Charles Richard Davey was born on 27 March 1890 in Boston, Lincolnshire. He attended Elementary School to 1905 and undertook a correspondence course with Clark’s College before becoming a postman and sorter with the GPO in Boston. His father, Thomas Davey, was a miller by trade. The family, which included his father, mother Henrietta and brother William, lived at 26 Pen Street, Boston.

He voluntarily enlisted into the Lincolnshire Regiment on 1 September 1914 and was accepted into the newly forming 7th (Service) Battalion. He joined under the standard terms of service, which were for three years or the duration of the war. The medical examination that he underwent at the time revealed that he stood 5 feet 9 ½ inches tall, weighed 126 pounds and had a 36 inch chest: he was well built by the standards of the day. Aged 24, he already had an upper denture.

He was told to arrive at the regimental depot at Lincoln three days after attesting. After a few days he was posted to the 8th (Service) Battalion, with which he served the rest of his time as a ranker as Private 10954.

Charles began his basic and infantry training with the battalion.

On 13 March 1915 at Leighton Buzzard, Charles found himself on charges of irregular conduct and being absent from camp for 33 hours. He was found guilty and reprimanded by the battalion commanding officer, Lieutenant Colonel Wilkinson. Charles also had to forfeit two days pay. One of the witnesses was Company Sergeant Major Nangle. 34 year old James Nangle was killed in action on 26 September 1915.

This, however, did not badly affect his career for on 11 May 1915 he was appointed Lance Corporal; he was promoted to full Corporal on 7 September 1915. This was just as the battalion was making final preparations to move to France. He landed with his unit, having sailed from Folkestone, on 10 September 1915.

To France - and soon wounded

The battalion - along with the rest of its parent formation the 21st Division - was rushed into action in the battle raging at Loos. Charles received wounds to his finger and knee and was admitted to No. 19 Field Ambulance. After receiving first aid there, he was evacuated to a medical unit – possibly at Le Havre – where he spent the next two months. He was discharged to 21 Infantry Base Depot at Etaples on 6 December 1915 and eventually rejoined the battalion in the field on 21 December.

Charles was appointed Acting Sergeant on 27 December 1915 and promoted to the full substantive rank on 26 April 1916.
He attended a Gas Course from 6 to 9 September 1916. Between 7 and 21 October 1916, Charles went on a “PT & BF” course, which means Physical Training and Bayonet Fighting.

Military Medal

The announcement of his MM was printed in the London Gazette on 14 December 1916. It is not easy to tell when he carried out the actions that led to this. The announcement was usually some three to five months after the event, so it could have been as early as July 1916.

Commissioned

On 10 December 1916, Charles completed an application for a commission: that is, to become an officer. His application was endorsed by the battalion’s second in command Major Cundy and the adjutant Captain J. Brown. Charles stated his preferences, had he been commissioned, of joining the Postal Section of the Royal Engineers or the Leicestershire or Lincolnshire Regiments.

On 17 December 1916, approval having been given, he crossed the Channel back to England. After a Christmas possibly spent at home, Charles moved to join No. 17 Officer Cadet Battalion at Kinmel Park near Rhyl on 8 January 1917. He passed the course and acceptede of his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the Lincolnshire Regiment on 25 April 1917, whereupon he was discharged from the ranks.

Sailing once again From Folkestone to Boulogne, Charley landed in France on 13 June 1917 and joined 7th (Service) Battalion of the Lincolnshire Regiment.

Wounded again

He received a second wound on 10 October 1917. After treatment at No. 53 Field Ambulance, he was evacuated to No. 4 Casualty Clearing Station at Lozinghem, then to No. 8 General Hospital at Rouen where he arrived on 17 October. On this occasion he was moved back to England, crossing on the Hospital Ship “Western Australia”.

It was not until 22 April 1918 that Charles moved back to France. After a brief period at an Infantry Base Depot he rejoined the battalion in the field on 27 April.

He was given command of a company and the acting rank of Captain while he was in this position on 21 August 1918.

Charles relinquished the acting rank on ceasing to command the company on 21 October 1918. There was good reason for this: he had been wounded and was no longer with the battalion.

Died of wounds

Charles was wounded in action on 20 October 1918 in the attack made by the battalion at Neuvilly. He received multiple wounds and was evacuated to No. 20 General Hospital at Dannes-Camiers. There, Charles died on 30 October.

A telegram informing his next of kin that he had arrived at the hospital and was dangerously ill was sent from the War Office to Boston on 23 October 1918. Three days later, the family received a permit to visit Charley in hospital. It is not clear whether any member of the family made the trip to France. Soon after his death, a telegram with this dreadful news arrived at 26 Pen Street.

The official records of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) say that Captain Charles Richard Davey of B Company, 7th Battalion, the Lincolnshire Regiment died on 30 October 1918. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, not far from Boulogne. Aged 28, he was the son of Thomas and Henrietta Davey, of 26, Pen Street, Boston, Lincolnshire.

The announcement of this award appeared after Charley’s death, in the Gazette of 2 December 1918, on page 14235.

The citation reads as follows:
“T./2nd Lt. Charles Richard Davey, Lincolnshire R. For conspicuous gallantry and good leadership when in command of his company in an attack. He made several reconnaissances under machine-gun fire and sent back information which contributed greatly to the success of the operation. His coolness and determination had a splendid effect on his men”.