From Mesopotamia to Malabar: Image of W. J. Davis

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear All,

This is a final plea to the expertise of GWFs, to find a PHOTO (aka Image) of an Indian Army Reserve officer, William John Davis, BSc.

His efforts as a Lieut., later T/Capt., IARO attd RE (Works) resulted in two Mentions in Despatches. Originally a member of the Indian Service of Engineers in Madras, Coimbatore, etc., he served from 1916-20 in Mesopotamia, including such places as Kut... 

In some ways an aftermath of the Great War, the Malabar 1920-21 operations also involved Executive Engineer W. J. Davis. He was requested by the Army Commander and subsequently received the campaign medal...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear All,

I neglected to mention that a valuable GOODIE will go to the clever Great War Forum member who discovers an Image of the aforementioned William John Davis, BSc...!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[DavidOwen]

Kim

 

It is probably too long a shot as it was taken in 1922 but there is a portrait of an officer "Davis" taken at Ladha, Warziristan in the collection of Mr BAS Brunskill at the IWM

https://www.iwm.org.uk/collections/item/object/205220860  Only viewable offline.

Sadly sat here in NE Lincs I cannot verify whether it might be, but I am guessing as his military service ended 1920 it won't be.

 

Hope one turns up for you

 

David

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear David,

Very many thanks for your kind information - from NE Links to SW Germany, so to say!

Yes, 1922; and a name like Davis (I have an MBE/Nile group in my collection to Wedderburn-Maxwell: no mistaking him)! I fear that my Executive Engineer William John Davis at that time was busying himself with the aftermath of the Moplah Rebellion in Malabar (medal and clasp). This is how I dealt with that particular period in my on-going manuscript:-

'....Davis was released from Military duty on 21 January 1920.

Of the 295 officers who served with the Corps of Madras Sappers and Miners during the Great War, 59 were Royal Engineers (regulars), 56 held Royal Engineer Territorial or Temporary Commissions, 14 were Indian Army officers, and 166 came from the Indian Army Reserve of Officers (IARO). The Corps would have been in dire straits for officers had it not been supported so well by this reserve of civilians who were mostly engineers. (“The Military Engineer in India” by Lieut.-Col. E. W. C. Sandes, DSO, MC, RE; 1933.) 

In January 1920 Davis was appointed for a year to an office desk at Madras, as Executive Engineer, attached to the Chief Engineer’s Office. However, by March 1921, he was appointed Executive Engineer, West Coast Division, as confirmed by F. G. Dickinson [FitzGeorge Dickinson, MC, BE, AMICE. Born 1894].

‘1921-22. Executive Engineer on Special Duty to assist the Military Commander in Malabar.’ This is how Davis himself had briefly described his part in the uprising.

After the Rebellion was sternly put down, Davis reverted to his former position as Executive Engineer, West Coast Division, as confirmed by Dickinson, remaining for two years. Then, from 1924 to 1927, Davis was with the Special Division for Reconstruction of ‘Cauvery (?) flood damage’ (confirmed by Dowley)...'

Be that as it may, I much appreciate your suggestion, and your having taken the trouble to "have a look" on my behalf: much appreciated.

Perhaps a GWF aficionado has a photo of FitzGeorge Dickinson, MC, etc., a close associate of W. J. Davis...?

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Edited 15 March , 2018 by Kimberley John Lindsay

[DavidOwen]

Kim, you are most welcome as it was an interesting distraction. I wish you success in your quest.

David

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Great War researchers!

I have decided to up the ante for any old Image of William John DAVIS, BSc - namely 2 GOODIES and a yet-to-be-determined amount of CASH.

Attached, his latter-day million-Pound home (there was also a son), plus other cluesSTONEHILLS v3 (2).pdf...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[DavidOwen]

Kim

Have you been able to access the historical archives for The Times of India? I can't seem to find a way in.

Other than that I think I shall admit defeat!

Regards

David

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear David,

My research motto is Never Give Up.

Having said that, I am the first to admit that finding an Image of the otherwise quite well-documented W. J. Davis, is enough to defeat one!

