21990 Private William Cecil Davey, (3/8/1884-4/8/1921). "hideous sympathy"

Punctually to time the great series of underground mines were fired, the effect instantly being a premonitory heaving and trembling of the earth, as if Nature, in some mad freak of hideous sympathy with the prevalent human wickedness, was preparing to launch an assortment of horrors on her own account. Simultaneously with the rending of the blood-soaked Ridge, again to be the scene of desperate conflict, the dark and sullen sky, as yet untouched by the sleeping dawn, was suffused with a red glow as the fire of the massed artillery broke out along the line, its thunderous reverberations rolling over the distant spaces of the battlefield. The infantry were at once in motion, and in splendid unison were now sweeping over the foremost German defences.  -Official History of the Otago Regiment.

The shocked German forces were not able to responds as strongly as they might have had without large explosions wrecking their positions, but one of them shot William Davey in the face and arm, costing him his left eye.  He also suffered from myalgia, an acute pain in his shoulder area.

BIRTHS

DAVEY. — On January 3rd, at Nurse Cupples's, “El Nido,” Duke street, to Mr and Mrs W. C. Davey, of 1 Macandrew road, Dunedin — a son.  -Evening Star, 5/1/1921.

Private W. C. Davey, who died at Dunedin yesterday, left New Zealand with the 16th Reinforcements and served in the line with the 4th Company, 1st Otago Infantry Battalion until the battle of Messines, on June 7th, 1917 when he was severely wounded, receiving a bullet through the arm and losing one of his eyes. After a long period of treatment at Walton-on-Thames Hospital, he returned to New Zealand near the end of 1919, in a bad state of health, his wounds causing internal trouble, which proved fatal after a long period of suffering. Deceased leaves a widow and young child.   -Press, 6/8/1921.

THE Officers and Members of Lodge Taieri, No. 620, S.C., are respectfully requested to attend the Funeral of their late Brother, William Cecil Davey, which will leave his late residence, No. 1 Macandrew road, South Dunedin, at 2.30 o’clock TO-MORROW (Friday), 8th inst., for the Anderson’s Bay Cemetery. 

By Order of the R.W. Master. 

RUSSELL HOSIE, Secretary.  -Evening Star, 4/8/1921.

M I L I T A R Y  F U N E R A L.

The Friends of the late Private WILLIAM CECIL DAVEY, 21,990, 16th Reinforcements (and Family), are respectfully invited to attend his Funeral, which will leave his late residence, No. 1 Macandrew road, THIS DAY (FRIDAY), the 5th inst, at 2.30 p.m.. for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. 

HOPE & KINASTON, Undertakers, 36 St. Andrew street. 

THE Principals, Officers, and Companions of the Kilwinning Otago R.A. Chapter, No. 116, S.C., are respectfully requested to attend the FUNERAL of their late Companion, WILLIAM CECIL DAVEY, which will leave his late residence, 1 Macandrew road, South Dunedin, at 2.30 o'clock THIS DAY (FRIDAY), 5th inst., for Anderson's Bay Cemetery. By Order. The Rev. Chas. J. Bush-King, Scribe E. 

THE Officers and Members of Lodge Taieri, No. 620, S.C., are respectfully requested to attend the FUNERAL of their late Brother, WILLIAM CECIL DAVEY, which will leave his late residence, No. 1 Macandrew road, South Dunedin, at 2.30 o'clock THIS DAY, for the Anderson's Bay Cemetery. 

By Order of the R,W. Master RUSSELL HOSIE, Secretary.  -Otago Daily Times, 5/8/1921.

The funeral of the late Private William Cecil Davey, 16th Reinforcements, took place yesterday afternoon at the Anderson Bay Cemetery. The service was taken by the Rev. Bryan King, and the military authorities were represented by Lieutenant Hunt. The ‘Last Post’ was sounded by Bugler Napier at the graveside.  -Evening Star, 6/8/1921.

 

Andersons Bay Cemetery, Dunedin