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11/02/1883 - 15/07/1916

Place of birth: Calcutta, India
Last known address in Bromley: Briar Bank 4 Farnaby Road

Military information

Regiment/Service: Royal Engineers
Battalion/Ship: 130th Field Coy
Rank: Captain
Number: Unknown
Awards: Mentioned in Dispatches

Family information

Parents: Alfred William Davidson & Marian Leontine Oakes (nee Shonerstedt)
Parents' occupation: Director East India merchants
Siblings: Alfred Henry Royal, Marian Nellie
Relatives on War Memorial: OAKES, A.H.R.
Wife: Nellie Harper
Marriage date: 29-07-1911
Children: One daughter

Census information

1901
Address: Woolwich
Occupation: Gent Cadet
1911
Address: India

Extra details

George was the second of Alfred William Davidson and Marian Leontine Oakes (nee Shonerstedt)'s three children. Born in Calcutta, baptised in Madras, he came to England aged 5 to be educated at Blackheath and then Dulwich College (1897-1900).

After passing through the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, he was gazetted to the Royal Engineers in December 1901, and spent the next two years at the School of Military Engineering Chatham.
He landed in Bombay in January 1904, being appointed to the Indian Survey Department. He saw active service in the Abor Expedition 1911-12, being mentioned in despatches and receiving the medal with clasp. He was promoted Captain in December 1912 and did valuable service with the Abor Exploration Party 1912-13. During his Indian Survey service he did some fine work in the Eastern Himalayas —in the valley of the Dehang, carrying the triangulation and topography for 100 miles up the course of that great river, including the tributaries of the Siyom and Shimang on the right bank, with the Yamme on the left. He did besides much for zoology and brought together a fine collection of land mollusca.

He left India in October 1914 and on arrival trained the 77th Field Company, Royal Engineers, 17th Division, at Wareham until he left for the Ypres salient on 14th July 1915. Afterwards he was transferred to Vimy Ridge and then to the Somme. He was mortally wounded at Ovilliers la Boiselle on I5th July 1916 and died the same day.

"He was a most hard-working and conscientious officer and his loss is a heavy blow to the service, had he lived he would have taken part in future pendulum survey operations in India, for which he was well fitted."

George married Nellie Harper on 29th July 1911 in Norwich, they had one daughter.

George's brother Alfred also died.

Thank you to Dulwich College for their assistance.