Joseph Davison (1897-)
Tow Law man served with 1st/6th DLI had leg amputated
Although Joseph attested in December 1915 it wasn’t until 31 March 1918 that he landed in France. By that time he had been promoted to the rank of corporal and was serving with the 6th Battalion Durham Light Infantry.
It would be less than two weeks later (10 April 1918), at Estaires in France, that Joseph would suffer a “gun shot wound” to left leg and buttock. He was transported to the 13th General Hospital in Boulogne and was transferred from there to England on 8 May 1918. He was treated at an auxiliary hospital in Tankerton, Kent. “…where patient states five operations were performed on left foot and left leg” (Army pension record). He was then transferred to the Military Hospital at Shorncliffe where his leg was re-amputated.
Joseph’s pension records show that his left leg amputated below knee on 6 July 1918 as it was gangrenous. It was re-amputation on 22 January 1919 for spurs on end of the bone. He was fitted with an artificial limb by “Pillar” and the Medical board assessed his disability at 50%.
Contained within the pension records are Joseph’s “Statement by solder concerning his own case”. This shows that Joseph’s wounds were caused by a bomb; “gun shot wound” or GSW was a generic designation.
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Civil Parish: Wolsingham
Birth date: 1897
Residence: South Park, Tow Law (1911 census and Absent Voters’ List)
Education: Armstrong College studying forestry (Army pension records)
Employment: Forestry (Army Pension record)
Family: Parents: John Davison, Jane Davison
Siblings: Alice Davison, Thomas Davison, Percy Davison (1911 census)
Military service:
Corporal, Durham Light Infantry, 6 Battalion (Territorial), 81178 (AVL)
Enlisted: 6 December 1915 (Silver War Badge lists)
Posted to 17th Battalion DLI: 8 December 1915
Appointed unpaid lance corporal: 31 May 1916
Promoted acting corporal: 24 June 1916
Transferred to Second Training Reserve Battalion: 1 September 1916
Transferred to 258th Infantry Battalion: 30 August 1917
Transferred to 51st Graduated Training Reserve: 1 October 1917
Promoted to corporal: 31 March 1918
Transferred to DLI: 31 March 1918
Discharged: 19 December 1919 (Silver War Badge lists)
Medal(s): Silver War Badge
Electoral Register:
Register No: 2393
Forename: Joseph
Surname: Davison
Parliamentary Division: Barnard Castle
Polling District: Z - Thornley
Parish: Wolsingham
Date: October-1918
Reference: October-1918
Gender: Male
Contributed by Durham County Record Office | Weardale Museum
