Davies, Howard Erskine (Private, b.1882 - d.1917)

Collection relating to the First World War service of 2634 Private Howard Erskine Davies, 58th Battalion AIF, England and France 1916.

The collection consists of a small leatherbound diary beginning with Davies' embarkation from Melbourne on 2nd October 1916. The diary briefly describes the voyage, arrival in England and France. In France, entries detail trench digging, road detail, sending and receiving mail; watching an observation balloon brought down. Davies also records an Anzac Concert Party at a YMCA hut, and there is a tally of letters received. The diary contains a pressed ivy leaf. Entries conclude 28th April 1916. Accompanying the diary is a typed transcript.

The collection also comprises a single letter written by Howard to his cousin Katie on 3rd December 1916. The letter, written from Hurdcott Camp, describes the weather, the high cost of food, and the feeling of being an 'unwanted' fresh arrival in camp.

Howard Erskine Davies was born in Toorak in 1882. He married Doris Kate Kelwick in 1915. The couple had a baby daughter the following year. Private Davies enlisted on 16 February 1916, was trained at Broadmeadows Camp, sailed for England in October and disembarked in Plymouth in November 1916. After training with the 15th Battalion on the Salisbury Plain he proceeded to France and was taken on strength by the 58th Battalion in March 1917. Just two months later whilst the 58th and 60th Battalions held a position on the Hindenburg line near Bullecourt Davies receieved gun shot wounds to his hands, left shoulder and left leg. There were numerous casualties during this action as the Germans shelled the sector heavily. Davies was taken by ambulance train to the 3rd Canadian General Hospital at Boulogne where surgeons amputated the shattered leg. Eleven days aftersustaining his injuries Private Davies succumbed to his wounds and died on 23rd May 1917.
Howard Erskine Davies was 35 years old; he is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery in France.