Gilbert Heneage Davies was born in 1879 in Jolimont, to George Schoen Davies, a clerk, and his wife, Sarah Annie, nee Staples.  Gilbert was born on 27 April, and Sarah died on 4 May, 1879, so it would seem that she died of complications followinf childbirth, Geogre Davies married again, to Jessie Agnes Mchurtie, and had three other sons: Dr. Vernon George Davies (1889-1983); Allan Cathcart Davies (1890-1918), Basil Rayner Davies (1891-1979).

Dr George Vernon Davies served as a Captain with the Australian Army Medical Corps, and was in the field with the 10th Australian Field Ambulance. He was mentioned in dispatches four times for his courage and service to his patients, one time remaining on duty for 48 hours at a stretch. He was recommended for a Military Cross, and received the Distinguished Service Order for his work in setting up a field station and attending to the wounded under fire at Berlin Wood, Passchendaele. Lieutenant Alan Cathcart Davies was with the 59th Battalion Australian Light Trench Mortar at Villers Bretonneux when he died of shrapnel wounds to the chest and arm under fire. He was buried at Vignacourt British Cemetery, Vignacourt, Picardie, France.

Gilbert Davies was aged 35 and a Station Manager when he enlisted on 7 January, 1915. He was given the rank of Corporal and attached to the 8th Reinforcements, 13 Light Horse at Broadmeadows. After training, they left for Egypt on board the HMAT Clan McCorquadale A6 on 6 May, 1915. Gilbert Davies was reduced to Private, but in October, 1915, was promoted to Sergeant. The 13th Light Horse were serving as infantry at Gallipoli, in the main defending the positions at Lone Pine. The 8th reinforcements joined the battalion after travelling from Egypt on 4  September, 1915, on board H M T Megantic to Gallipoli. It was here that Gilbert Davies marched in to join the battalion, 'known as 'Hell's Own' Regiment. He served with them until just before the evacuation from the peninsula, coming down with a septic right hand, caused by a shrapnel wound, on 12 December, 1915. He was first evacuated to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital at Heliopolis, and then returned to Australia on 20 January, 1916 on board H M Karoola from Alexandria. Here, his right index finger was amputated.

The operation put him out of the war for six months. He returned to military duties with the 3rd Military District Victoria on 14 April, then re-embarked for active duty abroad on 6 May, 1916. He went first to Egypt, where he was taken on strength with the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment, then embarked for Marseilles, disembarking on 17 July, 1916. On 20 August he was taken on strength with the 2nd Australian Light Horse Regiment, though this seems to have been theoretical, as they were fighting in Egypt. A week later, Gilbert Davies was detached from the battalion and re-assigned to the Assistants Provost Marshal Division.

The Provost Marshal's office was in charge of the military police, whose major concerns were public safety inside military installations, gate duty, fire and ambulance services. This would be a logical place for a man who had probably lost the ability to fire a gun. He remained with the APM until  8 May, 1917, to the School of Instruction. Eleven days later, he was in hospital at Rouen, sick and with epilepsy. On 28 May, he was moved to the Convalescent Depot at Wimmereux and then on to the 3rd Rest Camp at Boulogne on 11 June. Once returned to health, he was taken on strength with the 39th Battalion as an O.C.

With plans already being made for the end of the war, he was returned to England, selected to attend the Infantry Cadet Course at Oxford, with the objective of training him to be the Supernumerary involved with the de-establishment of the 39th Battalion. He arrived in Oxford on 8 February, 1918, and was placed in the No.4 Officers' Cadets, his uniform decorated with three blue chevrons and one wound stripe. When the war ended, he was made 2nd Lieutenant (9 November) and returned to France on 22 November. Here he joined up again with the 39th Battalion and stayed with them until he fell ill with scabies on 25 March and was transferred back  to England and admitted to hospital.

On 16 April, he left again for France, rejoining the battalion on 21 April. He was with them when they marched out to England and with them at the No.3 Group at Codford. Here, he was appointed Officer in Charge of Messes to the No. 3 Group. By now, the experience of war must have taken its toll: on 10 July, Gilbert davies was admitted to the mental Hospital at Tidworth, suffering from delerium tremens. He appears to have stayed there for some months before he was sent back to Melbourne on board the Aeneas, leaving England on 22 November, 1919 and disembarking on 9 January, 1920. His appointment was terminated on 22 May, 1920.

Gilbert Davies moved to the Mornington Peninsula after the war, workign first in sales and then as an inspector. At some stage, he married his wife Nellie. He returned to the military in World War, claiming to have been born in April, 1893,  fourteen years later than his actual birthdate ( 1879). In 1949, he claimed his employement as 'soldier'. He died on 22 August, 1952, at Frankston, aged 72.