I have my own opinion of the American Civil and NZ Land Wars and those who served in them voluntarily. That opinion is not relevant to the story of a man who had an interesting life.
DEATH OF A CRIMEAN VETERAN
Captain Sydney Herbert Davies, late 16th Regiment, HM Foot, who died at his residence in Roslyn on Monday, was the eldest son of the late Admiral George Davies, and was born in what was then the town and County of Poole, Dorsetshire, in 1658. Entering the Royal Navy in 1851, he joined Nelson's old flagship, the Victory, which was at that time the invariable custom, pending appointment to a sea-going ship. During the Russian war of 1855-6 he was a midshipman on H-M-S. Rodney, of 90 guns. Partly in the Black Sea fleet and partly in the naval batteries before Sebastopol, he served throughout the Crimean War, receiving the medal and clasp, and the Turkish medal. Preferring a soldier's life, he then transferred to the land forces, receiving his first commission in the army in recognition of previous service. After receiving his commission in the 16th Foot, he passed through the School of Musketry at Hythe, and became instructor of musketry to his regiment, which formed a part of the expeditionary force sent to Canada in 1861, in consequence of the strained relations existing between Great Britain and the United States, arising out of the latter's action in arresting Messrs Slidell and Mason, representatives of the Southern States, on board the mail steamer Trent. That affair having been amicably settled, and finding there was no chance of fighting on behalf of his country, Captain Davies left the army, and joined that of the Southern (or Confederate) States. During the great struggle between the north and south the deceased took part in several famous battles, being present at the Chancellorsville, Gettysburg, and the Wilderness battles. He was also with the division that marched the Sheridan cavalry out of the Valley of Virginia, in the winter of 1864. After the surrender of General Lee's army he returned to England, and a year later came out to Australia, and thence to New Zealand, joining the New Zealand forces engaged against Titokowaru. He was present at the engagement of Nuikamora, and was afterwards in command of a redoubt at Waitara.
Among the deceased soldier's papers are several interesting and valuable documents of the American war, particularly so as the bulk of the Confederate archives were lost when Richmond was burnt after the surrender. These consist of recommendations for' promotion from Generals Heath, Archer, and Walker, the recommendations being countersigned by the President of the Confederate States (Jeff. Davis) and the Secretary of War (J. F. Seddon), and approved by General R. E. Lee.
The deceased was 76 years of age. His wife and nearly all his family predeceased him but one daughter, Mrs J. Greenfield, survives him. The late Captain Davies was a thorough believer in the compulsory military training scheme as instituted in the dominion. He was of a retiring disposition, and it was only to those intimately connected with him that he would talk about his experiences — long, varied, and valuable. He took an active interest in forming the Imperial Veterans' Alliance, of which he was local secretary.
The remains of this old and respected soldier of the Empire were interred in the Northern Cemetery yesterday afternoon with military honours. The firing was furnished by detachments from the Fourth Otago Regiment and the Coast Defence Force. The members of the New Zealand Veterans' Association present were Captain Easther, Captain O Callaghan, Veterans Watkins, Tait, Pearce, McKenzie, and Matheson. The headquarters staff of the local Defence Office was represented by Colonel Smith. The Rev. V. G. King read the service at the grave. -Otago Daily Times, 18/2/1915.
(Excerpt)
The deceased gentleman joined the Confederate forces in 1863, travelling from Halifax, Nova Scotia, in a schooner. Running the blockade, he landed in South Carolina. His first engagement with the C.S.A. was Chancellorsville, the famous battle at which Stonewall Jackson so distinguished himself, and was unfortunately killed. At the Battle of Gettysburg Captain Davies was wounded during Pickett's famous charge — part of his brigade being attached to the brigade. He was eventually appointed Adjutant, and Assistant Inspector-general to Heath's Division, which appointment he held until General Lee surrendered on April 10, 1865. Subsequently, with, the New Zealand Forces, he. served in the latter phase of the Maori troubles, receiving the New Zealand medal. Deprecating numismatic collection as beneath the dignity of a soldier, he was not profusely ornamented — having, in fact, received more wounds than medals, but he was perfectly satisfied with his share of each. Marriage in 1874 stopped the continuance of a strenuous, if, perhaps, because somewhat erratic soldierly career, but he never became reconciled to life as a civilian. After a lengthy residence at Timaru he came to Dunedin in 1896 and, removing in the following year to Roslyn, there awaited and received the last call. Having been predeceased by his wife and nearly all his family, there is left only a daughter. Mrs .). Greenfield.
The late Captain Davies was a thorough believer in the compulsory military training scheme as instituted in the Dominion, and he often referred to the first battle of Bull Run as an example of the effect of non-training, where the Confederate Forces. for want of discipline, were unable to take advantage of the victory. The deceased was of a retiring disposition, and it was only to those intimately connected with him that. he would talk about his long and varied experiences. He took an active interest in forming the Imperial Veterans' Alliance, and has, for some years past acted as secretary. -Evening Star, 16/2/1915.
More details of the lives of Sydney and Mary Davies may be culled from the DCC records of the Northern Cemetery, which records the burials of three of their children between 1876 and 1881 - all of them under a year old.
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