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John Bruce DAVIDSON

Main CPGW Record

Surname: DAVIDSON

Forename(s): John Bruce

Place of Birth: Sedbergh, Yorkshire

Service No: 13600

Rank: Private

Regiment / Corps / Service: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion / Unit: 10th (Service) Battalion

Division: 23rd Division

Age: 20

Date of Death: 1916-07-14

Awards: ---

CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: A. 26. 12.

CWGC Cemetery: ST. SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, ROUEN

CWGC Memorial: ---

Non-CWGC Burial: ---

Local War Memorial: DENT, YORKSHIRE

Local War Memorial: HORTON-IN-RIBBLESDALE, YORKSHIRE

Additional Information:

John Bruce Davidson was the son of Joseph and Cornelia Davidson, née Bruce. Joseph was born at Dent, Yorkshire and Cornelia at Bow, Middlesex.

1901 Dent, Yorkshire Census: Laning - John Bruce Davidson, aged 5 years, born Sedbergh, Yorkshire, son of Cornelia Davidson (married).

1911 Dent, Yorkshire Census: Laning - John Bruce Davidson, aged 15 years, born Sedbergh, Yorkshire, son of Joseph and Cornelia Davidson.

British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte John B. Davidson, 13600, West Riding Regiment. Theatre of War first served in: (1) France. Date of entry therein: 26 August 1915.

The entry for John Bruce Davidson is duplicated in the CPGW book; the photograph above is on page 141 and came from the 'Craven Herald' article of the 21 July 1916. The second entry is on page 158 with a different photograph of him (see: View Additional Image(s)).

A short biography of John is included in: ‘Sedbergh and District 1914-1918 – But who shall return the children?’ Compiled by Sedbergh and District History Society. Edited by Diane Elphick (2016).

Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry

View Entry in CPGW Book

Entry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:

DAVIDSON, John B., aged 19, West Riding Regiment, son of Mr. and Mrs. J. Davidson of Dent, died of wounds in France, July 1916.

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Private John Bruce DAVIDSON

Private John Bruce DAVIDSON

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment)

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 23rd Division

Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 23rd Division

Data from Soldiers Died in the Great War 1914 - 1919 Records

Soldiers Died Data for Soldier Records

Surname: DAVIDSON

Forename(s): John Bruce

Born: Addingham, Yorks

Residence: Sedbergh, Yorks

Enlisted: Settle, Yorks

Number: 13600

Rank: Private

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Battalion: 10th Battalion

Decorations:

Died Date: 14/07/16

Died How: Died of wounds

Theatre of War: France & Flanders

Notes:

Data from Commonwealth War Graves Commission Records

CWGC Data for Soldier Records

Surname: DAVIDSON

Forename(s): John Bruce

Country of Service: United Kingdom

Service Number: 13600

Rank: Signaller

Regiment: Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment)

Unit: 10th Bn.

Age: 20

Awards:

Died Date: 15/07/1916

Additional Information: Son of Joseph and Cornelia Davidson, of "Rosedene," Dent, Sedbergh, Yorks. (CWGC Headstone Personal Inscription: FATHER IN THY GRACIOUS KEEPING LEAVE WE NOW OUR LOVED ONE SLEEPING)

View Additional Text

View Additional Text For Soldier Records

‘Westmorland Mercury and Times’ (20 February 1915)

(Kindly supplied by Sedbergh & District History Society)

