honor role

Davidson, Samuel John

* 3970 Sgt 51st Bn.

Born at Gawler, South Australia, Presbyterian. Joined the Education Department in 1907 as a monitor at Cottesloe School where the Head Master wrote in his report, “Fit mentally, morally and physically for a teacher.” Samuel tried to enlist in the AIF at Albany but was rejected on medical grounds. He persisted and was accepted on 1 May 1917 age 24. Nok father, William Davidson of Gawler. He embarked at Melbourne 30 October 1917 per A60 Aeneas. In February 1918, after training at a bombing school in England, he was sent to France and killed in action on 24 April 1918. The only personal effects returned to his father was one medal. He was buried at Villers-Bretonneux Memorial, France, Service medals: BWM and VM. [Bill Rourke, in his autobiography, My Way, recalled the cruel treatment levelled at men who did not or could not enlist. Women sent them white feathers as a symbol of cowardice and Davidson was a victim of such behaviour. Rourke continues, “I had come to admire Sam Davidson and I knew he was deeply hurt by much of this persecution.”]

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