Orders, Decorations, Medals and Militaria

Seven: Colonel W. A. Davey, Royal Australian Engineers

1939-45 Star; Africa Star; Pacific Star; Defence and War Medals 1939-45; Australia Service Medal, these all officially named’NX8934 W. A. Davey’; Efficiency Decoration, E.II.R., Australia, the reverse inscribed ‘115652 Lt. Col. W. A. Davey, C.M.F.’, with integral top riband bar, good very fine and better (7) £200-£240

This lot was sold as part of a special collection, Medals from the Collection of David Lloyd.

View
Collection

Provenance: Dix Noonan Webb, September 2008.

Wilfred Allen Davey was born in Sydney, New South Wales on the 31 August 1913. Before the Second World War he was employed as an Architect. He served in the Militia from January 1939, serving with the 5th Field Company, Royal Australian Engineers. Appointed a Lieutenant with the 2/1st Field Company Royal Australian Engineers, 6th Division on 8 December 1939 at Ingleburn, he embarked for the Middle East on 9 January 1940 and served at the Army School, Sarafand, from 25 February-11 March 1940, and the Middle East Technical School, 13 May-16 June 1940. He was next employed in building camps at Amirya, Mariyut and Burg El Nab, July to November 1940, and then served with 2/1st Field Company in operations in North Africa from December 1940, being mentioned in Gavin Long’s Official History in connection with assaults at Bardia and Tobruk.

Following the taking of Tobruk, Lieutenant Davey was wounded in the stomach whilst investigating an Italian explosive mechanism on 26 January 1941. He returned to his unit on 29 May 1941 after being treated at the 62nd British General Hospital. He next served as Adjutant Engineer Training Battalion Middle East, 24 June to 13 July 1941. He was wounded in action with shrapnel wounds to his leg on 5 November 1941 and evacuated to 2nd Australian General Hospital. Recovering, he left Egypt for Ceylon, arriving there on 11 April 1942.

Davey was appointed Temporary Captain on 11 August 1942, was promoted Captain on 17 October 1942, and Major on 15 December 1942, Commanding 12th Field Company in Australia and the South West Pacific area to 1945. He served in operations in New Guinea in July 1943, and January to July 1944, and in New Britain, October to November 1944. He returned to Australia on 22 June 1945. Returning to the Citizen Military Force (Part Time) after the Second World War, he commanded the 2nd Field Engineer Regiment, 28 May 1954 to 17 January 1958 as Lieutenant Colonel, and commanded the 7th Field Engineer Regiment from 18 January 1958. Promoted Colonel on 1 August 1961, he retired in 1963.

Sold with a group photograph and copied research.