Francis Gordon Davis was born at Ballarat, Victoria, Australia on 9 August 1899. He was the son of Alfred Ernest and Matilda Rachel Davis, of North Lodge, Wendouree Parade, Ballarat.
Matilda Davis died in about 1915. Francis was educated at Ballarat Junior Technical School and was aged 18 years and eight months when he enlisted and still a student.
He had served for four years as a Second Lieutenant in the Senior Cadets and was still serving when he joined the Australian Flying Corps (AFC). He left Melbourne by train on 6 May 1918 and embarked from Sydney aboard the HMAT Osterley two days later. The voyage to Liverpool lasted almost two months and disembarkation took place on 10 July 1918.
The initial posting was to the AFC Depot at Halton Camp, Wendover, Bucks. From 2 to 17 August and from 9 to 19 September he was sent on detached duty to the Australian Base Post Office in London.
On 1 November 1918 he joined the Aircraft Repair Section at Leighterton Aerodrome which was part of the 1st Australian Wing, AFC based at Tetbury.
Tragedy occurred prior to an eagerly anticipated night out in Stroud.
The Gloucestershire Echo on 28 January 1919 carried a report of an inquest held the previous day. At about 6.30pm a total of about 90 men, which included Francis Davis and his brother Edward (also serving with the AFC at Leighterton), crowded onto a motor lorry, which left the aerodrome for Stroud. The lorry was overloaded and the road conditions were slippery. When descending Barton End Hill, Nailsworth the lorry started skidding and near to a blacksmith’s shop it skidded right across the road and travelled broadside for some distance. Several of its passengers fell of when the lorry jerked, probably due to hitting a roadside culvert. Francis Davis had been standing just inside the door at the front of the lorry and was one of those thrown off.When the lorry came to a halt Davis was found dead, with a severe compound fracture of the left thigh and a fractured skull.
There were others injured but no other fatality. The verdict of the inquest was that Francis Davis died of shock, the result of his injuries.
The Coroner made comment about the overcrowding of lorries but no blame was apportioned to the driver or anyone else.
Air Mechanic Second Class Francis Gordon Davis was buried on 28 January 1919 in Leighterton Church Cemetery with military honours. He was aged 19. His brother was present at the burial and a CWGC headstone now marks the grave.
In 1922 his father planted a tree in his memory at what is now Ballarat School of Mines, with a memorial plaque at its base.
Researched by Graham Adams 23 January 2018
