Lance Corporal Edward Davey
Edward Davey was born in Leicester, Leicestershire, England on February 1, 1892. He immigrated to Paris and was employed as a hosiery boarder in Penmans Mill No.1. He was a Baptist, single and 23 years old when he enlisted with the 125th Battalion in Paris. Edward was a member of the 10th Platoon that embarked aboard the S.S Scandinavia on February 12, 1916. The 9th and 10th Platoons were the first contingent of soldiers from Paris, nearly 100 men, to go overseas.
He was transferred to the 2nd Battalion on April 4, 1918. On April 7, he was sent to the Canadian Corps Reinforcement Camp (or Centre). These camps were located behind the front lines in France (most notably around Aubin-St. Vaast). Their primary purpose was to house, equip, and train fresh soldiers before sending them to reinforce existing units on the front. Camps held hundreds of infantry reinforcements in a constant state of readiness to immediately replace casualties. Soldiers practiced the latest tactical maneuvers and weapons handling so they remained combat-ready while awaiting assignment. Men returning from hospitals (via Casualty Clearing Stations) or leave also passed through the CCRC to be reassigned to the front.
He was returned to the 2nd Battalion almost immediately, on April 13. In April 1918, the 2nd Canadian Battalion was actively engaged in holding the line and preparing defensive systems in the heavily contested Arras sector of the Western Front. During this month, they were also adapting to major structural changes, as individual machine-gun companies were consolidated into the 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion. Early 1918 saw a major reorganization across the Canadian Corps. The infantry machine gun companies were consolidated into newly formed divisional machine gun battalions. The 2nd Battalion's machine gunners merged into the newly formed 2nd Canadian Machine Gun Battalion, which took on additional companies and Vickers guns in May.
On August 24, 1918, Edward became sick with scarlet fever. On November 7, he was invalided and sent to the Eastern Ontario Regimental Depot in Seaford, England. On June 24, 1919, he reached the Quebec Clearing Station. Corporal Edward Davy was discharged on medical grounds.