Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Family group:

Three: Captain R. N. Davis, 2nd Battalion Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding) Regiment, killed in action, at Lesbœufs, Somme, 12 October 1916
1914-15 Star (2 Lieut., W. Rid. R.); British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Capt.)

Pair: Reverend F. B. Davis, Royal Army Chaplains Department
British War and Victory Medals, M.I.D. oakleaf (Rev.) about extremely fine (5) £500-600

Reginald Noel Davis was born on 25 December 1889, a son of Frederick Blake Davis and Amy Eugenie Davis, of Newcastle-upon-Tyne. He was educated at Christ’s Hospital, May 1899-August 1906. From 1906 until 1914 he was connected with the Northumberland Shipbuilding Company. Entering into the 28th (County of London) Battalion London Regiment (Artists’ Rifles), he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant on 3 March 1915 (London Gazette 26 March 1915). Serving with the 2nd Battalion West Riding Regiment, he entered the France/Flanders theatre of war on 25 May 1915. As a Lieutenant he attained the rank of Temporary Captain on 2 July 1916 (London Gazette 17 August 1916). He was killed in action in the attack on Lesbœufs, during the battle of the Somme, on 12 October 1916. He was buried in the Guards Cemetery, Lesbœufs. Captain R. N. Davis was posthumously mentioned in despatches (London Gazette 4 January 1917).

Reginald Noel Davis was the husband of Mildred Constance Davis. They were married on 1 January 1916. Serving as a Driver with the French Red Cross Society, she died of pneumonia on 8 October 1918, aged 25 years, and was buried in the Mazargues War Cemetery, Marseilles. She was the daughter of the Rev. Edward Smith, Rector of Haselbury-Bryan, Sturminster Newton, Dorset. It was Rev. Smith who applied for his late son-in-law’s medals. A memorial to Captain and Mrs Davis was placed in the east window of the church at Haselbury-Bryan. With copied research relating to the couple.

The Reverend Frederick Basil Davis, Royal Army Chaplains Department is believed to to be a brother of Captain Reginald Noel Davis. Attached to the 13th Battalion Rifle Brigade,he entered France in March 1917. Was mentioned in despatches. Post war he lived at 38 Belvedere Road, Bournemouth. With copied m.i.c.