Davis Family Background

Bernard Walter Davis was born in Birmingham in 1862. on 3rd October 1904 he married Florence Clarke, a marriage which produced four known children, three boys (Bernard Thomas b. 1907, Valentine Arthur b. 1919 and Austin Maxwell b. 1921) and a girl (Edna b. 1914). In 1939 Bernard Walter Davis is listed as a retired Plumber’s Merchant living at 20 Ashville Avenue. Bernard Walter died on 10th April 1946 and is buried in Castle Bromwich Graveyard. His wife Florence died three years later on 20th April 1949 and is interned in the same grave.

 

Bernard Thomas Davis Service No: 943233

Aircraftman 2nd Class Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve

Their eldest son, Bernard Thomas Davis, was born on 19th December 1907 and married Mary Cull in 1935. The 1939 census shows him employed as a Commercial Representative for a Plumber’s Merchants.

He is known to have joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve where he is recorded as an Aircraftman 2nd Class. He died on 30 January 1940 , his death being recorded in Oxford Jan-Mar Quarter Volume 3A Page 3514. Probate was granted on 15th May 1940 noting his death as having occurred on war service administration. His death is recorded on the Commonwealth War Graves website.

His death certificate shows that he died from Colon Pneumonia and Anemia at Rdacliffe Infirmary having been admitted from the Royal Air Force Hospital, Brize Norton.

He is buried in the family grave in Castle Bromwich Graveyard. The gravestone inscription reads:

In loving memory of Bernard Thomas Davis RAF beloved husband of Mary and Cherished son of Florence and Bernard. Died 30th January 1940, aged 32 years.

Also in loving memory of Valentine Arthur Davis killed in action 24th July 1941 aged 21 years.

He is also commemorated on the Altar of Remembrance, The Green, Castle Bromwich. Bernard’s widow Mary married Thomas Edward Lippitt in 1950. She died in 1989.

 

Flight Sergeant Valentine Arthur Davis 939726

76 Sqdn Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves

Bernard’s brother Valentine Arthur was born on 12th December 1919. The 1939 census shows him as single, living at his parental home and employed as a buyer’s assistant in a brass foundry.

Like his brother he enlisted with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserves. At 10.57 on 24th July 1941, Valentine was the wireless operator on a Halifax I L9517MP from Stanton Harcourt as part of  Operation: La Palice. His fellow crew members were:


PLO JFPJ McKenna
Sgt RFS Ford-Hutchinson
Sgt G Summers
Sgt JM Pilbeam
Sgt LT Rice
F/S RW Hill

The plane was later shot down by flak and crashed into the sea off Rochelle. Four airman were recovered and taken for burial in local cemeteries. Valentine was buried in Pornic War Cemetery.

Sgts Ford-Hutchinson, Summers and Rice are commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial. Of the other crew members Plo McKenna is buried in Pornic War Cemetery, Sgt Pilbeam and F/S hill are both buried in St Martin-de-re Communal cemetery.