The Last Post Ceremony commemorating the service of (3751) Gunner Alfred Arthur Davis, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery, AIF, First World War.

The Last Post Ceremony is presented in the Commemorative area of the Australian War Memorial each day. The ceremony commemorates more than 102,000 Australians who have given their lives in war and other operations and whose names are recorded on the Roll of Honour. At each ceremony the story behind one of the names on the Roll of Honour is told. Hosted by Gerard Pratt, the story for this day was on (3751) Gunner Alfred Arthur Davis, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery, AIF, First World War.

3751 Gunner Alfred Arthur Davis, 110th Australian Howitzer Battery, AIF
KIA 14 June 1917
No photograph in collection

Story delivered 10 December 2015

Today we remember and pay tribute to Gunner Alfred Arthur Davis.

Alfred Davis was born in Glebe, Sydney, to Alfred and Louisa Davis in 1896. He attended public school in Redfern West, and later became a carter. He also undertook compulsory military training, serving five years in the citizens’ militia forces.

Davis enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force in August 1915. He was initially posted to the 12th reinforcements of the 13th Battalion and began his training. He was transferred to the 45th Battalion on his arrival in Egypt, but in March 1916 he transferred again, this time to the 10th Field Artillery Brigade, where he was posted to the 110th Howitzer Battery with the rank of gunner.

In June 1916 Davis was sent to France, arriving in Marseilles on 13 June 1916. His service record indicates that he remained with the 110th Howitzer Battery from that point on.

Life in the artillery was dangerous. The enemy searched constantly for the Australian guns, with the aim of putting them out of action, and the men were handling explosives and other dangerous material on a daily basis.

On 14 June 1917 McDonald’s battery were stationed near Messines in Belgium. A dump of ammunition sat nearby in order to supply the guns, and this was hit by a German shell, going up in a massive explosion. Sixteen men were killed outright, and another three died of their wounds. Six other men were wounded.

Gunner Davis was one of those killed in the blast. He was buried in Kandahar Farm Cemetery in Belgium. He was 21 years old.

His name is listed on the Roll of Honour on my right, among more than 60,000 Australians who died during the First World War.

This is but one of the many stories of service and sacrifice told here at the Australian War Memorial. We now remember Gunner Alfred Arthur Davis, and all those Australians who have given their lives in the service of our nation.

Dr Meleah Hampton
Historian, Military History Section