Albert Henry Davis

Rank:

Company Sergeant Major

Regimental number:

11304

Unit at enlistment:

4th Battalion

Force:

C.E.F.

Volunteered or conscripted:

Volunteered

Survived the war:

Yes

Wounded:

Yes

Cemetery:

Mount Hope Cemetery, Soldiers' Plot, Brantford, Ontario

Commemorated at:

St. Paul's United Church

Birth country:

England

Birth county:

Kent

Birth city:

Dover

Address at enlistment:

80 Spring Street, Brantford, Ontario

Next of kin address:

80 Spring Street, Brantford, Ontario

Trade or calling:

Carpenter

Religious denominations:

Church of England

Marital status:

Single

Age at enlistment:

Image gallery:

Letters and documents

BX November 3, 1914

Letter From Her Brother – Mrs. Drake Receives Word From a Member of the First Canadian Contingent

Mrs. Drake, 84 Spring Street is in receipt of a letter from her brother, Sergt. A. Davis who is a member of the first Canadian active service contingent in which he tells of the trip across the ocean. The letter was written on board ship before the troops were landed at Plymouth. It follows:

October 20, 1914
Devonport

11304, Sergt. A. Davis,
G. Company, 4th Provisional Battalion,
1st Brigade, Canadian Expeditionary Force,
Salisbury Plain, England
S.S. Tyrolia (into Lake Erie)

Dear Neil and Jack

I expect you will have heard by now that we have arrived in England. In fact we have been here six days now, but we are not allowed off the boat yet and don’t seem to show any signs of going ashore. They are making all arrangements for bathing and washing parades up to Thursday night, so we don’t know what to think. It seems pretty hard after being kept a prisoner at Valcartier for 5 weeks and up to the present we have been 25 days on the water, and now we are lying within a stone’s throw of land and not allowed ashore. When we do go ashore we are going to Salisbury Plain, about 13 miles from Bulford, so you can see that we shall be right away from civilization again. What troops they have sent ashore have gone at night and been rushed straight to the station and off to the Plains without a chance to buy even a packet of fags. There are 1,170 men on board here besides the crew, so you can see that we are pretty crowded. Men are sleeping in the passages and anywhere there is a little bit of room, and we have not had a proper chance to wash our clothes since we left Brantford, so I suppose you won’t be surprised to hear that some of the men are beginning to throw their clothes overboard. When we were about two days out from here we ran out of tobacco and fags, so you can imagine the feelings of everyone when we discovered that we had nothing to smoke. Matches are selling at from 10 to 35 cents a box (safetys) and I saw one fellow give a quarter for 9 matches without a box. Players cigarettes are worth 50 cents a packet, and Woodbines 10 to 25 cents a packet. As I am writing this I am smoking a Woodbine. Can’t you smell it? We were supposed to disembark at Southampton, but on the way up the channel they received news that several German submarines had escaped from the Baltic and were waiting in the channel for us, so they put into the nearest port, which was Plymouth Sound. There are no facilities for disembarking at Plymouth, so they ran us right up the sound to Devonport, where we are disembarking at the dockyard. But it is a big contract to unload 32,000 men and horses, guns wagons and stores as well, and they cannot get more than two boats in there at a time, as the place was never meant for Atlantic-liners. When you write, address the letters to Salisbury Plain, as I have given the address over the top. We expect to be there till Christmas, so we shall have quite a spell in old England. They tell me the whole country is under martial law and there seems to be warships and searchlights everywhere around here. Officers are allowed ashore and on Sunday several men and some of the sergeants were allowed ashore for about four hours, and they had to send an escort to fetch some of them back. Two of the men are not back yet and they are sending a search party for them today. They are both Brantford fellows. Well, I must close now as I am supposed to be on duty and they will soon be asking questions, so good-bye for the present.

Your loving brother,
Albert

BX May 18, 1915

Pte. Lofty is Missing But May Turn up Later - Letters from the Front – Sergt. Davis Writes Home Telling of the Fighting in Which the Canadians Played a Prominent Part – Dirty Tricks of Germans Make the Blood of Canadians Boil

Two interesting letters have been received by Mrs. J. Davis, 80 Spring Street, from her sons, Sergt. A. Davis, formerly color-sergeant with the Dufferin Rifles here, and Pte. Harry Davis, also a former member of the Dufferin Rifles. In the letter from Sergt. Davis the news is given that On April 28, Pte. Wm. Lofty, of Brantford, was missing, and it was feared to be killed, though it was possible that he would turn up later, a number of stragglers having made their way back to the lines. The letter from Sergt. A. Davis reads as follows:

April 28, 1915

Dear Parents,

Just a line or two to let you know that Harry and myself are still both keeping well. I guess you will be getting rather anxious now that you know that we have been right in the thick of it, but I can assure you that we were never better in our lives.

We have been and for that matter are now right in the thick of it, but it is very heartening news when we hear of the successes along the lines. I have seen a few sights in the past few days, and it makes a fellow’s blood boil when we see the dirty tricks which the Germans play. I am sorry that I cannot tell you all the news with regard to our casualties, but no doubt that by this time you will know nearly all. I am sorry to say that Bill Lofty is missing and believed to be dead, but we cannot be sure of anything yet, as stragglers are coming in every day.

