Military Chat

Not for me of course but for someone who knows what they are looking for.


John Reginald Davis
Born the first quarter of 1892, NAILSWORTH gloucestershire

He was in the navy cause apparently his cousin nearly blow him out of the water for failing to show his colours soon enough(or something like that) :-)

Who can I contact to see what happened to him?

Thanks for reading

Is this him?

Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1919

First name(s) John Reginald
Last name Davis
Service number M5885
Birth date 22 Dec 1891
Birth place Nailsworth
Birth county Gloucestershire
Birth country England
Archive reference ADM 188/1029/5885
Record set Royal Navy Seamen 1899-1919
Category Military, armed forces & conflict

ADDED:
Have sent image by pm

When you say "Who can I contact to see what happened to him?" do you mean what happened to him whilst he was in the Navy or afterwards?

Just in case you didn't know what medals he had:

UK, Naval Medal and Award Rolls
Name: John R Davis
Medal or Award: Star, Victory Medal, British War Medal
Service Year: 1914-1920
Service Location: Europe
Campaign or Service: World War I
Service number: M 5885

He obviously survived the wars:

England & Wales, Death Index
Name: John Davis (see below)
Birth Date: 22 Dec 1891 - matches service record.
Date of Registration: Mar 1974
Age at Death: 82
Registration district: Northumberland South
Inferred County: Northumberland
Volume: 1b
Page: 1252

Ancestry's GRO transcriptions are appalling, the index image shows the middle name of Reginald. (I've noticed Ancestry are missing loads of middle names on all sorts of records just lately).

Possible Probate entry to match death

DAVIS John Reginald of 51 Grosvenor Dv Whitley Bay Northumberland died 30 January 1974. Probate Newcastle-upon-Tyne 23 May £22593. Folio #742203844D

From Findawill
http://tiny.cc/7whh4x

That address is about 5 minutes walk from me!

Wonder if he was buried locally, or cremated?

:-D :-D

We'll have to wait until RMS comes back after her night's sleep. She may only have wanted details of his Naval Service

http://goo.gl/uN8cgW

Good find safc

Commander John Reginald Davis, OBE, Royal Navy
Birth: unknown
Death: Jan. 30, 1974
Family links:
Spouse:
Dorothy Eleanor Davis (____ - 2011)*
Burial: Whitley Bay Cemetery and Crematorium Whitley Bay
Metropolitan Borough of North Tyneside
Tyne and Wear, England

Headstone inscription reads

In Loving Memory of
A devoted husband and father
Commander John Reginald Davis
Died 30th January 1974 aged 82 years
And a cherished wife and mother
Dorothy Eleanor Davis
Died 1st November 2011 aged 90

He was awarded his MBE (edit OBE) in the New Years Honours list, 1944

Engineer Commander John Reginald Davis,
Royal Navy (Retired) (Nailsworth, Gloucestershire).

As it’s a PDF file, an url won’t work. Sending the image by PM

If he remained in service after WW1, won’t his full file still be with the MOD?
http://www.veterans-uk.info/service_records/service_records.html

Wow see I told you he would be easy for people who know what they're doing.

Both wars eh interesting Any information on John is great. Beside is name and that he was in the navy I don't know anything about him.

Thank you MarieCeleste, safc and DET

Dorothy's Estate went to Probate. Assuming she names her children you might want to purchase if

DAVIS DOROTHY ELEANOR
Probate Granted 25 November 2011
Probate number 3680294
Date of death 01 November 2011
Document type Grant and will
Registry Newcastle Upon Tyne

You can order for £10 from the Probate site
https://probatesearch.service.gov.uk/#wills

Marriages deleted as incorrect

Better fit for marriage

First name(s) JOHN R
Last name DAVIS
Marriage quarter 3
Marriage year 1944-
Spouse's last name LAWTON
District NORTHUMBERLAND CENTRAL
County Northumberland
Country England
Volume 10B
Page 927

MarriageFinder™ JOHN R DAVIS married DOROTHY E LAWTON

There are 7 Davis/Lawton births in Northumberland shown on Freebmd, between 1945 & 1962. Of course, they may not necessarily be John and Dorothy's children

2 possible births for Dorothy - I favour the one in Tynemouth, but either are geographically possible

Births Jun 1921 (>99%)
Lawton Dorothy E ( Baggott) Houghton 10a 1204

Births Dec 1921 (>99%)
Lawton Dorothy E (Allon) Tynemouth 10b 587

http://www.geni.com/people/Dorothy-Davis/6000000015532488710
Dorothy Eleanor Davis (Lawton)
Birthdate: circa 1920
Death: Died 2011
Immediate Family:

Wife of John Reginald Davis
Mother of Colvin (Davis)
Managed by: Catherine Colvin
Last Updated: February 21, 2015

Announcement of Dorothy's death

DAVIS (Whitley Bay). Dorothy Eleanor, died peacefully at home on 1st November 2011, aged 90 years, widow of Engineer Commander J.R. Davis O.B.E., R.N. and a partner of the late Frank Harriott, dearly loved mother, grandmother, great grandmother and a wonderful friend to many. Funeral Service at St. Paul's Church, Whitley Bay on Tuesday 15th November at 10.30am, followed by interment at Whitley Bay Cemetery. Family flowers only please, donations in lieu if desired to Help for Heroes for which there will be a collection box available at the service or may be forwarded to Gary Staker Funeral Services, (edited)

http://tiny.cc/9y8h4x