SAPPER JAMES JAMIESON BLAIR DAVIDSON
2651 – 1st Tunnelling Company
James Jamieson Blair Davidson was born in Adelaide, South Australia about 1871 the son of Thomas and Helen Elizabeth (formerly Ogg) Davidson. The family moved to Queensland. In 1902 he married Phoebe Hayes but did not have any children. James was working as a miner in 1913 at Mt Chalmers, near Rockhampton, Qld and the following year his wife Phoebe Davidson died on August 13, 1914. Recruiting for volunteers to join the Mining Corps had been advertised in the last quarter of 1915 and having no family ties volunteered to enlist.
At the Rockhampton Recruiting Office on December 6, 1915 he went for his medical examination and passed with the notation ‘requires dental treatment.’ The widower completed the Forms of Attestation and gave his age as 42 years 7 months which was later pencilled in as 44 years. His height was 171cms (5ft 7¼ins) and weighed 63.6kgs (140lbs) with a chest measurement of 97cms (38ins). Complexion was dark with blue eyes and grey hair. Presbyterian was his religion and his mother Mrs Elizabeth Davidson, Bluff, Central Line Queensland was named as his next-of-kin. He took the “Oath of Allegiance’ the same day.
The Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Wednesday December 8, 1915 and The Capricornian on December 11, 1915 published the following acknowledgements to the recent volunteers:
Basic training commenced on December 14, 1915 with the Mining Corps in Brisbane and later was transferred to their training camp at Seymour, Victoria. Training concluded on April 1, 1916 and he was assigned to the 3rd Reinforcements 1st Mining Corps in the rank of Sapper with the regimental number 2651.
Eighty members of the Reinforcements departed on transport HMAT A14 Euripides from Melbourne, Vic on April 4, 1916. Their voyage terminated at the Suez where the men were transhipped at Alexandria on board the City of Edinburgh and disembarked on May 17, 1916 at Marseilles, France. On June 1, 1916 they marched into Etaples and Sapper Davidson taken on strength on June 23, 1916. Attached for duty to the 1st Tunnelling Company and on September 29, 1916 he was taken on strength with that Company.
He was taken from the field sick to hospital on January 13, 1917 and a week later to the 47th Divisional Rest Station suffering from Myalgia (Muscular Pain). He rejoined his unit on January 25, 1917.
On May 6, 1917 he marched out of the 1st Tunnelling Company under authority given by A.A.G., A.I.F. on March 30, 1917 as ‘Unfit for Tunnelling’ and three days later transferred to the 1st Anzac Entrenching Battalion.
Sapper Davidson marched in to the 3rd Aust Divisional Base Depot at Havre and was to be transferred to the 37th Battalion on June 22, 1917.
Several days later his classification by the Medical Board at Rouelles as PU (permanently unfit) arrived on June 25, 1917 and he remained at the 3rd A.D.B.D. On July 9, 1917 he was classified as “PB” and transferred to England.
The following day he marched in to the No 2 Command Depot at Weymouth, Eng. where he was admitted to hospital as a day patient for a Medical Report. Diagnosis on his Hospital card in short was senility. The Medical Report gives the following information:
Medical Report on Invalid
Age:46 years 10 months
Disability:Overage
Date of Origin:April 1917
Place of Origin:France
Essential Facts:Was evacuated from line with chronic Bronchitis
Was in hospital 7 days with Trench Feet
Chest has not improved very much.
Caused by:Aggravated by exposure on active service.
Present Condition:Suffers from chronic cough with ? quantity of sputum.
Chest employ ? Arteries thickened.
Discharge:Yes for General Service
No for Home Service
On July 11, 1917 the Board finalised his release from General Service to return home.
Sapper Davidson embarked from Devonport, Eng on H.T. Demosthenes on July 20, 1917 bound for Australia and his berth during the voyage was a hammock. His mother was advised of his return on August 22, 1917.
On August 28, 1917 Mrs E.H.B. Davidson wrote to Base Records asking if they could inform their son on his arrival that they now resided at Gracemere, near Rockhampton, Qld. A reply dated September 5, informed her that their Branch could not undertake to inform her son of their change of address, but suggested that she address a letter to him with name, company and number, care of Staff Officer for Invalids & Returned Soldiers, Victoria Barracks, Melbourne.
The ship docked at Melbourne, Vic (3rd Military District) on September 24, 1917 then travelled overland to Brisbane arriving soon after. He was admitted to the 6th Aust. General Hospital on September 30, 1917 remaining under treatment for several weeks.
Board Findings from England were taken into account that his Trench Feet made it difficult in standing or walking therefore the Brisbane Hospital decided on October 16, 1917 that Home Service was not an option and be discharged due to Overage. He was released the following day to the S.O.I.& R.S. Section.
He was discharged medically unfit on a Pension on October 30, 1917 (1st M.D.) His postal address was given as Post Office, Gracemere and granted to receive $2 (£1) per fortnight commencing the next day.
The following year on June 20, 1918 his Pension was increased to $6 (£3) per fortnight.
Sapper 2651 James Jamieson Blair Davidson of 1st Tunnelling Company received the British War Medal (14023) and the Victory Medal (13807) for his service abroad.
His Electoral Address in 1919 remained as Mt Chalmers with the occupation of Miner but by 1925 he was at Bouldercombe between Mt Morgan and Rockhampton, Qld where he was a labourer.
James J.B. Davidson passed away about April 23, 1928 aged 57 years.
A notice appeared in the Rockhampton Morning Bulletin on Wednesday April 25, 1928:
He lies in an unmarked grave in Presbyterian Section 36 of South Rockhampton Cemetery in Grave number 2413.
© Donna Baldey 2010