I think that our battalion has made a pretty good name for itself, and in my opinion they deserve all the compliments that are passed. We have had some near shaves, too. Harry got a bullet through his shoulder straps, which ripped his coast and shirt without scratching him. I had a bullet through my hat and found that my puttee had been torn by a bit of shrapnel. I didn’t mind the bullets so much, but the poison gas shells are the things which we would all like to get one back for. We lay from about 7 o’clock in the morning until reinforcements came at dusk, within about 120 yards of the German position, and they were dropping gas bombs round us all the time. They make your eyes run so that you can hardly see and almost stifle you, but there will be a reckoning day, and we shall not be the sufferers then.

The battle is still going on and now our side is advancing hand over hand. When we went up to the attack we had about a mile of open ground to go over, but there was never a murmur, and never a thought of retreat. We went up laughing and joking. I am more proud of belonging to the 4th Battalion than I have ever been of anything. I think this is the beginning of the end, and I don’t think it will be long before we are all on our way home. I am very thankful that we pulled through all right, and we are now in the best of spirits. Remember me to all.

P.S.: It is rather uncomfortable wearing a white starch shirt to crawl in and out of dugouts with. You see I had not had a change of clothes for about six weeks, and as my “company” was getting quite troublesome I thought I had better forage around, so found a Sunday shirt in one of the ruined houses. I also found a pair of white ladies’ stockings for Harry, and he is quite a nib now in his tea-party socks.

Your loving son,
Bert

BX June 22, 1915

Got A Nice Soft Wound – Description of Wound of Pte. Harry Davis, by His Brother Sergt. A.H. Davis in Letter Home

Mrs. J. Davis, 80 Spring Street, whose two sons, Sergt. A.H. (Bert) and Pte. Harry, are with the First Contingent of Dufferin Rifles at the front, has received letters from her sons, one of whom, Harry, was slightly wounded in the left shoulder, and sent to a hospital at Versailles, France, and thence to Manchester, England. Pte. Harry Davis, with characteristic soldierly reticence, tells his mother and little of his own sufferings and troubles and though he must have suffered through his wounds, scarcely mentions them in his letter.

Mrs. Davis has received many letters of sympathy from local friends, and especially from the officers and members of the Canadian Order of Oddfellows, of which Pte. Harry Davis is a member.

Sergt. Burt Davis relates very interestingly his experiences in the trenches and his concern over the welfare of his brother. Sergt Davis was in the trenches, only 50 yards from the Germans, and he tells how many of his comrades were buried in the trenches when they were destroyed by the guns of the Teutons. His letter follows:

June 2, 1915

Dear Mother and Father,

Just a line or two in answer to your last letter, which I received a few days ago whilst I was in the trenches. I guess by now you have heard that Harry has been slightly wounded, but it is nothing to worry about, as it is only a flesh wound in the left shoulder. I saw him just after he was wounded and he was in good spirits and looking forward to a good rest in the hospital. I have not heard from him yet, but they shift them around so much at first that I guess he is waiting till he gets settled somewhere. I hope he gets to England with it, as there is a likelihood of him staying there if he does. It is a great load off my mind, knowing that he is away from this hell. I can tell you he has been quite a worry to me whenever we got in any tight corners, and I know he worried about me too, as sometimes we did not see each other for days. Don’t worry about him, as he is what we call lucky to get a nice soft hit.

We were in the trenches for nine days the last time, and we did not come out till yesterday morning. It was a pretty hard place too, as we were only 50 yards from the Germans, and it was in a part we had regained from the Germans. They were shelling us all the time and buried any amount of men in the trenches by blowing them in. The part of the trench I was in was blown in the morning before we came out, and there were 11 of us buried, but we all got out without any injuries.

We had a lot of casualties up there, but as usual I scraped through without a scratch again, except for a small piece of my ear being knocked off by a piece of shell, but that was nothing. My luck has been pretty good so far and I hope it continues. We are out again for a rest, sleeping outdoors. My bed is under an apple tree in an orchard.
I wrote to Mrs. Lofty the other day and received an answer yesterday. She said she was very glad I wrote, and she was still hoping for better news, but now she is sure. She wrote a very nice letter, and I guess she feels pretty badly, but such is war, and it is a terrible war, too. No one can imagine what it is like unless they have been here and been through what we have.

I had some fags sent to me yesterday from the school by Mr. Plenty and, by the way, he wrote. I take it that they are sent by the boys of the first class. It is very good of people to remember us like that. I am taking all of Harry’s letters and will send them on to him as soon as I hear from him, so write as usual.

