Alexander Herbert Davis (1889-1915)
Private 2350, 28th Battalion, London Regiment, Artists Rifles.

Gravestone, a marble scroll on a plinth, [Ch 23 (A), ] near the Anglican Chapel. “Also of Private Alexander Herbert DAVIS (Artist’s Rifles), second son of the above, who died in hospital January 21st 1915, aged 25 years.”

Davis House at St. Bartholomew’s School is named after this ex-student and members of the House are given a page of information about Davis.

Further research confirms many of these details. In the 1901 census A.H Davis is an 11 year old second son, living at 37, Northbrook St. where his father has a Chemist Shop (demolished to make the entrance to the new shopping centre). In the 1911 census he is no longer there, though his older brother, Harold Victor is then 23 working for the father. Where the story diverges from the information provided by the school is that his death certificate says that he died, in London, of coma having had a cerebral abscess for 6 months. He may well have joined the Artists Rifles, which recruited extensively from public schools and universities, whilst living and working in Oxford, before the beginning of the Great War.

Author: Ros Clow
© Ros Clow

DAVIS Alexander Herbert Apr 15 1889 Newbury –

Attended Newbury Grammar Sep 1898 – Jul 1906.

Father Henry Davis, 37 Northbrook St, Newbury, chemist, born Newbury

1891, 1901 chemist, shopkeeper, 37 Northbrook St
1911 Alex is a bank clerk in a lodging house, 76 Cowley Rd, Oxford.
1 older brother, 1 younger sister

Attended Newbury Grammar Sep 1898 – Jul 1905
1903 Apr – won Fives Doubles, beaten in 4th round of the singles.

Donated a book to the library.

Football - Captain of 1st XI– “played with his usual dash as centre half and fed his forwards well.”

Also captained a team in the School Cup “played extremely well against the wind and the hard rushes of Perkins’ men”.

School Paper Chase – a hare, caught after 3 miles.

School Run – joint 4th.

1903 Jul – Football - Vice Captain of Football Committee for next season

Cricket – 1st XI “batting: one of the best but not done himself justice, probably owing to nervousness. One of the best fielders. Also bowled.

Sports Day – a steward, also in Tug of War.

1903 Nov – passed Preliminary exam.

Debating Society Committee – spoke for horses against cars.

Football – 1st XI half back – “sent in a splendid shot which forced the goalkeeper over the line”

Chess – beaten in the 1st round.

Cricket – last season “a fidgety bat but tries hard and can hit a little., a good field and can bowl”. Batting average 5.2 runs, bowling average 7.3.

1904 Mar – Football 1st XI – played brilliantly, grandly, “a brilliant half, his heading and kicking being both sure and useful; he has played several good games for the school at back, but his place is essentially right half.”

Fives – represented South House with H Allnatt, won doubles.

1904 Jul – Chess- represented South House

Cadet Corps – Lance Cpl of B Squadron

Sports Day – steward, won Siamese race

Cricket – “ a promising bat and a splendid field”.

1904 Nov – Debating Society Committee

School Corps – attended every drill

Football 1st XI

1905 Apr – passed junior Cambridge Local

contributed to library

The Rivals – played the old retainer whose affection and familiarity were well brought out. “Capital”

Football – 1st XI – excellent, vice-captain. Hat trick v Wantage Grammar. “Neatest player in the XI, seems to do what he likes with the ball and is always to be found in the right place. He is certainly the best of the halves.”

(H S Cannon also in the team).

Fives – beaten in the finals of the doubles.

1905 Jul – prefect, football captain.

Sports Day – 3rd in Siamese, 2nd in Mile, 1st in the Potato Race

Cricket – 1st XI “ a brilliant filed who has saved many a run and cut short many a batsman’s career. In batting he began the season welll but suddenly lost his form for several matches. Played a fine innings v. Southampton. Can bowl”. Outshone the rest of the team.”

1905 Dec – Debating Society – opposed Channel Tunnel “French might get command of it in time of war. Journey by tunnel would cost more.” (Evers and Bance were for the Tunnel).

House Matches- got 39 and 34 for South House.

Speech Day – Pistol in Henry V in the Shakespeare selection.

Football – Nicely placed shot.

For once in a way he won the toss, elected to play with the wind at our backs.

Splendid play in defence.

Well-directed effort scored.

“Very neat and clever centre-half. Uses his head well and is a very fair shot. As a captain he has spared no pains to uphold the football traditions of the school.

House matches – scored a clever goal.

1906 Mar- Hockey 1st XI – 1 goal, half back (with Evers).

Cross Country Run - one of the hares, not caught.

Fives – won doubles knock-out, 3rd in senior competition/

Henry V - played “Pistol” – the cleverest performance apart from Henry V. “His acting showed much comic ability which he kept in control admirably”.

1906 Jul – Rifle Club secretary

Sports Day – 2nd in senior Long Jump, 3rd on Senior 100 yards, 2nd in Senior 220 yards, 3rd in Throwing the Cricket Ball, 2nd in Half Mile handicap, 3rd in Mile

Cricket “Evers and Davis batted well for the school”. Scores of 23, 28, 13, 31, top scorer. (C Warren also in team). “Showed a welcome return to form.” 246 runs, batting average 13.66, bowling average 10.58, 16 wickets. “Hardly done himself justice, largely owing to nervousness. Has a beautiful off stroke, but is weak on the leg stump. A good bowler and the best fieldsman and thrower in the XI. Another cricketer of admirable keenness and determination.”

1906 Dec – “Few boys have been more missed than Davis (& Moss) who both left in August. Both were extremely useful members of Cricket and Football XIs, they were towers of strength to our Dramatic Society and as Librarian rendered real services in somewhat ungrateful positions.”

Presented a fine print of Rosa Bonheur’s Waggon & Team to the school. Hung in the Vth form room.

Cambridge Local exams – 3rd class honours.

Speech Day – King John “ a capable actor but found small scope in The Bastard”.

Cricket – best innings for the school – 68.

1910 Dec – now captain of Oxford Banks AFC.

With grateful thanks to St Bartholomew's School for supplying this information and for kindly approving its inclusion.

Author:
© FNRC

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

Author:
© St Bartholomew's School, Newbury