James Henry Davidson
From Our Contribution
 | |
| Personal Information | |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 2 Jan 1895 |
| Place of Birth | Hillgrove, New South Wales |
| Death | 23 Sep 1980 |
| Place of Death | Glen Innes, New South Wales |
| Age at Enlistment | 21 years old |
| Description |
5'6" (1.68m) tall ; 129 lbs 58.513 kg ; fair complexion ; blue eyes ; light brown hair |
| Occupation | Farm labourer |
| Religion | Presbyterian |
| Address | NOK Armadale, Western Australia |
| Next of Kin | Father , Mr David Johnston Davidson |
| Military Information | |
| Reg Number | 1104 |
| Date of Enlistment | 12 Jan 1916 |
| Rank | Private |
| Unit/Formation | 33rd Battalion D Company / 9th Brigade, 3rd Division |
| Date of Embarkation | 4 May 1916 ‒ 9 Jul 1916 |
| Ship Embarked On | HMAT A74 Marathon Sydney to Devonport |
| Date of Return | 4 May 1917 ‒ 7 Jul 1917 |
| Ship Returned On | HMAT A54 Runic departed from Devonport |
| Ship Returned On | SS Somali Point of transfer from Runic to Somali not recorded |
| Fate | Returned to Australia (Medical) |
| Monument | none at present |
| Medals | British War Medal |
Pre War
In 1901 when James was 6 years old, his mother died in Western Australia. So it would appear the family was here from before that date.
War Service
Enlisted in Armidale NSW, and was allocated to the 33rd Battalion, and posted to D Company.
On arrival in England the battalion undertook training on the Salisbury Plain before proceeding overseas to France on 21 Nov 1916 aboard HMPS Mona's Queen. However, James did not travel with them. His reason for remaining in England is not disclosed in his records. Some time later, on 25 Jan 1917 he was admitted to the Fargo Military Hospital with influenza.
On 6 Feb 1917 he had recovered enough to be discharged from hospital and sent to the 9th Training Battalion at Durrington. However, before he was ready to be sent to France an old childhood medical issue, a hernia reappeared. Medically assessed on 10 Mar 1917, and on 9 Apr 1917 it was decided to return him to Australia for a medical discharge.
Two months later on 14 April he was transferred to the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth to prepare for return to Australia on medical grounds. He had a small walnut sized hernia, but refused to undergo an operation to remove it. James did not serve in either France or Belgium.
Discharged by 5th Military District on 24 Jul 1917.
Post War
In 1918 at Glen Innes, NSW, James married Isabella Jane ("Jenny") Martin. One daughter, details unknown.
Electoral Roll entries - 1930 with Isabella Jane at Lamb's Valley, Glenn Innes, NSW; 1943 farming Wattle Farm, Red Range road, Glen Innes; 1972 at 162 Macquarie street, Glenn Innes.
During WW2 James served from 12 Apr 1942 until 25 Oct 1944 in the Citizen Military Forces with Regimental No. N467316. Unit was the NSW 3rd Volunteer Defence Corps Battalion.
Notes
It is not known if he was visiting family in NSW when he enlisted, or whether he had remained in NSW when his parents moved to WA where his father's address was Armadale.