This is a photo of my mothers parents. Any information on the service of Arthur Davison would be greatly appreciated. He served with the Norfolk Regiment Possibly his Army No is 170203 Below is the only other information I have Mum’s Family History Daniel Davison – Arthur’s father (mole catcher) Isabel Hortence Davison - Arthur’s mother? William Barber – Jessie’s father (agricultural labourer) Arthur Davison born 8 December 1890, Aylsham, Buxton. Arthur Davison (agricultural stockman) married Jessie Barber 6 February 1918, Parish of Skeyton, Norfolk Arthur Davison resided Swanton Abbot at time of marriage Jessie Barber resided Skeyton at time of marriage Cheers Paul
Hi Paul, came across this thread while searching for some thing else. Not sure if you got any further with it. So did a quick search of WW1 Lives. Search page davison&PageIndex=1&PageSize=20 and could not find any Arthur Davison in Norfolk Regiment. Yet cap badge in photo is 100% Norfolk regiment. Did manage to find out that he lived in North Walsham before he died in Norfolk and Norwich hospital, 24th Feb 1965. Leaving his estate to your mother and Bessie Ruth Clarke.
Paul, 17003 Arthur Davison Norfolk regiment was discharged from the Army on the 18th September 1914. His papers can be found on FMP. If you can't access them I can send them to you? Guy
Info from Ancestry database Arthur Davison in the British Army WWI Pension Records 1914-1920 Name: Arthur Davison Gender: Male Birth Date: abt 1891 Birth Place: Swanton Abbott, Norfolk, England Age: 23 Document Year: 1914 Regimental Number: 170123 Regiment Name: Norfolk Regiment Form Title: Short Service Attestation Number of Images: 11 Other Records: Search for 'Arthur Davison' in other WWI collections Family Members: Name Relation to Soldier Arthur Davison Self (Head) Daniel Davison Father Fanny Davison Mother John Davison Brother Guy - I note the number might be slightly different to yours ?? Also seems the whole family were 'in the military' TD
I will have a look later and reply if I find anything Hopefully it clears up his service number (170123) TD
Arthur Davison in the Norfolk, England, Bishop's Transcripts, 1685-1941 Name: Arthur Davison Gender: Male Baptism Date: 21 Mar 1891 Baptism Place: Swanton Abbot, Norwich, Norfolk, England Father: Daniel Davison Mother: Fanny FHL Film Number: 1526624 Arthur Davison in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Birth Index, 1837-1915 Name: Arthur Davison Registration Year: 1891 Registration Quarter: Jan-Feb-Mar Registration district: Aylsham Parishes for this Registration District: View Ecclesiastical Parishes associated with this Registration District Inferred County: Norfolk Volume: 4b Page: 80 Arthur Davison in the England & Wales, Civil Registration Death Index, 1916-2007 Name: Arthur Davison Birth Date: abt 1891 Date of Registration: Mar 1965 Age at Death: 74 Registration district: Norwich Inferred County: Norfolk Volume: 4b Page: 806 In the 1911 Census his Father and older brother are noted as 'Mole Destroyer' under occupation Name: Arthur Davison Age in 1911: 20 Estimated birth year: abt 1891 Relation to Head: Son Gender: Male Birth Place: Swanton Abbott, Norfolk Civil Parish: Swanton Abbot Search Photos: Search for 'Swanton Abbot' in the UK City, Town and Village Photos collection County/Island: Norfolk Country: England Street address: Church Lane, Swanton Abbot, Norwich Marital Status: Single Occupation: Labourer On Farm Registration district: Aylsham Registration District Number: 223 Sub-registration district: Buxton ED, institution, or vessel: 17 Household schedule number: 66 Piece: 11233 Household Members: Name Age Daniel Davison 52 Francis Davison 48 James H Davison 25 Arthur Davison 20 Walter H Davison 17 Albert Davison 15 Isabel Flora Davison 11 Cecil Percy Davison 9 Pension record to follow TD
Looks as though he enlisted on 15 Sep 1914, but did not make it through the medical and was discharged on 18th Sep 1914 See Army form B 204 - Application for Discharge of a Recruit as not likely to become an efficient Soldier Hence he has no further WW1 records TD
1800 early 1900s nearly every village in Norfolk had its own Mole Destroyer, It is surprising that when you go through the records of soldiers of that period, how many had the occupation of Mole Destroyer or vermin and rat catcher. My own Great Grandfather was one, he also served in the Norfolk regiment during WW1. In fact it was a very good job to be in if you were good, you got paid for getting rid of the moles, then sold the skins so the gentry could wear a moleskin waistcoat.
Paul The 1939 Register for Smallburgh, Norfolk: Oak Farm Cottage, Felmingham Davison, Arthur / male / dob 8 Dec 1890 / married / Poultry & pig man on farm Davison, Jessie / female / dob 6 Jan 1895 / married / Household duties + one other, record closed Regards
Paul due to the short army service of Arthur would he have been issued with full dress uniform? Is it possible that it is not Arthur in the photo, but his brother Walter H Davison? Norfolk Regiment 5536. Labour Corps 591172. served 1914 - 20.
I have been told that the uniform is from circa 1912 which deepens the mystery of it. My mother always said that the picture was of her parents. Maybe he borrowed the uniform for the photo. Cheers Paul
