Charles William Davidson KBE (1897 - 1985)

Born 14 Sep 1897 in Toowong, Queensland (Australia)

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Gertrude Godschall (Johnson) Davidson — married 21 Dec 1929 in North Sydney, New South Wales, Australia

Died 29 Nov 1985 at age 88 in Yeronga, Queensland, Australia

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Biography

Charles Davidson KBE is Notable.

Charles Davidson KBE is an Anzac who served in World War One.

Sir Charles Davidson KBE gave dependable service as a middle-ranking army officer, advocate for sugar producers, and Commonwealth government minister. Having served on the Western Front during the First World War, he was commanding officer of the 42nd Infantry Battalion during the Second World War. He was deputy leader of the Country Party from 1956 to 1963 and represented the party in federal parliament from 1946 to 1963. He served as Postmaster-General of Australia (1956–1963) and Minister for the Navy (1956–1958).

Formative years

Charles Davidson KBE was born in the Colony of Queensland (1859-1900)

Charles William Davidson was born on 14th September 1897 in Toowong, Queensland (Australia). He was the third child of Scottish-born Alexander Black Davidson, a sugar plantation owner, and English-born Marion Perry. ^[1] Charles attended Townsville Grammar School until 1914 and then found work as a stockman in North Queensland.

First World War

Charles Davidson KBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Australian Imperial Force 1916-1919
42nd Infantry Battalion

Sir Charles Davidson KBE was wounded at the Somme, France during The Great War.

On 2nd February 1916, Charles enlisted in the Australian Imperial Force (AIF), his young nation's all-volunteer expeditionary force for the (First World) War. ^[2] He embarked on 5th June at Sydney aboard HMAT Borda A30 for Europe with the 42nd Infantry Battalion. ^[3] From November he served on the 'killing fields' of the Western Front, in the Somme Valley, France and Flanders, Belgium, with the 42nd Battalion. He was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in December 1917 and promoted to Lieutenant in July 1918. He was wounded in action in September 1918 and subsequently repatriated to Australia; being demobilised from the AIF 31st October 1919. ^[2]

Farming

Charles was a dairy farmer and , later, a sugarcane grower

Back in North Queensland, Charles tried dairying on the Atherton Tableland. In 1925 he bought a farm near Carmila, some 100 kilometres (60 miles) south of Mackay, where he grew sugarcane.

Charles married Mary Johnson, a nurse, on 21st December 1929 in St Thomas’ Church of England (now Anglican Church), North Sydney. ^[4]

He was active in cane-growers’ organisations and in the 1930s took a leading part in moves to persuade the Queensland government to revise the peak-year scheme by which sugar farmers’ production quotas were determined. Continuing his efforts to promote the interests of cane-growers, Charles was appointed assistant-secretary of the Australian Sugar Producers’ Association in November 1945.

Second World War

Charles Davidson KBE is a Military Veteran.
Served in the Second Australian Imperial Force 1940-1944
42nd Infantry Battalion

In February 1939 / 11th July 1940 at Carmila, Charles was commissioned as a Lieutenant in the Australian Military Force (Militia) and posted to the familiar 42nd Infantry Battalion (known then also as the Capricornia Regiment). He was, as was the battalion, mobilised for full-time duty on 20th September 1941; with the rank of Major. After conducting frequent training camps at Yeppoon, in March 1942 the battalion moved to Tiaro, near Maryborough, where it joined the rest of the 5th Division's 29th Brigade. Soon after, the brigade moved to Townsville, where it prepared defensive positions. Charles transferred to the Second Australian Imperial Force (2AIF) in August 1942. ^[5] The following month he was promoted to temporary Lieutenant Colonel and given command of his battalion.

In January 1943 the 42nd sailed for Milne Bay, Papua. After spending several weeks at Buna, Boisi and Morobe, the brigade moved to Tambu Bay, New Guinea, in August, taking part in the successful final stages of the Salamaua campaign then in further operations around Lae in 1944 with the 7th Division. ^[6] Charles is reported to have performed well, gaining the confidence of higher commanders as well as his own officers and soldiers.

The battalion returned to Australia in May 1944, Charles having departed from New Guinea earlier in the month to attend a senior officers’ course. Suffering from malaria, he relinquished his command in September and transferred to the Reserve of Officers on 1st December.

On 8th March 1945 Charles was appointed Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) for 'distinguished service in the South West Pacific 1942-43'. ^[7][8] The insignia was mailed to Charles at Parliament House, Canberra in 1948-49. ^[9] He was twice Mentioned in Despatches, equivalent to today's Commendation for Gallantry; gazetted in London and Canberra on 27th April 1944 and onc emore in both gazettes on 19th July 1945. ^[10][11]

In 1955, Charles became Honorary Colonel of the 42nd Battalion and patron of its association.

Parliament

Charles was elected to the House of Representatives at the 1946 federal election, representing the Division of Capricornia. He defeated Frank Forde, former Prime Minister. He joined the Country Party (now National Party) after his election. At the 1949 election, following a redistribution, he was elected the member for the new seat of Dawson. In 1956 Charles was appointed Postmaster-General, remaining so until 1963. He was also Minister for the Navy from 1956 to 1958. In 1958 he was elected deputy leader of the Country Party succeeding John McEwen, who had become leader. ^[12]

Retirement

Charles retired at the 1963 election and was created Knight Commander of the Order of the British Empire' (KBE) in the Queen's Birthday Honours 1964. ^[13]

He was president (1964-73) of the Asthma Foundation of Queensland, and a director of Magellan Petroleum Australia Ltd and Telephone & Electrical Industries Pty Ltd.

Aged 88 years, he passed away on 29th November 1985 at home in Yeronga, in Brisbane's southern suburbs. Following a state funeral in St Paul’s Presbyterian Church, Spring Hill, his remains were interred in Mount Gravatt Cemetery. ^[14] Charles was survived by his wife, who passed five years later, as well as their son and two daughters, and their families.

Sources

1. ↑ Queensland Birth Index #1897/C/10766
2. ↑ ^{2.0 2.1} Australian War Memorial nominal roll: Lieutenant Charles William Davidson; unit listed as 44th Infantry Battalion; accessed 10 Dec 2023
3. ↑ Australian War Memorial embarkation roll: 1648 Private Charles William Davidson; accessed 10 Dec 2023
4. ↑ New South Wales Marriage Index #16215/1929
5. ↑ Department of Veterans' Affairs nominal roll: Lieutenant Colonel Charles William Davidson; accessed 10 Dec 2023
6. ↑ Australian War Memorial unit record: 42nd Infantry Battalion; accessed 10 Dec 2023
7. ↑ Australian Honours: OBE; accessed 10 Dec 2023
8. ↑ Australian War memorial honours and awards: OBE; accessed 10 Dec 2023
9. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards (recommendation): OBE; accessed 10 Dec 2023
10. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mention in Despatches; accessed 10 Dec 2023
11. ↑ Australian War Memorial honours and awards: Mention in Despatches; accessed 10 Dec 2023
12. ↑ Parliament of Australia Parliamentary Library; accessed 10 Dec 2023
13. ↑ Australian Honours: KBE; accessed 10 Dec 2023
14. ↑ Queensland Death Index #1985/9983

See also

• Bennet, Darryl 'Davidson, Sir Charles William (1897–1985)', Australian Dictionary of Biography, National Centre of Biography, Australian National University, published first in hardcopy 2007; accessed online 10 Dec 2023.
• Wikipedia: Charles Davidson; 10 Dec 2023.