Photo: Pauline Priano
Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
Richard Davison was the eldest of 9 children, 4 sons, 4 daughters and 1 deceased, gender unknown. His father John Davison was born at Castle Ward, Northumberland in circa 1864, his mother Elizabeth originated from Dearham, Cumberland and was born in 1866, the couple were married circa 1885. Richard was born in 1887 and baptised July 13th at Old Benwell Village, Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland. His siblings, Ann in 1890, John 1892, Sarah 1894, James 1896, Joseph Henry 1899 and Elizabeth 1901 were also born there. Their father, employed as a coal miner, in search of work, transferred his family from Benwell to Westerhope where daughter Mary Jane was born, December 15th 1902. By 1911 they were living with 7 of their children in 3 rooms at 67, Beaumont Terrace, Westerhope, John, had been joined at the colliery by sons Richard (24), John (190 and James (15), all employed as hewers, Joseph Henry (12) is listed as a scholar, daughters Sarah (17), Elizabeth (10) and Mary Jane (8) remained at home with their mother, the whereabouts of Ann (21) is unknown.
Prior to 1911 the family were listed in census documents as surname Davidson, however their true surname was Davison. Richard Davison was married at Castle Ward, Northumberland in 1913 to Margaret Swinbank, born April 17th 1892 in the district of Tynemouth, their daughter Margaret was born February 8th 1914.
Richard was one of the first to enlist at Newcastle-upon-Tyne, Northumberland, in 1914 when the Army raised more regimental battalions, assigned to the newly formed 20th (1st Tyneside Scottish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, as Private 740. The recruits trained at Newcastle before moving to Alnwick camp in the grounds of Alnwick Castle, Northumberland, January 29th 1915, then on to Ripon, Yorkshire, in June 1915 as part of the 34th Division and finally arriving at Salisbury Plain for final training in late August 1915.
Private Davison departed with his regiment as of January 1916 attached to the 34th Division which congregated at La Crosse, east of St Omer. After a period of trench familiarisation they made their way to the Somme in preparation for the forthcoming battles. The opening battle of the Somme due to commence June 29th 1916 was delayed until July 1st by bad weather. The 20th Battalion Northumberland Fusiliers were in action on the first day during the Battle of Albert. At 7.28am two huge mines were detonated under the German lines, one to the south and one to the north of the village of La Boisselle which signalled the beginning of the attack. The 20th Battalion had 500 yards to cover under heavy machine gun fire, nevertheless, capturing Scots and Sausage Redoubts. The battalion lost 26 officers and 564 men.
Having risen through the ranks the now Lance Corporal 740 Richard Davison Northumberland Fusiliers was amongst the missing of the day. After extensive investigations as to his whereabouts Margaret received confirmation, August 5th 1916 that he had been killed in action, July 1st 1916. His sacrifice is recorded as one of the 72,318 names of British and South African forces inscribed on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, Thiepval, France, commemorating those who died on the Somme before March 1918 and who have no known grave. Lance Corporal Davison was 29 years of age.
Margaret received all monies due to her husband from the Army, a pension as of March 5th 1917 of 15 shillings a week for herself and their daughter until February 8th 1930, also his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal sent to her at 4, North Avenue, Westerhope, Northumberland.
In 1923 Margaret Davison remarried at Castle Ward, Northumberland to James Turnbull and moved to 51, Dene Gardens, Lemington-on-Tyne. Further details as yet unknown.
It should be noted some official documents list Lance Corporal Davison as service number 20/740 others as 20/742. The CWGC have adopted the latter.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
Richard Davison is remembered at Whorlton on W53.01 as Davidson
