James Frederick Ernest Davy

Private - Service No. 14876 - 9th Battalion Norfolk Regiment

James Frederick Ernest Davy, the son of Walter James Davy (Jnr) and his wife Florence (Beaumont), was born early in 1895 in Swardeston, Norfolk. He was the eldest of three children, Laura (1897) and Laura (1899). Walter and Florence had married in Mulbarton, Norfolk on 26th September 1894, and lived in Swardeston for a couple of years before settling in Mulbarton where their two daughters were born. Walter was a blacksmith by trade. Walter James Davy (Jnr) was the 3rd of the 13 children of Walter James Davy (1843-1904) and his wife Emily (Hubbard).

In 1920 James married Edith Ramsbottom from Norwich about whom little is known. Records suggest they had no children. James died, in Norwich, in 1963.

James enlisted in the 9th Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment in 1915 and was sent to France on 30th August that year, landing at Boulogne. He would appear to have remained in France for most of the conflict and was injured at least once as witness the following entries in the Norfolk Regiment Casualty Books:-

Private J F E Davy 14876 9th Battalion. Injury caused to right leg, right hand

3 General Hospital. Le Tréport 19.3.18. Sick. Oakbank War Hospital, Glasgow 1.4.18

(Le Tréport is a small fishing village about 20 miles north-east of Dieppe, France)

His army records do not survive but we know he was awarded the 1914-15 Star, British War Medal and Victory Medal. We also know that, during his time in the Norfolks he also served with the 1st and 12th Battalions. James was transferred to the reserves on 21st March 1919 and returned home.

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