Person Record

Metadata

Name

Davis, Melville Allen Duff

Other Names

Melville Allen Duff Davis

Born

Aug. 26, 1890

Birthplace

Tara

Deceased

May 28, 1918

Deceased

Blackpool

Father

William H. Davis

Mother

Josephine Isabel Layton

Education

Attended Public School in Tara. Attended High School at Owen Sound Collegiate Institute. Received B.A. in Political Science from Victoria University in 1915.

Occupation

For about a year before joining the army, he was a rural schoolteacher at Dalkeith in Glengarry County. In July 1916, he enlisted in the University Overseas training Company and went overseas in January 1917. Being appointed to the 1st King's Rifles, he reached France in May. At Mezieres, on September 4, 1917, he received a severe wound, necessitating the amputation of a leg below the knee. He had several operations to heal the wound due to poisonous shells. Several months later, he succumbed to meningitis at Blackpool Military Hospital. He is buried at Blackpool. He was awarded the Military Cross for directing the work of carrying ration parties to the front line under heavy fire and for bringing up bombs during an enemy counter attack. He also had taken command of and reorganized his ocmpany at a critical moment after his commanding officer was killed at the Battle of Ypres.