Davis, John Henry
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Commemoration for the Lives of the Braidwood and District ANZACS “We will remember them well” ROLLROLL OF OF HONOUR HONOUR : MDAVIS,eade, ArthurJohn Henry Stuart ServiceService Number:Number: 21281501 Rank:Rank: SergeantPrivate From 1914 - 1918, 465 volunteers from Braidwood and the District joined the Australian Imperial Force in World War I. 88 lost their lives, never to return home. This is their story. Introduction WORLD WAR I This year, 2015, marks the centenary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign and Australia’s World War I lasted four years, from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. It began after the involvement as a nation in the greatest and most assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. terrible conflict ever seen to that time. Australians The axis powers were Germany and Austria. ROLL OF HONOUR joined their Armed Forces in large numbers. Their Russia and France were the initial allies. When motives were as varied as their upbringings, from Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the a need to save the Empire, of which Australia was war on the side of Russia and France. an integral part, to the desire to have a great adventure. The war was in Europe, the Western Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front was Braidwood and district were no exception. Over Russia and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another front because of colonial possessions on that the four years from 1914 to 1918, from a JOHN HENRY DAVIS population of about 5000, 465 men and women continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1 – November 1914, the Middle East became from what is now the 2622 postcode area another theatre of war. including Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen, Mongarlowe, Nerriga, Ballalaba and Australians generally thought of themselves as Service Number: 2128 Jembaicumbene joined the Navy or Army. Of an integral part of the British Empire and the these 377 returned to Australia. Sadly, 88 lost Australian Army and Navy were part of the Rank: Private their lives. Imperial Forces. In 1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised Unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion A varying amount of their history is recorded in Australian support for Britain ‘to the last man and Service: Australian Army the Australian War Memorial. Some of their the last shilling.’ The Australian population was names, but not all, are recorded on local less than five million. 324,000 Australians served Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 memorials. More is recorded in limited local overseas. 61,720 lost their lives. 155,000 were histories and newspapers, not readily available to wounded. 4,044 became prisoners of war (397 Date of death: 08 August 1915 died while captive). the general public; and the people who lived with Place of death: Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire and knew these distant relatives are also passing The first Australian troops were sent to Egypt in on. 1915. The ANZACS – Australian and New Zealand Cause of death: Killed in action Army Corps – were engaged in battle on the The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch has collected all Gallipoli Peninsula against the Turks to control the Place of association: Braidwood, Australia the information available from the Australian War Dardanelles’ and open the way to Eastern Europe Cemetery or memorial details: Lone Pine Memorial, Memorial and local sources, including the with their fateful landing on 25 April 1915. Braidwood Museum. Families, still resident in Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey The ANZACS were evacuated on 19-20 December the district, have added their family knowledge Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, and their precious memorabilia. 1915. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and the wounding of Army 19,000. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to This booklet is the available story of the heroism, comradeship and valour of the John Henry Davis, one of the 88 Braidwood soldiers remain a source of Australian pride and Location on the Roll of Honour: John Henry Davis' name volunteers who did not return from World War national identity. I. It contains his details as recorded in the World is located at panel 75 in the Commemorative Area at the War I Roll of Honour, his Enlistment Papers, Australian War Memorial Field Service records, any Casualty notification, correspondence relating to his death, details of decorations won, any available photos, and, in some instances, family correspondence or recollections. John Henry Davis died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to remember him. Lest We Forget. Introduction WORLD WAR I This year, 2015, marks the centenary of the start of the Gallipoli campaign and Australia’s World War I lasted four years, from 