Davey, Joshua Norman Russel

No.3220 - Private Joshua Norman Davey – 5^th Pioneer Battalion AIF

Joshua Norman Russel Davey was born in Ballarat Victoria on the 29^th July 1894 to John and Sarah Davey. The family moved across to Western Australia while Joshua was still young and took up residence in Claremont. He was educated at Claremont Practising School and Scotch College. He didn’t take part in any cadet or military service as he had been blinded in one eye when he was 4 years old. After leaving school Joshua took up an apprenticeship to become a plumber where he worked for several years for the Fremantle Metro Water Supply.

Joshua tried to enlist earlier in the war but had been rejected due to his being blind in one eye, however he tried again in Fremantle on the 1^st October 1916 and was accepted for service. The medical officer who examined Joshua found him to be 5 feet 9 inches tall; weight of 153 lbs; chest measurement of 34-35 inches; fresh complexion; grey eyes and fair hair. His religious denomination was Methodist. Joshua spent a few days at No.86 Depot and was then transferred to the 23^rd Reinforcements to the 16^th Battalion and then the 6^th Reinforcements to the 44^th Battalion. On the 1^st November 1916 at Belmont Camp Joshua was finally transferred to the 7^th Reinforcements to the 5^th Pioneer Battalion. He only had a week with them in camp before they embarked from Fremantle on the 9^th November 1916 aboard the H.M.A.T. “Argyllshire”.

The journey to England took a few months and they arrived at Devonport on the 10^th January 1917. After disembarking Joshua was marched into the Pioneer Training Battalion at Larkhill Camp on the Salisbury Plains. He spent a few months in camp and it wasn’t until the 5^th April 1917 that he proceeded to Folkestone Harbour and went across to France. On the 7^th April 1917 at Etaples Joshua marched into the 5^th Australian Division Base Depot at Etaples, where he stayed a few more weeks. On the 27^th April 1917 Joshua was taken on strength of the 5^th Pioneer Battalion in the field. Joshua would have served at the 2^nd Battle of Bullecourt in May 1917, though after this battle the 5^th Division was withdrawn for a rest from front line duties until September 1917.

After this Joshua served through the Third Battle of Ypres in September/October 1917 and continued with the 5^th Pioneer Battalion through the Flanders winter of 1917/18. On the 19^th January 1918 he was charged with being absent without leave and being in possession of an expired pass, and as a punishment was given 7 days of Field Punishment No.2. This didn’t stop Joshua being given leave to the UK in February where he was able to spend two weeks, before he had to return.

In March 1918 the Germans launched their Spring Offensive which broke through the Third and Fifth British Armies and captured much territory on the Somme and so the Australian divisions in Belgium were sent south to stem the advance. The Fifth Division came down and helped stop the Germans, their most notable action being at Villers-Bretonneux on the 24^th/25^th April 1918. The Germans had captured the village from British troops and the 4^th & 5^th Divisions helped recapture it.

On the 24^th April during the German capture of the village they sent over large amounts of shells. The 5^th Pioneer Battalion, stationed at Bussy-Les-Daours suffered 1 killed and 7 wounded from the shelling. Joshua was among those wounded and was taken back to the 61^st Casualty Clearing Station. His wounds were assessed as severe and he was sent to No.47 General Hospital at Le Treport. The Hospital O.C. later wrote that;

“He was admitted here on 26-4-18 suffering from a large wound of the left thigh with much communication of the bone. His condition was very bad. The wounds did not improve and it was necessary to amputate the leg. The patient however gradually became weaker and passed away at 6-20pm on 29-4-18. The funeral was at the Military Cemetery, Mont Houn Le Treport on 1-5-18 and the ceremony was conducted by the Rev. J.G. Lunn.”

Joshua Davey is buried in plot VI.H.6B in Mont Huon Military Cemetery Le Treport.