Yes, the Times of India would be a possibility, given his sterling service in building roads, bridges, buildings and what-have-you in the Coimbatore area. 

Perhaps an even better one would be local Surrey Newspapers around about the time of his death (Civil Engineer, Retd):-

That is to say, in the Tilford - Farnham area of Surrey, in 1967/68. He had a son (M. C. Davis), who lived at Stonehills, Tilford, Surrey, when he signed the register of death of William John Davis at the age 83, on 9 Jan 1968... 

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Edited 17 March , 2018 by Kimberley John Lindsay

[DavidOwen]

Kim

Just completed a search of Grace's Guide (https://www.gracesguide.co.uk/Main_Page) which includes digitised copies of The Engineer from 1856 - 1960 (Index only from 1960-69) and am sad to report that unless he wasn't indexed he did not appear there. Another tick off the list....

Regards

David

 

 

Edited 18 March , 2018 by DavidOwen
deleted edit - wrong country!

[DavidOwen]

If you know anyone with access to the British Library archives, there are a couple of sets of records that might prove useful?

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecords/indiaofficearrangement/indiaofficearrangedrecord.html#LPWDHead

http://www.bl.uk/reshelp/findhelpregion/asia/india/indiaofficerecords/indiaofficearrangement/indiaofficearrangedrecord.html#LMILHead

 

And whilst it is now the wrong country (see above edit!) this PWD founded in 1910 was founded in India.

http://www.angloburmeselibrary.com/public-works-department.html

 

Clutching at straws...

 

Best wishes

David.

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear David,

Your commendable Clutching at W. J. Davis, BSc Straws is deserving of a Goodie (just beam me your address at thelindsayhouse@web.de)!

Davis was certainly involved in numerous PWD schemes, and the notes 'PWD Historical Context' could be used to embellish my on-going W. J. Davis manuscript. But an Image?

The one attached was taken in 1920 near Coimbatore (Davis country!), and the hunter, Charles Foulkes, was quite possibly a crony of our elusive hero!

I was hoping that a GWF connection to, say, FitzGeorge Dickinson, MC (late RE: whose MC Citation I found) - or Charles Foulkes, for example, might eventuate...

Kindest regards,

Kim.

 

[DavidOwen]

Kim

 

You are most kind. What is keeping me looking is the frustration of not succeeding!

I have this morning found a sort of way into the Times of India and found this, is it relevant?  https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_detail.php?id=1255697

He appears in the 1917 IARO list but not the 1918 https://search.fibis.org/frontis/bin/aps_detail.php?id=1870440

Will keep looking

Regards

David

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear David,

Good work! All is relevant.

I believe the son (born Coonoor, 17 Aug 1921) was still alive when the beautiful Farnham, Surrey, house was sold - but is now almost certainly dead.

Perhaps a Coonoor connection might unveil something - or Madras...?

His IARO entry is interesting, inasmuch as the W. J. Davis British War Medal and Victory Medal are impressed 2-LIEUT. This was his rank upon joining the 2nd Sappers and Miners - but he shifted to Works Directorate (Force D) in Mesopotamia, and was forgotten, rank-wise. By his own hand, it is recorded that he was employed until after the Armistice, in the rank of Capt (T/Major). Happily, he recorded in some detail, the kind of work he completed, when applying for Membership in the Institute of Civil Engineers. 

As a Civil Engineer, he was clearly employed on building projects in UK, post-Partition: perhaps appearing in a journal or newspaper?

Many thanks for keeping looking (!). 

Kindest regards,

Kim.

 

[DavidOwen]

Kim

I just keep getting drawn in deeper! I guess you will already have found these?