4 August 1914 until 11 November 1918. It began after the involvement as a nation in the greatest and most assassination of the heir to the Austrian throne. terrible conflict ever seen to that time. Australians The axis powers were Germany and Austria. ROLL OF HONOUR joined their Armed Forces in large numbers. Their Russia and France were the initial allies. When motives were as varied as their upbringings, from Germany invaded Belgium, Britain entered the a need to save the Empire, of which Australia was war on the side of Russia and France. an integral part, to the desire to have a great adventure. The war was in Europe, the Western Front was in France and Belgium. The Eastern Front was Braidwood and district were no exception. Over Russia and Austria-Hungary. Africa was another front because of colonial possessions on that the four years from 1914 to 1918, from a JOHN HENRY DAVIS population of about 5000, 465 men and women continent, and after Turkey entered the war on 1 – November 1914, the Middle East became from what is now the 2622 postcode area another theatre of war. including Braidwood, Majors Creek, Araluen, Mongarlowe, Nerriga, Ballalaba and Australians generally thought of themselves as Service Number: 2128 Jembaicumbene joined the Navy or Army. Of an integral part of the British Empire and the these 377 returned to Australia. Sadly, 88 lost Australian Army and Navy were part of the Rank: Private their lives. Imperial Forces. In 1914, Australia’s Prime Minister, Andrew Fisher, immediately promised Unit: 15th Australian Infantry Battalion A varying amount of their history is recorded in Australian support for Britain ‘to the last man and Service: Australian Army the Australian War Memorial. Some of their the last shilling.’ The Australian population was names, but not all, are recorded on local less than five million. 324,000 Australians served Conflict: First World War, 1914-1918 memorials. More is recorded in limited local overseas. 61,720 lost their lives. 155,000 were histories and newspapers, not readily available to wounded. 4,044 became prisoners of war (397 Date of death: 08 August 1915 died while captive). the general public; and the people who lived with Place of death: Gallipoli, Ottoman Empire and knew these distant relatives are also passing The first Australian troops were sent to Egypt in on. 1915. The ANZACS – Australian and New Zealand Cause of death: Killed in action Army Corps – were engaged in battle on the The Braidwood RSL Sub Branch has collected all Gallipoli Peninsula against the Turks to control the Place of association: Braidwood, Australia the information available from the Australian War Dardanelles’ and open the way to Eastern Europe Cemetery or memorial details: Lone Pine Memorial, Memorial and local sources, including the with their fateful landing on 25 April 1915. Braidwood Museum. Families, still resident in Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey The ANZACS were evacuated on 19-20 December the district, have added their family knowledge Source: AWM145 Roll of Honour cards, 1914-1918 War, and their precious memorabilia. 1915. The Gallipoli campaign resulted in the deaths of 7,600 Australians and the wounding of Army 19,000. Despite the defeat, the legend attached to This booklet is the available story of the heroism, comradeship and valour of the John Henry Davis, one of the 88 Braidwood soldiers remain a source of Australian pride and Location on the Roll of Honour: John Henry Davis' name volunteers who did not return from World War national identity. I. It contains his details as recorded in the World is located at panel 75 in the Commemorative Area at the War I Roll of Honour, his Enlistment Papers, Australian War Memorial Field Service records, any Casualty notification, correspondence relating to his death, details of decorations won, any available photos, and, in some instances, family correspondence or recollections. John Henry Davis died for his country, for you and for me. Please pause a moment to remember him. Lest We Forget. 15th Australian Infantry Battalion first major action in France was at Pozieres in August 1916. Along with most of the 4th The 15th Battalion AIF was raised from late Brigade, the battalion suffered heavy losses at September 1914, six weeks after the outbreak Bullecourt in April 1917 when the brigade of the First World War. Three-quarters of the attacked strong German positions without the battalion were recruited as volunteers from promised tank support. It spent much of the Queensland, and the rest from Tasmania. With remainder of 1917 in Belgium, advancing to the the 13th, 14th and 16th Battalions it formed the Hindenburg Line. 4th Brigade, commanded by Colonel John Monash. In March and April 1918, the battalion helped stop the German spring offensive. In July 1918, The Queensland and Tasmanian recruits were as a result of his valorous actions during the united when the battalion trained together in fighting near Hamel, Private Henry Dalziel was Victoria.