Lawrence Anderson Davie

This story and photos are shared by the Trust with kind permission from Mavis Williams, Researcher. Additional research by Daniel Montgomery, Robert Gordon's College Archives

Lawrence Anderson Davie was born at 4.56am on the 20th of January 1923 at the ‘Schoolhouse,’ Culsalmond, in the District of Aberdeen. He was the eldest son of three children of Alexander & Louisa Duff Dunbar Davie (née Cowie), who had married on the 3rd of August 1921. His father had served in the First World War, first as a Private in the 3/10th Royal Scots and then the Gordon Highlanders. He served France from August 1917 and finished the war as a Lieutenant.

Both his parents were school teachers and met whilst working for the Aberdeen Education Authority. By 1929 Lawrence’s father was Headmaster of Tarland School which Lawrence was to attend.

Pupils of Tarland School at the presentation of a Red Cross Box, 1929 (Aberdeen Press and Journal, 12 March 19129)

 

Lawrence was a prolific competitor, entering many competitions through his school years, as numerous newspaper cuttings show. He was also a prolific winner of prizes!

Aberdeen Press and Journal, 23 March 1935

 

Dan Montgomery kindly contacted me and gave me a biography of Lawrence’s time when he entered the Robert Gordon College: ‘He was a keen sportsman, his interests being Rugby, Cricket, Hockey, Swimming, Golf, Tennis and Cycling. He took up employment with the North of Scotland Bank on leaving Gordon’s, first at Tarland and then at Aboyne.’

I do not know when Lawrence Davie was to enlist or was conscripted but he was to find himself fighting on D-Day and laid down his life for our freedom. The British Army Casualty List tells us that Sigmn. L.A. Davie of the 14 Beach Signal Section was Killed in Action on the 7th of June 1944.

The CWGC Graves Concentration Report Form tells us that he was buried at Graye-sur-Mer and then, on the 11th of December 1944, he was reburied in the Bayeux British Cemetery, where he now lies.

Source: Middlesex Yeomanry Association

 

His Commanding Officer wrote: - “He occupied a position of Importance and responsibility which he never shirked. His unfailing forthright honesty and straightness and his keen sense of humour endeared him to us all. I made him my confidant and liked him immensely for his great dependability. Please God his death will not be in vain.”

An announcement about Lawrence's death was published in the Aberdeen Press and Journal of 20th June 1944.

His parent's also placed a notice in the Roll of Honour of the Aberdeen Press and Journal of 24 June 1944.

Lawrence is also commemorated on the family grave in Insch Cemetery, Aberdeen

Source: GariochGraver, Find A Grave