Medic leaving for war on the 30th of December 1915.

William disembarked in Egypt in early 1916. On the 7th of March, he was transferred to the 1st Pioneer Battalion at Serapeum. Later that month, he was shipped to the Western Front arriving at the Port of Marseilles in early April. Unluckily, shortly after he arrived, he was admitted to the 7th General Hospital with the mumps. He returned to his unit in May. The Pioneers worked on trades and construction projects in and behind the lines. Unfortunately, they were not above the danger. William was wounded by a shell explosion on the 21st of August 1916. He was rushed to the 3rd Casualty Clearing Station, in critical condition, suffering a skull fracture. He died of his wound later that day. William was buried in the Puchevillers British Cemetery, Puchevillers in France.