22158 Rifleman James Michael Davey
B Company 1st Battalion
3rd New Zealand Rifle Brigade
7th December 1917
Born on 19/09/1873 in Granville, Totara Flat, New Zealand.
His parents were James and Mary Davey.
In the 1900 New Zealand Electoral Roll, James was listed, as living in Granville, Totara Flat and working as a miner
(he was employed by Daniel Baybutt).
James enlisted on 02/05/1916 as part of the 16th Reinforcements.
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Grey River Argus – 4th May 1916 Page 3
Sixteenth Reinforcements
Farewell to West Coasters
Men Leave This Morning
The men forming the West Coast quota of the 16th Reinforcements received an official send off yesterday afternoon in front of the town hall, in the presence of a fair number of spectators, The men were presented with toilet requisites by the ladies’ Committee, and brief addresses were given by the Mayor (Mr G.E. Perkins), Mr Morris and the Rev. Mr Patchett.
The draft which will be in (the) charge of Sergeant-Major Levy, is as follows; - …..
INFANTRY
Davey, James Michael, goldminer, Totara Flat.
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James had previously had a medical on 03/04/1916, the details of which follow;
Trade or Occupation - Miner
Declared Age - 42
Height 5ft 11 inches, Weight - 180lbs
Chest Measurement - Minimum - 35 inches, Maximum - 371/2 inches
Complexion - Fair, Colour of Eyes - Grey, Colour of Hair - Black (going grey).
Once at Trentham Camp for his training, James was posted to G Company 16th Reinforcements.
When the training was completed, his journey to England began, with him boarding troopship Navua at Dunedin on 20/08/1916. It was just over 2 months later on 24/10/1916 that James disembarked in Devonport in England.
From the troopship, he was marched into Sling Camp, on Salisbury Plain the same day and posted to A Company 5th Reserve Battalion New Zealand Rifle Brigade(NZRB).
Just 4 days after arriving at Sling, James was found guilty of overstaying leave from midnight 27/10/1916 to midnight 28/10/1916 and had to forfeit 1 days pay.
It was just over 2 weeks later that James left Sling Camp for France on 15/11/1916, marching into Etaples Camp the following day. He stayed here, continuing his training until 08/12/1916 when he joined 1st Battalion, 3rd NZRB in the field and was posted to B Company.
At the beginning of the new year, He was attached to a railway construction gang on 08/01/1917. It was while he was attached to this gang , that James got in trouble again. On 08/02/1917 he was deprived of 5 days pay for being in town without permission. James stayed with the railway construction gang for another 4 weeks, before re-joining his battalion on 09/03/1917.
He only had a stay of 3 days with his battalion, before being attached to the 2nd ANZAC cable burying party from 12/03/1917 to 05/04/1917.
Back with his battalion again, James got in trouble again and on 25/05/1917 he was awarded 7 days field punishment no.2 (this required him to be placed in shackles but not attached to an object as you would be in Field Punishment no.1)
for being absent without leave from parade at 8.15pm on 19/05/1917.
On 09/10/1917 James was attached to NZ Wing Reinforcements camp until re-joining his battalion on 20/10/1917.
James was killed in action on 07/12/1917.
He was awarded the 1914 -1918 British War and Allied Victory medals.
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