BX July 10, 1916

Sergeant A.H. Davis Has Been Wounded – Local Man, Member of Military Family, was in Trenches a Long time

That her brother, Sergeant Albert Henry Davis, of the 4th Battalion, had been wounded, was the word received by Mrs. J. Drake, 84 Spring Street, from her husband, Sergt. J. Drake, who is now at the base hospital with a sprained ankle. Sergt. Davis left with the 1st Contingent and although in the trenches a long time, this is the first time he has been wounded. Another brother, Private H. Davis, went with him, he being wounded at Festubert a year ago. He is now at headquarters at Shorncliffe. Sergt. Albert H. Davis is a single man and a carpenter by trade. His father is with the police brigade at Shorncliffe so the whole family is well represented amongst the Canadians in khaki.

BX October 23, 1916

Co. Sergt. Major A.H. Davis is Wounded After Many Escapes – Has Been With 4th Batt. Since Formation – Father and Brother are Both in Khaki, Latter Recovering from his Wounds – Pte. James McLaren and Gunner William J. Smith Also Reported Wounded

Co. Sergt.-Major A.H. “Bert” Davis, 80 Spring Street, of this city, has been wounded. As sergeant he went overseas with the First Contingent. Prior to that he had about 8 year’s military experience, three years with the 38th Dufferin Rifles and four and a half years with the East Kents. He is a single man and a carpenter by trade. No details were given. Though in the firing line from the first, this is his first wounding, though his brother, Pte. H.B. Davis was wounded in July at the battle of Festubert, and is now at Shorncliffe with the reserves. The father, Private J.H. Davis, went overseas with the 58th but was transferred to police duties at Sandling Camp with the 3rd Canadian Training Brigade, being over military age. Mrs. J.H. Davis, 80 Spring Street, wife and mother, has given up husband and sons. Her daughter, Mrs. J. Drake, has her husband, Sergt.-Major Drake, at Havre. Every male member of the family in Canada and England enlisted.

BX October 14, 1914

Every Man at the Front – Splendid Record of John Henry Davis Family of This City

A proud record is that of the family of J.H. Davis, of this city, every male member of which, four in all, is either at the front, or on the way there through the Canadian training camps.

The first member to enlist was Pte. H.B. Davis, who went from this city with the First Contingent from the Dufferin Rifles, and who became a member of the 4th (Mad Fourth) Battalion, C.E.F. He went into the actual firing line in France in February, and was wounded on May 27, at Festubert, where the gas was used by the Huns. He is now in the Convalescent Hospital, Monkshorten, Kent England.

Sergeant A. Davis, another son, also answered the call when it was first made, becoming, as did his brother, a member of the Mad Fourth. He was at the time Col. Sergeant of G. Company, Dufferin Rifles. He has been on the firing line since February, and has been very fortunate.

With the Second Canadian Division went Corp. J. Drake, he becoming a member of the 19th Battalion, which crossed over to the battle front on Saturday last. He is a son-in-law of Mr. J.H. Davis.

The last male member of the family, Private J.H. Davis, the father, enlisted recently and left this week for Niagara to which he was transferred from the squad of recruits now stationed here. The 58th is commanded by a Brantford man, Lieut.-Col. Genet, and has many Brantford men in it, hence Private Davis’ desire to be transferred.

Davis, Albert Henry (11304)
Davis, Harry Bullard (11342)
Davis, Joseph Henry (451123)
Drake, John (55604)

BX September 9, 1963

Served in Two World Wars Dies at 72

Albert (Bert) Henry Davis 72, of 134 Wilkes Street died Sunday at St. Thomas. Born in Dover, Kent, England, Mr. Davis had resided in Brantford since 1911. He started his military career in England, serving with the Buffs of the Imperial Territorial Army. In the First World War he served as a company sergeant major and was with the Mad 4th and the 19th Battalion. In the Second World War he was a regimental quartermaster sergeant.

Between the two World Wars he served in the Dufferin Rifles and Dufferin Haldimand Rifles and after the Second World War with the 56th Light Anti-Aircraft Regiment and the 56th Field Regiment.

Mr. Davis was president of the Sergeants Mess of the Dufferin Rifles and the 56th LAA Regiment; vice-president of the 4th Battalion Veterans Dominion Association and served on the board of directors. He was a past president of the 4th Battalion Veterans Association in Brantford.

Mr. Davis was active in service rifle competitions, and served on the Brantford team in the Old Comrades Shooting Matches. He was a member of Branch 90 Royal Canadian Legion and a member of St. Paul’s Anglican Church.

Mr. Davis was mentioned in dispatches during the First World War and was the holder of both the King George VI and the Queen Elizabeth Coronation Medals, and the long service medal with bars. For many years he was caretaker of the Brantford Armories.

Surviving besides his wife, the former Rosabella Goulding are one son, WO Winston Edward Davis of the RCEME, stationed at Barriefield; three sisters, Mrs. John (Nellie) Drake, and Mrs. Albert (Blanche) Noakes, both of Brantford, and Mrs. Stanley (Alma) Price of Mount Pleasant; and three grandchildren.

Mr. Davis is at the Beckett Funeral Home until Wednesday for service at 2 p.m. at St. Paul’s Anglican Church. Interment will be in the Soldiers’ Plot, Mount Hope Cemetery. Rev. A.E. Horner will officiate.