Gilbert Heneage Davies

When Gilbert Heneage Davies was born on 27 April 1879 at Jolimont in Victoria, to George Schoen and Sarah Ann, nee Staples. He lost his mother when he was only an infant. His father married Jessie Agnes Machurtie in 1887. Gilbert would have three half-brothers as a result of this marriage.  All three of Gilbert’s half-brothers would enlist during the war, with one, Alan, dying of shrapnel wounds in 1918.

When Gilbert enlisted on 8 January 1915 at Melbourne, Victoria, he was single, a 35-year-old station hand, and his address at enlistment was 148 High St, Malvern, Victoria. His medical examination notes a man standing 5 feet 6 inches tall (168 cm) and weighing 140 lbs (64 kg). His complexion was described as fair, his eyes as blue, and his hair as brown. He had two vaccination marks on his left arm and a scar inside his right knee. Gilbert gave his religious denomination as Presbyterian.

Initially, Gilbert was taken on strength with the 8th Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse and was allocated the service number 50. Gilbert embarked on the HMT Megantic on 28 May 1915 at Melbourne and proceeded on active service in Egypt. After initial training, his unit boarded the HMT Megantic on 4 September 1915 and sailed to join the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Gallipoli.

After spending a few days on the island of Mudros, the 13th Light Horse arrived at Anzac Cove on the morning of 11 September at about 1:30 am. After disembarking, they bivouacked between Rest Gully and Shrapnel Gully. For most of its time at Gallipoli, the Regiment manned the trenches at Lone Pine.

While at Gallipoli, Gilbert was promoted to Corporal on 25 September and then to Temporary Sergeant on 18 October. On 12 December, just before the final evacuation of the Gallipoli Peninsula, Gilbert was admitted to the 5th Field Ambulance with a septic hand due to a shrapnel wound that fractured his right index finger. He was transferred to the 13th Casualty Clearing Station. He then boarded the HMHS Oxfordshire (see image at left) at Mudros, was sent back to Alexandria, and finally to Heliopolis, where he was admitted to the 3rd Auxiliary Hospital. He was transferred to the HS Karoola at Suez and returned to Australia on 20 January 1916. His injuries were such that the first finger on the hand had to be amputated.

After spending time in hospital and convalescing, Gilbert returned to duty with the 3rd Military District. The 3rd Military District was an administrative district of the Australian Army. It covered all of Victoria and that part of New South Wales south of the Murrumbidgee River, with its headquarters at Melbourne.

He re-embarked for active service abroad on HMAT A6 Clan Maccorquodale on 6 May 1916 from Melbourne with the rank of Sergeant. At this stage, he was still attached to the 8th Reinforcements for the 13th Light Horse. Upon arriving back in Egypt, he was taken on strength with the 1st Light Horse Training Regiment.

On 10 August 1916, Gilbert embarked on the HT Tunisian at Alexandria and sailed across the Mediterranean, arriving at the Port of Marseilles in the south of France. Travelling by train across France, he marched into the Base Depot at Etaples on 20 July. One month later, he was taken on strength of the 2nd Anzac Light Horse Regiment; this seems to be more of an administrative move as the Regiment was serving in Egypt at that time.  One week later, he was detached for duty with the 2nd Anzac Australian Provost Marshal.  Gilbert’s duties here would have included public safety inside military installations, gate duty, fire and ambulance services.

In April of 1917, Gilbert was detached for duty with the New Zealand Division. This posting was only for a period of eight days before he found himself back with the 2nd Light Horse. On 8 May 1917, he was detached to the School of Instruction. Eight days later, he was admitted to the 53rd Casualty Clearing Station suffering from epilepsy. He remained in hospital for nine days and was then transferred to the Convalescent Depot at Wimereux. He was classified as unfit for duty on the 11 of June and sent to the 3rd Rest Camp at Boulogne. Three days later, he was transferred to the Australian General Base Depot at Rouelles.

In late July, he was fit enough to rejoin the 2nd Light Horse Regiment. Gilbert received a week's leave from 19 August. On returning from leave, he was detached to the 2nd Anzac Horse Depot. In late September, he was transferred from the Light Horse to the Reinforcements allotted to the 39th Infantry Battalion.

In early 1918, he was allocated another week's leave. On rejoining the Battalion, he was selected to attend an Infantry cadet Course at the No 4 Officers Cadet Battalion in Oxford, England. Two months later, while on course, he was admitted to the 3rd Southern General Hospital in Oxford, dangerously ill with pneumonia. He would remain here for three months before he was classified as fit to rejoin the Officers Course.

Three days before the Armistice was signed with Germany, he was appointed 2nd Lieutenant. On 22 December, he proceeded overseas to France to rejoin the 39th Battalion. On Boxing Day, 1918, he was once again admitted to hospital in France, suffering from scabies. He was transferred to England on 23 January 1919 and admitted to hospital with severe dermatitis.

Nearly two months later, he was declared fit for general service and transferred to the Overseas Training Brigade. On 25 March, he was censured by the Commandant of A.I.F. Headquarters for failing to comply with instructions for reporting for duty. On the same day, he was readmitted to hospital with scabies, remaining here for almost two weeks.

On 21 April 1919, he proceeded once again overseas and rejoined the 39th Battalion in France. In Early May, he marched out from his unit for return to Australia. He proceeded to join the No. 3 Group at Codford in England. In late June, Gilbert was once again admitted to hospital, but this time suffering from delirium tremens. His experiences during his long years of service were clearly taking their toll. He relinquished his duties at the No. 7 Mass at No. 3 Group and was admitted to the Mental Hospital at Tidworth in England. He would remain here for over four months.

On 22 November 1919, over a year after the war had finished, Gilbert embarked on HMAT A60 Aeneas and sailed home to Australia. He disembarked on 9 January 1920 and was discharged over two months later on 22 March 1920.

Electoral roll records indicate that Gilbert lived in the Cario area in 1914 and again after his return from overseas service. He also lived in the Frankston area between 1937 and 1952

It’s quite possible that Gilbert’s experiences at Gallipoli and the Western Front affected him when he arrived back in Australia. Many returned servicemen turned to alcohol to dampen the effects of flashbacks. On 13 July 1922, Gilbert admitted himself into the Lara Inebriate Retreat. He had previously spent some time there, five months after returning from overseas.

Gilbert Davies moved to the Mornington Peninsula after the war, working first in sales and then as an inspector. At some stage, he married Nellie Garbutt. He returned to the military in World War II, claiming to have been born in April 1893,  fourteen years later than his actual birthdate (1879). In 1949, he claimed his employment as 'soldier'. Gilbert died in his home at 13 McCrae St, Seaford, Victoria, aged 72, on 22 August 1952.