LOCAL WAR ITEMS

A roll of honour, containing the names of all old scholars of the Dent Church Day School is to be placed in the Schoolroom for future reference. The roll already contains the names of 23 old scholars who have joined the Forces. The list is as follows:–Robert G. Hutchinson, 1891-1895, lost in H.M.S. ‘Good Hope,’ Nov. 1st, 1914; Jas. H. Batty, 1899-1902, pupil teacher, 1902-1905, 6th Liverpool King’s Rifles; John Haygarth, 1897-1906, awarded Dent Grammar School Scholarship, 1906, 7th City of London, Dispatch Rider; Arnold Sparks, 1899-1907, awarded C.C. Teacher Scholarship, 1907, 8th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; William Dinsdale, 1903-1908, awarded C.C. Scholarship 1908, 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; George Raw, 1865-1874, Canadian Highlanders, also served in the Boer War, 1899-1902; Thomas Brunskill, 1880, also served in the Boer War; Wm. T. Burrow, Old Grammar School scholar, 6th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jos. P. Burrow, 1889-1908, 2nd W.R. Field Ambulance, R.A.M.C.; Chas. Burrow, 1897-1904, Royal Field Artillery; John Langstroth, 1882-1889, Royal Field Artillery; Thos. Cragg, 1884-1886, Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Leonard Mason, 1885, R.F.A.; John Hodgson, 1889-1900, R.F.A.; Wm. Bentham, 1893-1900, 3rd Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Carl Braithwaite, 1897-1907, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jno. B. Davidson, 1900-1905, 10th Duke of Wellington’s Regt.; Jno. Powley, 1898-1905, R.F.A.; W.H. Bowness, 1895-1901, R.F.A.; Arthur Conder, 1896-1901, R.F.A.; Parrington Dixon, 1889-1901, 16th (S) Prince of Wales’ Regt.; Edmund Gornall, 1892-1911, 16th (S) Prince of Wales’ Regt.; Ernest Parrington, 1901-1907, 6th (R) West Riding Regt.

View Additional Image(s)

Additional Photo(s) For Soldier Records

Unknown platoon of 'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), Aldershot, 1914

Unknown platoon of 'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion, Duke of Wellington's (West Riding Regiment), Aldershot, 1914

Photograph sent home to his parents at Bolton by Bowland by Pte Henry (Harry) Valance Killeen (13738). Henry is standing, with his hands behind his back, 11th from right. His brother, Pte Reginald Victor Whiteley Killeen (q.v.), was killed in action on the 25 January 1916

Courtesy of Paula Ann Payne (née Bailey), Barnoldswick

'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), Bramshott, August, 1915

'A' Company, 10th (Service) Battalion The Duke of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment), Bramshott, August, 1915

Courtesy of Bernard Ideson

Names of identified officers and other ranks on above photograph

Names of identified officers and other ranks on above photograph

CRAVEN'S PART IN THE GREAT WAR (page 158)

CRAVEN'S PART IN THE GREAT WAR (page 158)

Private John Bruce Davidson

View Craven Herald Articles

View Craven Herald Articles

Craven Herald and Wensleydale Standard Logo

21 July 1916

DAVIDSON – July 14th, at Rouen, of wounds received in action, aged 23 years, John Bruce Davidson, elder son of Joseph and Nellie Davidson, of Dent.

21 July 1916

DENT SOLDIER KILLED

News has been received that Pte. John B. Davidson, eldest son of Mr. and Mrs. Jos. Davidson, of Dent, has died of gunshot wounds in the face, in France. He was in the 10th West Riding, Duke of Wellington’s, and aged 23 years.

Wm. Arnold Sparks, eldest son of the Rev. Wm. Sparks, formerly of Dent, is in hospital for the second time, on this occasion for wounds in the knee, caused by shrapnel shot, 8th West Yorks.

Both soldiers are well known in the district and highly respected.

28 July 1916

DENT – Special Services

A memorial service was held in Dent Parish Church on Sunday evening, in memory of the soldiers who have fallen in the war. There was a very large congregation and an impressive service opened with the voluntary ‘O rest in the Lord’ (Mendelssohn). The Rev. E.S. Curwen, vicar, preached the sermon and made special reference to Signalman John Bruce Davidson, of the 10th West Ridings, Duke of Wellington’s, who died in Hospital in France on the 14th inst. He had been a member of the church choir both as a boy and as adult, and had been highly respected for his willing and obliging manners. The hymns chosen for the occasion were ‘Lead, Kindly Light,’ ‘Now the Labourers task is o’er,’ and ‘On the Resurrection Morn.’ Special sermons were preached on Sunday afternoon and evening last in the Wesleyan Chapel, Dent, by Mr. Stephen Harris, of Over Kellet. There were good attendances.

