John Alexander Davison (1880-)
Insurance Manager from Shincliffe served in the Royal Naval Air Service
John Alexander Davison was born on 17 May 1880 in Shincliffe Bank Top. His father was John Hunter Davison, a colliery engine driver from Old Seaham. His mother was Ann Davison nee Dixon who was born in Whitby, Yorkshire. John was the youngest child in a family of five with one sister and three brothers. In 1881 the family lived in Shincliffe and in 1891 in Kelloe.
At the time of the 1901 census, John was a boarder at 74 Salter’s Road, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland and he was working as a journeyman joiner. He married Mary Lylias Johnston from Heaton and they married in 1905. In 1911, the couple were living at 61 Ferndale Avenue, Wallsend on Tyne, Northumberland where he was working as a District Insurance Agent for the Royal Liver Friendly Society.
John joined the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) on 10 July 1917. His record notes he was working as an insurance manager at the time he enlisted. He was given the service number F33185, the rank of aircraftman second grade and the trade of labourer. He spent his first two days in service at Crystal Palace and was then posted to the RNAS Training Establishment at Cranwell, Lincolnshire where he spent one month.
John’s next posting was to RNAS Felixstowe, Suffolk which was a station where seaplanes and flying boats were designed, tested and built. He remained here for the rest of his war service. On 1 April 1918, he transferred to the Royal Air Force (RAF) which formed on that date by amalgamating the RNAS and the Royal Flying Corps (RFC). He was given the new service number 233185 and the rank of private first class.
John was posted to Ripon Dispersal Camp on 15 January 1919 to be processed out of the service. He transferred to the RAF G Reserve on 15 February 1919 and was deemed fully discharged from service on 30 April 1920.
John returned home to Wallsend after his war service. His wife died in 1939 and her probate record shows that they were still living at 61 Ferndale Avenue, Wallsend and that John had spent his working life as an insurance manager and was now retired.
John Alexander Davison was awarded the British War Medal for his service during the First World War.
Civil Parish: Shincliffe
Birth date: 17-May-1880
Armed force/civilian: Navy
Residence: 5 Pond Row, Shincliffe (1881 census)
5 Surgery Row, Kelloe (1891 census)
74 Salter’s Road, Gosforth, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland (1901 census)
61 Ferndale Avenue, Wallsend on Tyne, Northumberland 1911 census, 1917 service record, 1939 wife’s probate record)
Employment: Journeyman Joiner (1901 census)
District Insurance Agent (1911 census)
Insurance Manager (1917 service record)
Family: Parents: Robert Hunter Davison, Ann Davison nee Dixon
Siblings: Phillis, Ralph, Robert, George
Military service:
F33185
Aircraftman second grade, 10 July 1917
Aircraftman first grade, 10 January 1918
Transferred to RAF, 31 March 1918
233185
Private first class
Transferred to RAF G reserve, 15 February 1919
Deemed discharged, 30 April 1920
Medal(s): British War Medal
Gender: Male
Contributed by David D, Stanley, Co Durham
