Driver Albert Henry Davey, 10th Battalion, AIF - 894 KIA 19 May 1915
Australian War MemorialAlbert Davey was born on 25 June 1888 in Laura, South Australia, the son of Joseph and Mary Davey.
He grew up in Laura, where he attended the local public school. After leaving school he worked as a farmer before moving to Kalgoorlie where, after a five–year apprenticeship, he qualified as a boiler maker.
By the time the First World War began Davey had returned to South Australia and was at Goodwood and working in his trade. He was among the initial rush of South Australians who made their way to Morphettville Racecourse to join the 10th Battalion. He enlisted on 19 August 1914 and was allotted to H Company. The Australian battalions were initially raised on an old British system of eights companies. The battalions would reorganise while in Egypt to the British four company model.
After the initial training period, Davey embarked with his battalion on 20 October from Outer Harbour, Adelaide, on board the transport ship Ascanius. Five days later, the ship dropped anchor off Fremantle. Over the next week the men were allowed to disembark to conduct a route march and enjoy limited leave.
After embarking, the 11th Battalion, Ascanius departed Fremantle on 31 October. It would be an eventful journey to Egypt. During the voyage, HMAS Sydney destroyed the German raider Emden, and Ascanius collided with another transport ship but remained seaworthy. Davey was hospitalised for several days on board ship after contracting gonorrhoea in Fremantle.
The 10th Battalion disembarked at Alexandria in early December and were involved in constructing the AIF camp at Mena before several months of training in the Egyptian desert.
At the beginning of March 1915, the 10th Battalion embarked from Alexandria on board the transport ship Ionian – which the men christened “One Onion” – bound for Lemnos and then Gallipoli.
It appears from Davey’s service records that he was not with the battalion when it sailed, but rather remained in Egypt, most likely with the 10th Battalion’s transport section.
The 10th Battalion suffered heavy casualties during the landing at Gallipoli and in the following week while trying to consolidate hard-won positions. Reinforcements were soon called for and Davey was added to the 3rd reinforcements to the 10th Battalion and sent to Gallipoli, arriving on 7 May.
On 19 May, Ottoman infantry launched a major frontal assault on Anzac positions, trying to drive the invaders back into the sea. However, it was the Ottoman infantry that suffered heavily and was forced to retire. Australian and New Zealand infantrymen, supported by artillery and naval gunfire, caused uncountable casualties to their attackers, forcing the attack to be halted.
The Australians and New Zealanders suffered 160 dead and 468 wounded. Of the 160 dead, the 10th Battalion had lost 13 men and numbered among the dead was Davey. He was 26 years old.