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles

West Yorkshire Pioneer Logo

25 September 1914

THE ROLL OF HONOUR

The following men have answered the appeal by joining the Settle Company of the 10th Battalion of the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment:–

From Austwick – William Hoyle, Wilson Pritchard, Samuel Shepherd, Fred Swale, John William Thistlewaite, George Thistlewaite.
Airton – Kayley Earnshaw.
Arncliffe – Percy Hodgson, John Simpson.
Bolton-by-Bowland – Irvine Clark, Jim Coates, Richard Davies Ellison, Harold Greenhow, Edward Victor Grubb, James Mason, Robert Singleton, Joseph Chapman Syers.
Bell Busk – Leonard Fox.
Clapham – Albert Edward Drury, Arthur Herbert Procter.
Grindleton – William Irvin Bell, James Wilding Clarkson, Joshua Crossley, William Walker.
Gisburn – Anthony Lofthouse, John Robinson.
Hellifield – James John Angus, Charles Graham, Thomas Harding, Charles Harwood, Sidney Hoar, John Ernest Linnett, Joseph Edward Preston, Thomas Procter, Christopher Ralph, Norman Roberts, Fred Graham.
Horton – John Bruce Davidson.
Ingleton – Hugh Robinson.
Longpreston – Arthur Bailey, Thomas Garnett, John Henry Hitchin, Henry Edward Horner, William Jones, James Kayley, Job Kayley, Arthur Lawson, William Henry Metcalfe, Joseph Parker, William Procter, William Rawlinson.
Langcliffe – Richard Butler, Thomas Henry Edmondson.
Marton – John Beckwith.
Malham – James Swinbank.
Newsholme – Thomas Edward Askew, Carl Parrington Branthwaite, Benjamin Ashton Butler, William Henry Scott.
Otterburn – Harry Gilbert Tunstill.
Settle – Robert William Bell, Ernest Campbell, George Clark, John Thomas Cockerill, Robert Cresswell, Herbert Dickinson, William Edward Gibson, George Jellett, Thomas Laytham, Robert Henry Maunders, Robert Newhouse, Walter Umpleby, Thomas Walsh, Solomon Richard Webb.
Stainforth – Walter Dinsdale.
Slaidburn – Edwin Isherwood, Walter Isherwood, Abel Moore, Charles Edward Parker, George Whitfield.
Wigglesworth – Fred Metcalfe, George Oversby.
Waddington – Joseph Barrett Hartley, Albert Hird [Herd], Harry Smith, Thomas Rigby, William Watson.

21 July 1916

DAVIDSON – In hospital at Rouen, Pte. John Bruce Davidson, of Dent.

21 July 1916

DENT

DEATH OF LOCAL MAN AT THE FRONT – On Monday last Mr. and Mrs. J. Davidson, of Laning, Dent, received the sad news that their eldest surviving son, John Bruce Davidson, who volunteered for active service at the commencement of the war, and since then has served in the Duke of Wellington’s West Riding Regiment, had died from face wounds in hospital at Rouen. Deceased was a man of estimable character and a general favourite with all who knew him. Great sympathy is felt for his father, mother, sisters and brothers in their bereavement.

28 July 1916

DENT

MEMORIAL SERVICE – On Sunday evening last a special service was held in the Parish Church in memory of those Dent soldiers who had fallen in battle, but especially of J.B. Davidson, who, before leaving Dent, had been a member of the choir. The organist, Miss M.A. Fawcett, played as a voluntary, ‘O rest in the Lord’, and appropriate hymns were sung. The Vicar spoke highly of deceased, whom he had known as a scholar in the Sunday School, member of his Bible Class, candidate for confirmation, communicant, and member of the choir. An excellent report of him had been received from the Chaplain of the Forces.

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