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Cenotaph record

William Davison

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Identity

About

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  • Title
  • Forenames
    William AWMM
  • Surname
    Davison AWMM
  • Ingoa
  • Also known as
    Willy AWMM
  • Service number
    J48671 Public - Keith - Researcher - 9 June 2021 - RN ratings' Register of Seamen's Service
    http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6661431
    Reference:ADM 188/744/48671
    Description:
    NameDavison, Willie
    Official Number:J48671
    Place of Birth:Oundle, Northamptonshire
    Date of Birth:01 September 1899
    Date:[1915]
  • Gender
    Male AWMM
  • Iwi
  • Hapū
  • Waka
  • Rohe
  • Religion

Civilian life

About birth

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  • Birth
  • Date of birth
  • Place of birth
  • Birth notes
  • Address before enlistment
  • Post war occupation
  • Next of kin on embarkation
  • Relationship status

Service

Wars and conflicts

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  • War
  • Campaign
    Pacific Theatre of War AWMM
  • Armed force / branch
    Navy AWMM
  • Service number
    J48671 Public - Keith - Researcher - 9 June 2021 - RN ratings' Register of Seamen's Service
    http://discovery.nationalarchives.gov.uk/details/r/D6661431
    Reference:ADM 188/744/48671
    Description:
    NameDavison, Willie
    Official Number:J48671
    Place of Birth:Oundle, Northamptonshire
    Date of Birth:01 September 1899
    Date:[1915]
  • Military service
  • Promotions/ Postings/ Transfers

Military decorations

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Training and Enlistment

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  • Military training
  • Branch Trade Proficiency
  • Enlistment
  • Occupation before enlistment
  • Age on enlistment

Embarkations

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  • Embarkation details

Prisoner of war

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  • Capture details
  • Days interned
  • Liberation date
  • Liberation Repatriation
  • POW liberation details
  • POW serial number

Medical history

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  • Medical notes

Last known rank

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Biographical information

Biographical information

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    • Willy Davison served with the Royal Navy during the First World War and rejoined in January 1941 to serve as Leading Signalman on HMNZS "Achilles" during operations off Guadalcanal and later on HMNZS "Gambia".

      HMNZS "Gambia". The light cruiser "Gambia" was lent to New Zealand to replace the "Leander". Along with the "Achilles" it served with the British Pacific Fleet in operations off Okinawa and in the Sea of Japan. Both were involved in defending the fleet against Japanese air attacks including kamikaze suicide attacks. One such attack struck "Gambia" while the 'cease hostilities against Japan' signal was flying announcing the end of the war.

      A sailors hat and hat box belonging to Willy Davison are on display at the Auckland War Memorial Museum in the exhibit 'Keeping the Sea Lanes Open' of 'Scars on the Heart' AWMM
    • 'W. "Willie" Davison NZD 66

      Willie Davison was born September 1, 1899 in the United Kingdom. He saw service in the Royal Navy in the First World War. He then came to New Zealand in 1920 as part of the ships company of HMS Chatham and elected to transfer to the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy on October 1, 1923 as Yeoman of Signals. As Yeoman of Signals in 1928, with his service term up, he joined the Naval Volunteer Reserve.....'
      Sourced from the following: Public - Keith - Researcher - 9 June 2021 - http://hmsgambia.org/crewnotes-D-G.htm
      Website authored by Ray Thomas, son of a crew member.
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Death

About death

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  • Death
  • Date of death
  • Age at death
  • Place of death
  • Cause of death
  • Death notes
  • Cemetery
  • Cemetery name
  • Grave reference
  • Obituary
  • Memorial name
  • Memorial reference

Memorials

Memorial

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  • Memorial name

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Sources

Sources

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Contributors

Command item
Command item
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DateFirst namesLocationRelationshipContact
12 June 2021KeithLondonResearcher

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