Frederick George Davis was born on 25 July 1906, the eldest of the four children of Frederick Ernest Davis (1883-1952) and Mary Ann Naomi Davis née Vincent (1883-1915). His birth was registered in the 3rd quarter of 1906 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. On 19 August 1906 he was baptised in St John's Church, Halley Street, Limehouse, London, where the baptismal register not only confirms his date of birth but all shows his family lived at 87 Vallance Road, Bethnal Green and that his father was a carman.
His three siblings were: George Henry Davis (1908-1909); Ellen Elizabeth Davis (1912-1998) and Florence Rosina Davis (1914-1978).
On 2 April 1911 when his father completed his census return form, he was shown as aged 4 years and living in three rooms at 8 Eastfield Street, Limehouse, with his parents, his paternal uncle Frank Alfred Davis (1894-1915) - a pawnbroker's assistant, together with a male boarder. His father described himself as a carman.
In June 1915 his mother died in the Poplar and Stepney Sick Asylum, Devons Row, Bow, London and on 25 December 1916 his father was remarried to a Clara Dunkin (1893-1960) in St Stephen's Church, Haggerston, London. The marriage register shows his father as aged 33 years, a widower and dock labourer living at 30 Gillman Street, Haggerston, whilst his step-mother was described as aged 23 years and a spinster, residing at 35 Gillman Street. They were to have four children.
His half siblings were: Martha Lilian Davis (1918-2002); Ernest George Davis (1920-2002); Frank Albert Davis (1923-2019) and Edna May Davis (1927-2022).
On 19 June 1921 he is shown the on census return form that was completed by his father as aged 14 years, 11 months and a showroom assistant employed by a Mr Jacobs, a walking stick maker in Kingsbury, London. He was living in three rooms at 29 Gillman Street, Bethnal Green, with his father - a carman employed by McNamuru & Co., cartage contractors at Paul Street, Kingsbury, his step-mother - a charwoman, two of his siblings: Ellen Elizabeth Davis and Florence Rosina Davis, both of whom were in whole time education and two of half-siblings: Martha Lilian Davis and Ernest George Davis.
Electoral registers from 1929 to 1932 continue to list him at 29 Gillman Street, but in 1933 he was shown with his parents at 46 Risley Avenue, Tottenham, Middlesex (now Greater London).
On 20 August 1933 he married Lilian Florence Noble (1910-1940) in All Hallows Church, Church Lane, Tottenham, where in the marriage register he is shown as aged 27 years, a bachelor and a porter, living at 46 Risley Avenue, Tottenham, the son of Frederick Ernest Davis, a carman, whilst his wife if described as Lily Florence Noble, aged 23 years and a spinster, residing at 33 Risley Avenue, Tottenham, the daughter of James Nobel, a deceased soldier.
Electoral registers from 1935 show him and his wife listed at 75 Barnet Grove, Bethnal Green. On 29 September 1939 when the England and Wales Register was compiled, both he and his wife were shown still at this address. The Register confirms his date of birth as 25 July 1906 and that he was a cartage loader (heavy work). He was subsequently appointed as War Reserve Police Constable.
Both he and his wife died when a bomb was dropped on the Columbia Market air raid shelter on the night of 7th/8th September 1940 and his death was registered as Frederick George Davis, aged 34 years, in the 3rd quarter of 1940 in the Bethnal Green Registration District, London. It is unknown where his body was .
He is shown as 'DAVIS Frederic 34' on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial in the Rose Garden, Old Market Square, Ravenscroft Park, London, E2.
He is also commemorated on the in which he is shown as Frederic George Davis, on the in which he is shown as Frederic Davis and in that lists him correctly as Davis, Frederick George and that is kept just outside the entrance to St George's Chapel at the west end of Westminster Abbey.
It would appear that it is only on the Columbia Market air raid shelter memorial, on the CWGC and the IWM websites that he his first forename is spelt Frederic. All other records, including his signature on the marriage register show him as Frederick.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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