Charles Albert Davey

Born: 11 March 1896

Died: 6 April 1918

Rank and Regiment: Corporal 4780 in the 4th Battalion Australian Light Trench Mortar Battery

Resting Place: Gommecourt British Cemetery No.2, Hebuterne, Pas de Calais, France - Plot II, Row L, Grave 3.

Memorials: St. Peter and St. Paul, Barnham Broom, United Kingdom and; the Australian War Memorial, Canberra, Australia

Charlie was born in 1896 to parents John Reeve (a farmer) and Clara Davey (nee Self) in Barnham Broom. He was part of a large family with seven siblings: John (or Clement), Roland Reeve, Doris, Gordon (or Albert), Constance, Bernice and Violet.

He was educated with his siblings at Barnham Broom School. His father owned Manor Farm in Barnham Broom, and in 1911, John, Roland and Doris are recorded as working on said farm. Gordon, Daisy and Bernice were schoolchildren, whilst Violet was only 1 year old. 16-year-old Charlie however was listed as living with his grandmother, Anna Self, in Barford and was working as a shepherd. Why exactly he lived away from the family home is unknown.

Shortly after the census was completed, Roland (aged 20) and Charlie (aged 18) emigrated to Brisbane in Australia. They both list their occupation as ‘farm labourer’ on the passenger list. They travelled on HMAT Marathon and arrived in Brisbane on 15 January 1914.

As war broke out in Europe, 20-year-old Charlie was living in Tabinga, Queensland. He enlisted in the 15th Battalion in Brisbane, Australia on 21st September 1915, and his occupation was listed as ‘station hand’. He was reportedly in excellent physical shape, standing at 5ft 7¾ inches, with brown hair and blue eyes.

After a period of training, Charlie and his battalion embarked on the long journey to the frontline in Europe. On 23rd March 1916, Charlie sailed on HMAT Commonwealth from Brisbane to Alexandria in Egypt where the ship came to port on 5th May 1916. From there, on the 6th August 1916 the troops boarded HMS Megantic to England. Finally, on 23rd September 1916, they proceeded across the Channel to France, and joined their battalion on the 4th October 1916. It had taken them almost 7 months to make the journey.

However, just 6 months after arriving in France, on 11th April 1917, Charlie suffered a gunshot wound to the thigh. He was taken to s field hospital, and then to a convalescent camp in Boulogne to recover. But less than a month later, he marched back to the frontline to re-join his regiment.

On the 11th December 1917, he was granted leave to return to England. It is possible that he used this time to visit his family whom he had not seen since moving to Australia 5 years earlier.

On his return to France on the 1st January 1918, he was promoted to Corporal. But tragically, on 6th April 1918, he died of wounds sustained on the battlefield. He was 23 years old. His personal effects were left to his mother, Clara. He is buried in Gommecourt British Cemetery No. 2 and he is commemorated on the Australian War Memorial, and in Barnham Broom.  

His parents tombstone in Barnham Broom Churchyard includes the inscription:

Also of Corpl. CHARLES ALBERT 3rd dearly loved son of the above John & Clara Davey who died of wounds in France April 6th 1918 aged 23 years.

For the rest of the family, the eldest son Clement (or, as he appears in some records, John Clement) does not appear to have served in the Great War and died in 1917. Roland also served in the war, an account of which you can read on his page.