Frank Edmund Davern MM



 

 

Jan 22, 1898

Born at Napanee Ontario

 

Apr 26, 1915

Attested into the 21st Battalion at Kingston Ontario 

Ø      Number 59237 (Temporary number 1357)

o       He lied about his age, giving his year of birth as being 1897

Ø      Next of kin given as Mrs Annie J Davern (mother) of Napanee Ontario

Ø      Previous occupation given as Student

Ø      Previous military experience given as Canadian Signalling Corps – 3 years

Ø      Religion given as Roman Catholic

Ø      Assigned to the Depot Company

 

May 6, 1915

Embarked the RMS Metagama at Montreal 

 

 

May 15, 1915

Disembarked at Devonport England and proceeded to West Sandling Camp near Hythe, Kent

 

May 28, 1915

Transferred from the Depot Company to No 2 Company

 

Sep 14, 1915

Embarked at Folkstone

 

Sep 15, 1915

Disembarked at Boulogne France

 

Apr 26, 1916

Appointed to rank of L/Cpl with pay

 

Dec 20, 1916

Admitted to No 6 CFA (Canadian Field Ambulance) then transferred to No 22 CCS (Casualty Clearing Station) with Epididymitis Orchitis (an infection resulting from contracting Gonorrhea)

 

Dec 21, 1916

Awarded the Military Medal, London Gazette #29873 

 

The citation reads

For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty.  He laid and repaired telephone wires under very heavy shell fire thereby keeping communication between Companies and Battn HQ which was most essential in ensuring the success of the operation

AFW 3121

 

Dec 22, 1916

Transferred to No 12 “AT” (Ambulance Transport)

 

Dec 25, 1916

Transferred to No 39 General Hospital

 

Dec 26, 1916

Forfeits Field Allowance and is reduced in pay by 50 cents per day while in hospital (until January 10, 1917)

 

Jan 10, 1917

Discharged from hospital and placed in Military Prison at Havre France 

I could find no entry that indicated a Court Martial or a Court of Enquiry that handed down this punishment.  The authority for this is recorded as “CLA 416, VDG”

 

Jan 11, 1917

TOS (Taken On Strength) the CBD (Canadian Base Depot) for administrative purposes

 

Feb 26, 1917

Released from Military Prison and rejoined the 21st Battalion in the Field

 

Aug 16, 1917

Wounded in left leg by shrapnel and admitted to No 22 CCS

 

Aug 19, 1917

Died of Wounds

 

Bruay Communal Cemetery
Bruay France

 

Aug 3, 1920

War Service Gratuity paid to dependent mother ($180)

 

Sep 20, 1921

1914-15 Star, British War Medal, Victory Medal, Death Plaque and Scroll, and the Memorial Cross sent to his mother, Mrs Annie J Davern of Napanee at various dates, the last being sent on this date.

 

Below is a letter he wrote home to a boyhood friend in Napanee Ontario, just after the battle at Vimy Ridge,  4 months before he was killed.
Supplied by the Canadian War Museum







During the Remembrance Day ceremonies in 2008, Veteran's Affairs Canada conducted a vigil each night for the week leading up to November 11.  This vigil consisted of projecting the names of every Canadian soldier who is listed with the Commonwealth War Graves Commission on various buildings and monuments across Canada, and in London England.  The photo below shows Frank Davern's name being projected on the outside wall of Canada House in London England.

 

Frank Davern's name is listed on the Napanee, Ontario War Memorial

 

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