A record of him being involved as a student in the building of the Canada Dock in Liverpool in 1904 - will go image hunting https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/3787/41509_1831101456_0444-00118/65628?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3f_phsrc%3dlXm378%26_phstart%3dsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3dtrue%26db%3dUKCivilEngineerLists%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gsfn%3dWilliam%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln%3dDavis%26gsln_x%3dNN%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3de21%26gl%3d%26gst%3d%26hc%3d50%26fh%3d50%26fsk%3dBEEL4GsIgAAOywAAtfE-61-&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

 

https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/3787/41509_1831101456_0444-00231/71289?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3f_phsrc%3dlXm378%26_phstart%3dsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3dtrue%26db%3dUKCivilEngineerLists%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gsfn%3dWilliam%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln%3dDavis%26gsln_x%3dNN%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3de21%26gl%3d%26gst%3d%26hc%3d50%26fh%3d50%26fsk%3dBEEL4GsIgAAOywAAtfE-61-&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

 

But then this is saying somewhere different? https://www.ancestry.co.uk/interactive/3787/41509_1831109387_0447-00240/55196?backurl=http%3a%2f%2fsearch.ancestry.co.uk%2fcgi-bin%2fsse.dll%3f_phsrc%3dlXm378%26_phstart%3dsuccessSource%26usePUBJs%3dtrue%26db%3dUKCivilEngineerLists%26gss%3dangs-d%26new%3d1%26rank%3d1%26msT%3d1%26gsfn%3dWilliam%26gsfn_x%3dNN%26gsln%3dDavis%26gsln_x%3dNN%26MSAV%3d1%26uidh%3de21%26gl%3d%26gst%3d%26hc%3d50%26fh%3d50%26fsk%3dBEEL4GsIgAAOywAAtfE-61-&backlabel=ReturnSearchResults

 

Regards

 

David

 

 

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear David,

What have I got you into? 

In the meantime I have beamed you an eMail reply, with on-going W. J. Davis manuscript.  Your Goodie will be on its way during the course of this week.

I do not have access to Ancestry, so cannot open your links - which look impressive...

Meanwhile, I have pressed my connection further, to scan the South Provinces Mounted Rifles 1908 group photo - but then, i have done that often enough in the past!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

[DavidOwen]

Kim

Apologies re the Ancestry links - they are free, I don't have a subscription - you just need to register however, below are the pages concerned.

And Thank You!

By the way, your comment re Thomas Finkill Blair had me hooked

Regards

David

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear GWFs,

I would like to recommend David Owen for some sort of GWF medal - or a Mention. He deserves it!

Kindest regards,

Kim.

Edited 1 January , 2019 by Kimberley John Lindsay

[The Inspector]

Hi Kim and all,

On 3rd April, 1924 William John Davis, Civil engineer and his wife Mabel came from Bombay to Liverpool on board the "California" he aged 39 yrs she was 31. With them was their 2 yrs old son Michael JOHN Davis born in India.. Address Old Shoreham Road, Brighton.

3rd January, 1928 on board "Andes" all three, address Barclays bank, Hove. from Buenos Aires to Southampton

3rd April1940 the three of them are on board the "Staffordshire" from Rangoon to Liverpool. Michael JOHN aged 18yrs, a student last resided in England. Address Stonehills, Tilford, Farnham ,Surrey

Kim, I note you refer to the son as M.C. Davis in post 13, born 17.8.1921 Coonoor, India......looking

William John Davis's mother (Penelope Turburville Davis) died 10th April, 1934, at 14 Powis Road, Brighton, her home address being 7 Compton Ave., Brighton.

On 6th October, 1921 Willaim John Davis, Engineer , was initiated into the Kerala Lodge (2188) of the Freemasons, residence given as "Calicut", (Malabar, Madras, India)certificate was issued on 30.5.22 and a duplicate on 12.9.24.......another lead?

In passing,a relation (not worked it out yet) was Harold Frank Clarke (Mother's first marriage .. Clarke) Pte. 23545 Gloucestershire Regt/39380 Royal Berkshire Regt. died. 31.3.18.......looking

A Michael John Davis born 17th August, 1921 died  Dec. 2004, aged 83 yrs, Lincolnshire C5D, District and sub dist. 609/1C...the only one with that date of birth......death cert. may help. (1949 Civil  Engineer. onboard Carthage to Penang from Southampton, address Stonehills..)

Regards Barry

PS Happy New Year to All.

Edited 1 January , 2019 by The Inspector

[Kimberley John Lindsay]

Dear Barry,

Yes, Michael John Davis is right. He probably sold the lovely Wm. John Davis home "Stonehills".

Kindest regards,

Kim.