DAVIDSON, John Harold (1895- 1971)Born on 6 July 1895, John Davidson was the son of Frank Lindsay Davidson and Ellen nee Tipton. His education was at Flinders School and Geelong College where he entered as a day student, age 14 years 7 months, from February 1910 to December 1912. His address when he entered was Railway Station, Geelong. At College, he played in the 1st Cricket XI of 1912 and most noticeably was a member of the running team for two years in 1911 and 1912.
He was employed as a telephone engineer when, during World War I, he enlisted (No 2338) two days after the original Landing at Gallipoli on 27 April 1915 in 7 Battalion. He embarked for Egypt on
HMAT A64 Demosthenes on 16 July, having been promoted from Private to Acting Sergeant. Having served on Gallipoli and in France, he transferred to 4th Divisional Signalling Company, where he received further promotion to the rank of Lieutenant. He returned to Australia, embarking on 31 March 1919.
During World War II, he served in Australia with the Volunteer Defence Corps (VDC).
His brother,
Frank Stanley Davidson (1892-1918), who also was educated at College, received his commission as a Captain in the 2nd Field Company Engineers, and on 15 September 1918 was killed by a 5.9 shell while sitting at the mess with officers and other ranks at Roisel.
Sources: Based on an edited extract from Geelong Collegians at the Great War compiled by James Affleck p166 (citing Pegasus; National Archives).