DAVIS, John George Walker

John George Walker Davis was born in East Melbourne in 1897, but was orphaned at the age of three and raised in Western Australia as her adopted son by Mary Skene, of 157 Claisebrook St., East Perth. He was just over twenty when he enlisted on 21 February 1917, working as an apprentice silversmith in  Sedgewick St., Perth. He had already served for two years and six months in the Citizen Military Forces 80th Infantry, probably in preparation for his twentieth birthday and going to war. 

He trained at the No. 2 Depot, before embarking for overseas on the HMAT Borda A30, leaving from Fremantle. He disembarked at Plymouth on 25 August, 1917 and was sent to Sutton Mandeville and then marched in to the 11th Training Battalion at Lark Hill. He proceeded overseas to France on 18 December, 1917, to the 8th Reinforcements of the 44th Battalion and was taken on strength at the front as a Private with the 44th Battalion on 24 December.

In March, 1918, the 44th Battalion was engaged in resisting the last German offensive of the war, playing a role in blunting the German drive towards the vital railway junction at Amiens. John Davis had been fighting on the front line and the 44th Battalion had just retired to Shrapnel Gully in reserve when the trench he was in sufffered a direct hit from a shell. He was wounded in the head and died instantly. Company Sergeant Major W.H.Quale, No.367, 44th Battalion was a witness

" We had just come from the line in reserve, a shell dropped in his trench - mid-day - he was killed outright. I was a few yards away. Young, bright boy about 19, medium build, buried in a wood about half a mile north of Vaux sur Somme, Cross was put up; the only Grave there at the time. Ground still in our hands."

The grave is at Bonnay British Cemetery, adjoing the Civil Cemetery, one and three-quarter miles north of Corbie, France.

John Davis is listed 145 on the Roll of Honour Cards and on Panel 137 in the Commemorative Area of the Australian War Memorial, Canberra.