More about Joseph Davidson

Joseph has no known grave but is remembered on the Helles Memorial.

Joseph Davidson   CZ/421   Drake Bn Royal Navy Division

“DIED LIKE A HERO.”

NAVAL BRIGADE VICTIM AT THE DARDANELLES.

The death of Joseph Davidson, a Dundee member of the Drake Battalion, 1st Naval Brigade, has been notified to his wife, who resides at 41 Milnbank Road.

Sub-Lieutenant G. G. M’Hardy wrote in the following terms :–” I cannot tell you how grieved I am to have to report to you the death of your husband.  He was one of my section leaders, and was shot in the thigh while we were sweeping for snipers.  He died like a hero, and did his duty to the very last.  I had no more trustworthy man in my platoon.  He died very peacefully, and we buried him this morning, and erected a cross over his grave.  He was liked and respected by every one, and had he lived would have been recommended to the commander.”

O.S. W. L. Barrie. A Company, also referred in a letter to the high esteem in which deceased had been held, and remarked that, being an old soldier, he was able to give help and hints which they would all miss, but, apart from that, they all admired his unfailing cheerfulness and good nature.

Davidson, previous to joining the Drake Battalion, was employed in the city as hose pipe weaver.

Dundee People’s Journal 5th June 1915

Joseph Davidson was the husband of Mary Davidson, 41 Milnbank Road, Dundee and was employed as a Hose Pipe Weaver before enlisting in September 1914. He was one of the first Dundee men to volunteer to join the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve onboard HMS Unicorn for service in the Royal Naval Division. After initial Naval Training at the Crystal Palace in South London he was sent to Blandford Camp in Dorset for advanced military training. He was drafted to A Company of the Drake Battalion which sailed for the Middle East in late February and landing on Gallipoli in April 1915. On the passage out he was advanced to Leading Seaman. In the aftermath of the Second Battle of Krithia he was killed in action and a note in his Service Record states he was buried to the right of Krithia Road near a well in line with Brown House, Cape Helles. His body was not found after the war and Joseph Davidson is commemorated on the Helles Memorial on Gallipoli, Turkey.

Iain Stewart and Iain Birnie