Another Rorke's Drift Hero Buried at Brompton?

William Henry Davis was born at St Bartholomew’s Parish in Camden Town, London, during the June quarter of 1853. He enlisted at Bow Street Police Court in London, on 26 February 1877, aged 24 years and five months; He was somewhat diminutive, being described as just under five feet four inches tall, with a chest measurement of two feet ten inches. He had a dark complexion, hazel eyes and dark brown hair. His religion was Church of England, and at the time of his attestation he had a broken upper front tooth. As 1363 Private Davis he was posted to the 2nd Battalion, 24th (2nd Warwickshire) Regiment, on 1 March 1877.

After short postings to Dover and Chatham, he received orders for active service in South Africa and sailed to the Cape with the battalion in February 1878. He took part in the Cape Frontier War, and during the Zulu War he was present at the defence of Rorke’s Drift.

While still at Rorke’s Drift he was granted a penny a day good conduct pay on 27 February 1879, which he forfeited in the following June. For his service he received the South Africa Medal with 1877-8-9 clasp.

He served at Gibraltar from 13 January to 11 August 1880, during which time he was hospitalised from 26 May to 12 June 1880, suffering with a stricture (inflammation), and he was confined in cells on 1 July 1880, charged with breaking out of the barracks and doing away with necessaries. He was tried by court martial and sentenced to 42 days imprisonment with hard labour, being released on 12 August 1880, to sail with the battalion to Secunderabad in  India. It seems he suffered badly from hepatitis and hemorrhoids while he was there. On his return from the sub-continent on 27 May 1883, he transferred to the army reserve HQ, London District, in the following month, his character at that time being described as ‘bad - latterly good.’ He had received a 4th class certificate of education when he discharged from the army on 10 April 1889.

Buried in a common grave at Brompton Cemetery is William Henry Davis, who died at 180 Ebury Place in Pimlico, and he was buried on 26 October 1889. He was aged 37.

DAVIS William Henry – Private – 25B/1363 – 2nd/24th B Company
Born: St. Martin’s Parish, London, England June quarter 1853. Baptised into the Church of England 6/4/1853. Ref: St. Martin in the Field baptismal records.
Parent: Emma Davis.
Trade: Porter.
Service details: Enlisted at London 26/2/1877. Description: Height 5’3¾”, complexion dark, eyes hazel, hair dark brown, chest 34”, marks/scars: He has an upper front tooth broken. Pulse = 80 beats, respiration = 20 inspirations, muscular development good, age 24. His next of kin was originally given as his mother Mrs. E. Davis address unreadable, London. This has been crudely erased and replaced with A. Darilborough Uncle 252 (unreadable) Road, London. Attested at Bow Street Police Court, London 27/2/1877 at 5.30pm. Home service 27/2/1877 – 31/1/1878 a total of 339 days. Joined the 2nd/24th Foot at Brecon, Brecknockshire 1/3/1877. Arrived in Dover, Kent 11/5/1877. Arrived in Chatham, Kent 14/7/1877. Served in South Africa 1/2/1878 – 12/1/1880 1 year 346 days. Served in the Kaffir (sic) & Zulu Wars 1878-9. Arrived on the Eastern Frontier, South Africa 10/3/1878. Arrived at the Cape of Good Hope, South Africa 1/7/1878. Arrived in Natal, South Africa 6/8/1878. Present during the defence of Rorke’s Drift Mission Station, Natal, South Africa 22-23/1/1879. Battalion Orders Rorke’s Drift 27/2/1879: B Company to occupy No.5 post. Awarded good conduct pay at 1d rate 27/2/1879. Forfeited good conduct pay at 1d rate 28/6/1879. Served at Casemate Barracks Gibraltar in the Mediterranean 13/2/1880 – 11/8/1880 a total of 211 days. Fined 2s 6d for drunkenness 3/4/1880. Detained in the cells 18-24/4/1880. Hospitalised at Gibraltar 26/4/1880 – 12/6/1880 with Stricture, 47 days in total, admission book No.889. Fined 5s for drunkenness 16/6/1880. Detained in the cells 20-26/6/1880. In confinement for breaking out of barracks and making away with necessaries 1-13/7/1880. Tried by Court Marshal 14/7/1880 and sentenced to 42 days at hard labour, with stoppages. He was released while still at Gibraltar 12/8/1880. Served in India 12/8/1880 – 27/5/1883 a total of 2 years 289 days. Arrived in India 2/9/1880. Arrived in Secunderabad, India 17/9/1880. Hospitalised at Secunderabad 28/4/1881 – 7/5/1881 with Hepatitis, 11 days in total, admission book No.358. Hospitalised at Secunderabad on several more occasions: 13-27/10/1881 with Haemorrhoids, 15 days in total, admission book No.652. 5/11/1881 – 28/12/1881 with Haemorrhoids, 54 days in total, admission book No.676. Restored good conduct pay at 1d rate 13/8/1882. Hospitalised at Secunderabad 30/11/1882 – 12/1/1883 with Haemorrhoids, 44 days in total, admission book No.707. Home service 28/5/1883 – 10/4/1889 total 5 years 318 days. Received pay at Gosport, Hampshire 27/4/1883 – 20/6/1883. Transferred 21/1/1883 to the army reserve after serving 5 years 325 days regular service, conduct bad, latterly good. He did his reserve in the North London District, London. Discharged from the army 10/8/1889. Total service 12 years 165 days. Pension nil. Intended residence 37 Johnson Street, Camden Town, London. Travel Warrant issued to London 6s 2d. WO97/2639. Died 1889.
Honours/awards: South Africa Medal with clasp 1877-8-9.
Publications: Bourne original rolls – Bourne amended rolls which both show him as W H Davis.

Hi All,
William Henry Davis is buried in Grave AE/244.9/153.0 in a common unmarked grave. he was the fourth of five people in the grave and buried at 5.5 feet. His grave book number is 146787. The numbers of the grave relate to feet and inches in square AE.
Rai Keynshamlighthorse.

Julian,

Tried by Court Marshal 14/7/1880 and sentenced to 42 days at hard labour, with stoppages.

Is that anything like a Courts-Martial?

JY

I presume he can now be added to the list of known graves of defenders of Rorke's Drift - he is already in mine.