DAVIDSON, John Harold
| Service Numbers: | SN2338, 2338, V367016 |
|---|---|
| Enlisted: | 27 April 1915, Enlisted at Newtown, Geelong appointed to the 7th Reinforcement, 7th Battalion. |
| Last Rank: | Private |
| Last Unit: | 5th Pioneer Battalion |
| Born: | Ascot Vale, Victoria Australia, 6 July 1895 |
| Home Town: | Geelong, Greater Geelong, Victoria |
| Schooling: | Geelong College, Victoria, Australia |
| Occupation: | Engineer |
| Died: | Mount Gambier, South Australia, 15 January 1971, aged 75 years, cause of death not yet discovered |
| Cemetery: | Not yet discovered |
| Memorials: | Geelong College WW1 Roll of Honour |
World War 1 Service
| 27 Apr 1915: | Enlisted AIF WW1, SN2338, Enlisted at Newtown, Geelong appointed to the 7th Reinforcement, 7th Battalion. | |
|---|---|---|
| 16 Jul 1915: | Involvement Private, 2338, 7th Infantry Battalion, --- :embarkation_roll: roll_number: '9' embarkation_place: Melbourne embarkation_ship: HMAT Demosthenes embarkation_ship_number: A64 public_note: '' | |
| 16 Jul 1915: | Embarked Private, 2338, 7th Infantry Battalion, HMAT Demosthenes, Melbourne | |
| 21 Mar 1919: | Discharged AIF WW1, Lieutenant, SN2338, 5th Pioneer Battalion, Returned to Australia on "Kildonian Castle" |
World War 2 Service
| 5 Nov 1942: | Enlisted Australian Military Forces (Army WW2), Private, V367016 |
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Add my storyBiography contributed by Barbara Hall
John Harold (Harold) Davidson was born on 6th July 1895 in Ascot Vale Victoria, the youngest son of Francis (Frank) Lindsay Davidson (1859–1948) and Ellen Tipton (1860-1930).
He studied at Geelong College, excelling in athletics as well as academia, being a member of the cricket team and the walking team. He commenced work in 1913 as a Cadet engineer with the Post Masters General (PMG) Department (now Telstra) and was sent to NSW, studying engineering at Sydney University.
He was still a student when he enlisted on 27th April 1915, aged 19. He had served in the cadets as a non commissioned officer (NCO) for several years and as a Lieutenant in the senior cadets for 2 years at enlistment.
By November 1915 he was a Sergeant and by April 1916 a Lieutenant, serving mostly in signalling companies. He was sent to Gallipoli on 11th September 1915 and evacuated in December after the Lone Pine engagement. He then served in Tel-El-Kebir (March - June 1916) near to older brother Francis Stanley (Stan) Davidson, before serving in Europe from June 1916.
The local papers regulary published information:
Mr FL Davidson of Geelong has received advice by cable that his youngest son Harold has been promoted to commissioned rank in the 5th Pioneer Battalion, 5th Australian Division. Lieut Davidson served for 14 weeks in the trenches at Gallipoli. (Geelong Advertiser 11th April 1916)
Lieut Harold Davidson wrote on March 29th from France, and sent a copy of the Anzac bulletin, with a full account of the capture of Bapaume, in which he took part. (Geelong Advertiser 16th June 1917)
Lieut J Harold Davidson writes from France July 16th but a cable has been received since that date saying that he has gone to England for 3 months as instructional officer at a training camp. (Geelong Advertiser 5th September 1917).
While serving in France, Harold became engaged to teacher Daisy Macdonald (1895-1981), the 10th child of Hugh Macdonald and Mary Grace Hamilton (nee Cross). They had known each other as children in Geelong. Following his demobilisation on 21st September 1919, he returned to work as an engineer with the PMG. He married Daisy in 1920 in Melbourne, and they lived in North Sydney, during which time their three children were born.
Harold had been gassed in France and developed asthma. A move to a drier climate was advised, so the family moved to Wagga Wagga, NSW in 1927 were he became the assistant engineer, then the divisional engineer of the Riverina district. In 1942 he was promoted to the position of Metropolitan Divisional Engineer in Melbourne and the family moved to East Malvern. At that time he also re-enlisted with the “Citizen Military Forces”, serving as Captain with the “Signal 3 L of C (PMG)”. Harold retired from the position of Assistant Director, Engineering in 1960 after 47 years with the PMG.
The whole family was very musical, with Harold involved in musicals whilst at school. In Sydney he was active in the Mosman Musical Society and had sung professionally for the ABC as John Lindsay. In Wagga, he was conductor of at least two choirs, and sang in many entertainments. He continued to sing for most of his life and was actively involved in musical circles, in later life singing baritone in the Melbourne Philharmonic choir.
He died while visiting his daughter and family in Mount Gambier, South Australia.
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