Fusilier John William Davis, 4265454, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers.
John William Davis was born in South Shields in early 1908, the only child of London born John William Davies, a blacksmith's striker and his wife, Hartlepool born Elizabeth Ann, who married in 1907. Both of John William's parents were deaf and dumb.
Husband of Freda Russell Davis, of Ossett. John Davies is recorded as marrying spinster and domestic servant Freda Russell Woods on the 4th November 1933 in York where John was stationed at Fulford Barracks. There were four children: Mary E. born in 1934 at York; Ann in 1942, John R. in 1944 and Jennifer in 1945, the latter three in the Spen Valley Registration District, which at that time included Ossett.
Fusilier John William Davis was discharged form the Army on the 23rd October 1940 on medical grounds and he died nearly seven years later when living in Ossett.
At the time of his death, the address of John William Davis was 12, Dale Street, Ossett and his occupation was baker's labourer. The cause of death was (a) Pulmonary Embolus (b) Post operative following (c) Partial gastrectomy. The informant was his wife Freda Davis of the same address and the death was registered on the 18th July 1947.
John William Davis died in Dewsbury Hospital on the 17th July 1947, aged 39 years, but it isn't clear if the cause of death on his death certificate was WW2 related. He was buried at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Ossett on the 21st July 1947. However, it must be assumed that he died from injuries associated with his WW2 service because of his entry in the CWGC listings.1
There was no death notice for John William Davis in the "Ossett Observer". The only reference was an Acknowledgement in the "Ossett Observer" for July 24th 1947:
"Davis - Mrs J. W. Davis wishes to thank all relatives, friends, neighbours, doctors and staff of Pickard Ward, Dewsbury Infirmary, President, committee and staff of Ossett Co-Operative Society for kindness shown in her sad and sudden bereavement - 12, Dale Street, Ossett."
On the 1st December 1997, on or about the 50th anniversary of his death the War Medal of Fusilier John William Davis was awarded to one of his three daughters.
My thanks to Anne-Marie Fawcett for the additional information on John William Davis.
Stephen Wilson 16th February 2025
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