209374 George William Davis British Army Sherwood Foresters from:Hereford, My father, George William Davis, was proud of his service, but never told me any details, partly because he had suffered greatly in that war, but mentally and physically. He was very young at the time of his service; I believe he ran away from home and lied about his age. I believe he was under 18 years of age.
He was rendered temporarily blind from mustard gas for an extended period of time and he had nightmares about an event that occurred during the war until his death at age 80 in Phoenix, Arizona. I am not sure exactly what happened to him, but he would scream during the nightmare and I believe it had something to do with being ordered to shoot or bayonet their own comrades who were unwilling to go over a hill from the trenches to attack the enemy lines in Belgum or France.
He also served in Egypt and while off duty suffered head injuries from being attacked by an anti-British mob who kicked him down a street until he was rescued by other British soldiers. Again--he did not discuss this with me. I learned of this from my mother who always used his military experiences an excuse for some of his problems--including alcoholism.
I was also led to understand that British soldiers were given rum rations prior to battle so that they would engage in the conflict. I do not know whether this is true.
Because I know so little of my father's actual experience or where he fought, I would be glad to receive any information from anyone who has knowledge about my father's experiences in the war. His home was in Herefordshire, prior to and after the war. I know he had a history book of the Great War which has disappeared and he used to look at one of the pictures in it in which he appeared with others in the trenches. I cannot locate this book.
Thank you for any assistance that you could provide.
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