Signalman Cyril Bowen (Dusty) Davis

Service number NX72134
Birth Date 1920-12-03
Birth Place Australia: New South Wales, Macksville
Death Date 1972-12-17
Final Rank Signalman
Unit 8 Division Signals
Places
Conflict/Operation Second World War, 1939-1945
Description

Cyril Bowen Davis was born on 3 December 1920 at Macksville NSW. He enlisted with 8 Division Signals at Paddington NSW on 27 March 1941. Signalman Davis embarked from Sydney on 14 November 1941, disembarking from the SS Plancius in Singapore on 8 December 1941.
During the final stages of the Malayan campaign, when Juhore Bahru was bombed, Davis was concussed and subsequently hospitalised at an Australian General hospital about five miles from Singapore. It was here that he was captured when Singapore fell, on 15 February 1942. He was transported to Changi, where he was interned for six weeks. From Changi he was moved to Adam Park, where he spent nine months. On the 28th of November, 1942, Davis along with other C Force POWs was transported on board the Japanese vessel Kamakura Maru to Japan, arriving in Nagasaki on the 8th of December. From there he was taken to Kobe Kawasaki POW camp. Davis spent the duration of the war labouring until repatriated from Kobe (Wakinohama) POW camp on 6 September 1945. He arrived back in Australia on 13 October 1945, and discharged from the AIF on 6 December 1945. Davis died from a fatal fall on the 18th of December 1972.

Rolls

Timeline

Date of birth 03 December 1920
Date of death 17 December 1972