Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Quarry Wood Cemetery, Sains-Les-Marquion | II. B. 1. | |
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.120 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 24B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | British War Medal Victory Medal | ||
Early Life :
Born c. 1878 in Brixton son of George James Davis, a Builder/Asbestos Manufacturer, and his wife Marian.He attended Balham School, matriculating in 1896 before becoming a student of the University of London. By 1901, he had become an Accountant's Clerk. He had been Boy Clerk to the War Office in July 1896, recorded as such in the Edinburgh Gazette.
Two years later, at the time of his marriage on the 17th September, 1903 at the Holy Trinity Church, Stepney, he was still living at 38 Byron Avenue, East Ham. He married Bertha Emily Leigh from Leyton, daughter of Matthew Revell Leigh, a Station Master.
By 1911, he was resident at 28 Wanstead Park Avenue, Manor Park and was the Borough Treasurer for the Corporation of East Ham. He was living at this address with his wife and three children: Kathleen Marjorie Bertha (b.1905), Guy Clifford Blakeman (b.1906), Eric Harold Leigh (b.1909). A 16 year old domestic servant lived with them by the name of Katherine Sheaf.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers |
| Action : The Battles of the Hindenburg Line and associated actions |
12 September - 12 October 1918. As the momentum of the British advance continued it was clear that the Hindenburg Line defences offered the greatest threat to further advances. It was highly likely that the magnificently engineered defence system would re-establish the status quo of static trench warfare. However a series of magnificent actions at Havrincourt and Epehy paved the way for dramatic crossings of the Canal du Nord and the St Quentin Canal by early October. Both canals had been integrated into the Hindenburg Line system and their capture effectively broke the defensive capability of the system. Soon afterwards the British were attacking at Cambrai (again) and then by mid October were pursuing the Germans to the River Selle.
Detail :
Lieutenant George Leigh Blakeman Davis, 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Some records show 23rd Battalion.
He was commissioned as a temporary Lieutenant into the Royal Fusiliers, 8th December, 1915.
He was reported missing on the 27th September, 1918 and was shown as "Killed in Action" in the Register of Soldier's Effects; his unit recorded as 7th Battalion Royal Fusiliers.
His military file is stored in the National Archives, but is not yet digitised (2021) and is stored under reference: WO 339/48919.
Probate records "DAVIS George Leigh Blakeman of 28 Wanstead Park-avenue Manor Park Essex lieutenant 7th battalion Royal Fusiliers died on or since 27 September 1918 in France Probate London 11 February to the Public Trustee. Effects £390 13s. 5d." No war gratuity appears to have been administered, so it is uncertain why his estate did not go to his wife or surviving children.
The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record him as 2nd Lieutenant G L B Davis and as 23rd Battalion where a burial record exists for Quarry Wood Cemetery, Sains-les-Marquion at Plot II Row B Grave 1.
For his service in the Great War he was awarded the British War Medal and the Victory Medal.
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Liberty of Havering No. 1437 E.C. | Essex |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
28th November 1912 | 23rd January 1913 | 27th March 1913 |
George was initiated into Liberty of Havering Lodge No. 1437 in 1912, when he was listed as a 30 year old Borough Treasurer, and resident at Manor Park. By 1913, he had completed all three steps and received his Grand Lodge Certificate in February, 1914. The contribution record shows war service in 1918, but by 1919 he is "Missing Reported Killed."
His name is amongst those in the 1921 book, the Masonic Roll of Honour and again on the 1940 Scroll.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley