John Richard Davis

Story:
John Richard Davis was born in Shaftesbury, Dorset, on 29th November 1893, the son of James John Davis and Maria Davis (née Russell).  He spent all his life in the area. He enlisted on 13th November 1914 but was not embodied until 2nd June 1915, when he joined the Army Service Corps as a Private (Service No. S4/111324).  He was attached to the 18th and 14th Field Bakery in France from 24 Jul 1915.  During this time his mother died in 1916. He was demobilized on 26th May 1919 and was awarded the Victory and British War medals and the 1915 Star.   The 1921 Census shows him living with his widower father in Alcester, Shaftesbury, Dorset, working as a Baker. He married Ethel Gertrude Mitchell in 1926 but there were no children of the marriage.  His address was 4 Bell Street, Shaftesbury, Dorset (per the 1939 Register) which describes him as a Master Baker.  he later moved to Dinah's Crest, Cann, Shaftesbury from where his death, in the Westminster Memorial Hospital, Shaftesbury, on the 3 Jul 1955, was recorded at the Sturminster, Dorset, Registry. He was later buried in the Town Cemetery, Shaftesbury, on 6 Jul 1955.  John's brother, Ernest George, is mentioned as having served according to the St. James Church Roll of Honour published in Nov 1918. His other brother, Percival James Davis, also served and survived the conflict. Source: Based on original research by Ken Baxter.