Universities at War

Alfred Davis was born in Bishop Auckland on 1 November 1890, the third son of William Thomas Davis, a drapers buyer, and his wife Mary. His elder brothers were William Beckwith and Charles Leonard, who both also served in the war. His father re-married (Annie Preston) in 1893 after the death of Mary, but he died later that year. A younger half-sister Gladys was born shortly after his father’s death. Alfred and Charles were adopted by a farmer named Robert Thompson, and they lived with him at Constantine Farm in Quarry Burn near Hunwick, County Durham.

By the time he started his studies at Bede College in 1914 Davis had moved to Howden-le-Wear, but he left the college early in July 1915 to join 3/8^th Durham Light Infantry, and so never completed his studies or qualified. There is little known of his army career, but he served as a sergeant instructor before transferring to 1/6^th D.L.I., where his final rank was that of a corporal. Alfred was killed at Pozières in northern France on 3 April 1918 during the German Spring offensive of that year. Little is known of his death in the confusion of the German advance, and he has no known grave. He is therefore commemorated on the war memorial at Pozières, accompanied by the names of approximately six hundred other members of his regiment. He is also honoured on the Bede College 1914-1918 Cross, Plaque, and Roll of Honour.