Norman Ernest Davis’ grave, Lemnos. Image courtesy National Archives of Australia.
Norman Ernest Davis was born in Orange in about 1891. Prior to enlisting Norman had been a member of the Orange Rifle Club for a period of two years.
Norman was working as a miner in Broken Hill when he enlisted in August 1914.
He embarked from Adelaide in October 1914, a Private 10th Battalion, B Company. He served in Egypt and Gallipoli.
On 18 August 1915 Private Davis sustained a gunshot wound to the head. He died thirteen days later of a compound fracture of the skull and septic meningitis.
Norman had nominated “C. Davis, Orange“ as his next of kin on his attestation papers, but Base Records Office was unable to locate him to pass on Norman’s war medals, personal effects and over £72 in deferred pay.
A man called William Davis in Katoomba claimed to be Norman’s father but the Base Records Office in Melbourne was not convinced. The Office tried for several years to locate a relative, but their attempts proved fruitless. According to the Base Records Office: “exhaustive efforts have been made to trace [next of kin] but without result.” Private Davis’ war medals were forwarded to “untraceables”.
