Virtual
War Memorial
Australia

Stan was the third son of Francis (Frank) Lindsay Davidson (1859-1948) and Ellen Tipton (1860-1930), born 1892 in Ascot Vale, Victoria. He was in the public school cadets for 3 years and moved from the state school to Geelong College with a scholarship.  He studied architecture at the Gordon College in Geelong (now the Gordon TAFE) and was apprenticed as an architect with Laird and Buchan for 4 years.  He acted as honorary instructor at Gordon College and was an active member of the Geelong musical society and Newtown Presbyterian Church.

At 23 Stan enlisted with the 5th Field Co. Engineers on 24th August 1915, served with 4th Div. Engineers in Egypt and the 6th, 4th & 1st in France.  The Geelong papers regularly reported news from the front, for example:

·      Mr FL Davidson of Newtown received a letter from his son Stanley Davidson from the camp at Tel-el-Kebir. He has heard that his brother Harold (John Harold) was at Serapeum, so he walked 2 ½ miles across the desert and went by train for 40 miles and had the pleasure of meeting his brother and spending a little time with him.  They are both in splendid health. (Geelong Advertiser 28th February 1916) 

·      The parents of Stan. Davidson have received a cablegram from him intimating that he has been granted a commission as lieutenant and is at present training in Egypt. (Geelong Advertiser 28th March 1916) 

·      Lieut F. Stanley Davidson writes that he has been transferred to the 16th Field Company Australian Engineers, a new Company recently formed in England.  (Geelong Advertiser 5th September 1917).

His younger brother John Harold Davidson also enlisted (see his record on this site).

Stan was killed in action on the 15th September 1918, while with the 2nd Field Co. Engineers.  With the rank of Captain, he was in the officer’s mess at Rosiel when it was shelled and died from a head wound.  A photo from the “Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau file” shows the dugout, with the attached information:

"The remains of a dugout at Roisel, France, which served as the Officers Mess of the 2nd Field Company Australian Engineers. On 15 September 1918, at about 4:00pm, Lieutenant George Knight Kerslake, 1st Field Company Australian Engineers, having just returned from England, joined Captain Frank Stanley Davidson, Captain Robert Adam Clinton MC and two Sappers (Spr) who acted as batmen for the officer, 18388 Spr James Burgess Morgan and 16245 Spr William Young, all of the 2nd Field Company Australian Engineers, for afternoon tea in the dugout. The dugout received a direct shell hit and all but Captain Clinton, receiving only minor injuries, were instantly killed. They were buried the following day at Tincourt New British Cemetery, France. This photograph is from an Australian Red Cross Wounded and Missing Enquiry Bureau file. The Bureau, which commenced operation in October 1915, sought to identify, investigate and respond to enquiries made regarding the fate of Australian personnel."

In 1920, the Gordon College Hall was renamed Davidson Hall in Captain Stan’s memory.  The Hall was designed by the late Alex Davidson and built in 1887. Used for lectures, meetings and concerts, it was renovated in 1978 and is now “The Davidson Restaurant" at The Gordon.