Robert James Davy

Lance Corporal - Service No. 25243 - 8th Battalion Norfolk Regiment

Robert James Davy, the son of Robert Daniel Davy and his wife Sarah Ann (Cooper), was born on or about 15th April 1897 in Swardeston. He was the eldest of five children, Cecil (1901), Dorothy (1902), Harold (1905) and Rupert (1908). 

Robert Daniel Davy was the 4th of the 13 children of Walter James Davy (1843-1904) and his wife Emily (Hubbard) and had married Sarah in Bracon Ash in 1896 before settling by high common in Swardeston where he worked as a house painter.

Robert was educated at the village school in Swardeston and became a painter, working for his father.

On 4th November 1915 Robert joined the Norfolk Regiment and was called for duty on 18th April 1916 when he was posted to the 3rd Battalion of the Norfolk Regiment, stationed at Felixstowe, with the rank of private. On 24th July 1916 he left Felixstowe for Boulogne where he joined the 1st Battalion. On 5th August he was posted to the 8th Battalion and on 25th September 1916 was wounded and shipped back to England on 9th October.

Recovered from his injuries he again left Folkstone, arriving in Calais on 9th January 1917 and rejoined the 8th Battalion. On 15th March 1917 Robert was promoted to the rank of lance corporal. On 22nd October 1917, during action at Poelcapelle, just outside Ypres, Robert was reported "missing in action" and was later "regarded for official purposes as having died on or since". His mother appears to have been informed in August 1918.

Robert's army service records survive, albeit badly burned, and we know he was awarded the British War Medal and Victory Medal that were posted to his mother Sarah. He had also written a will leaving all his possessions to his mother. Lance Corporal Robert James Davy is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

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