| Mounted Photograph 5 1/2 Inches by 3 3/4 Inches (13.3cm x 9.5cm) Unknown Photographer Possibly Sussex, England c. 1901 |
| ...who was born on 11 January, 1895 at Tamil Nadu, India being the son of John Paton Davidson, a civil engineer in Madras and his wife Ellen Arbuthnot Grimes. If the above is in fact correct then John Waugh Davidson's paternal grandfather may well have been Lieutenant John Paton Davidson of the 1st Punjab Infantry - killed in action at Umbeyla Pass on 13th November 1863. In 1901 at the age of 6 John Waugh Davidson was living with his mother in the household of his maternal grandfather Henry R. Grimes a retired member of the Madras Civil Service. Nothing has come to light regarding John Waugh Davidson between 1901 about the beginning of World War One when he already held a 2nd Lieutenant's commission in the 1st Battalion of the Royal Irish Regiment. In the 14 August, 1814 edition of the London Gazette Davidson is listed as unattached with a pending appointment with the Indian Arm. On 5 July, 1915 he was appointed Temporary Captain in the Indian Army. He received a full promotion to Lieutenant on 9 September, 1915 and this promotion was antedated to 1st September, 1915. Acting Captain, 12th Cavalry, Indian Army - 25 September, 1916 Gazetted for the Military Cross - 2 April 1919 Gazetted for Order of the British Empire - 10 December, 1937 Davidson cited for the Military Cross for actions in Mesopotamia the Gazette entry read thus: "For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Tauq on 18th October, 1918. He reconnoitered a route through unsurveyed hills and guided the regiment successfully round the enemy's outposts to seize a stone bridge over a river, forestalling the enemy by a few minutes. Subsequently he led his squadron with great dash in the attack, and pursued and captured over 20 prisoners." Davidson was entitled to the British War and Victory Medals for his service during World War One The London Gazette entries showing Davidson's promotions to Captain and Major have not yet been found though he held the later rank when appointed to the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in 1937. Major John Waugh Davidson died just twelve days after receiving his OBE on 22 December, 1937 at Kohat on the North West Frontier. No cause of death was mentioned. Davidson was serving with Probyn's Horse at the time of his passing. Once again whether or not this photograph actually depicts John Waugh Davidson is an open issue. My supposition is based on circumstantial evidence and the possibility that who ever wrote the name on the photo's reverse - possibly many years later - was mistaken in Davidson's middle name. |