The following forms the basis of the hand out given to St Bart’s pupils

DAVIS 1889-1915

ALEXENDER HERBERT DAVIS, son of Mr. Henry Davis, of 37 Northbrook Street, entered the School in 1898.

He passed the Preliminary Examination in 1902, and the Cambridge Junior Local Examination in 1904 and 1905.

But it was in the general activities of school life that he was most prominent. An excellent and even brilliant footballer, equally valuable both at half-back and at back, he was vice-captain of the First XI in 1904, and captain in 1905.

The neatest player in the team, he was also an able leader who spared no pains to secure the success of his side, of which he was himself the mainstay both in attack and defence.

In Cricket he was equally prominent and by 1906 he had become one of the best players in the School team. His batting was sound, with a fine off stroke, and his bowling accurate and useful. In the field he was brilliant.

In Fives too he took a leading place, being frequently in the semi-finals and finals of both inter-House and School Championships; and the Athletic Sports, the Cross-country Run and Hockey gave further scope to his many-sided athletic ability.

It was not only in sport, however, that he was active. He was a member of the Committee of the Debating Society from its formation in 1903 and was a constant speaker in debate.

He was a Lance-corporal in the Cadet Corps when it was founded in 1904, and later he was elected secretary of the Rifle Club.

He played for his House in the inter-House Chess tournament held in the Spring Term of 1904.

He was made a School Prefect in 1905, and in the following year Librarian. As an actor he was conspicuous.

His first appearance on the stage was in March 1905, when he played ‘David' in Sheridan's Rivals. In Shakespeare's Henry V next year his rendering of 'Pistol' was noted as the cleverest piece of work in the whole play; and in the Speech Day celebrations of July 1906 he again appeared in a scene from King John.

On leaving school he obtained a clerkship in the Metropolitan Bank at Oxford. He joined the O.N.A. and frequently represented it in cricket and football matches against the School. He undertook the duties of honorary treasurer to the Association, and held this office until the spring of 1914.

When the Great War broke out, he immediately joined the Artists' Rifles. He was wounded* early in 1915, and died in hospital on 26 January.

The keenness, determination, and devotion which had marked his school life were not less conspicuous in his service to his country.

*He had a brain tumour

Sed miles, sed pro patria

Sources:as above