Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

A Great War battle of Cambrai M.C. group of three awarded to Captain J. E. Davis, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers

Military Cross, G.V.R., the reverse privately engraved, ‘2nd Lieut. James Ernest Davis, 9th Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, Cambrai, 21/24 Novr. 1917’, in its case of issue; British War and Victory Medals (2 Lieut. J. E. Davis), together with the recipient’s silver identity bracelet, ‘J. E. Davis, Methodist, R. Innis. Fus.’, rank officially corrected on the last two, good very fine or better (4) £1200-1400

M.C. London Gazette 2 July 1918:

‘For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. When his company was held up by machine-gun fire he rushed forward and led an assaulting party which captured the guns, thereby allowing his company to fight its way to its objective successfully. In the advance the following day he again exhibited fine qualities of leadership and, though unsupported on his flank consolidated his position in the face of heavy fire. His example and gallant bearing contributed in no small degree to the successful advance of the battalion.’

James Ernest Davis was born in Belfast in June 1896 and was educated at Knock Grammar School. Enlisting in the 12th (Reserve) Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers in November 1915, he was transferred to the 7th Officer Cadet Battalion in July 1916 and was duly commissioned 2nd Lieutenant in October of the same year.

Embarked for France in January 1917, he fought with the 9th Battalion at Messines in June, Ypres in August, and Cambrai in November, and it was for the above cited deeds in the latter battle that he won his M.C.

Having then seen further action at St. Quentin in the period leading up to February 1918, he returned to the home establishment and was attached to 2/1st West Kent Yeomanry. Davis was released from the service in September 1919, when he retained the rank of Captain; sold with an original newspaper cutting announcing the award of his M.C., together with a disc containing service record and war diary extracts.