Able Seaman Walter Davidson

Able Seaman Walter Robertson Davidson, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. He was a member of the Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division and was killed on 6th June 1915 on Gallipoli, aged 19, during the Third Battle of Krithia.  He had been born in Edinburgh and was the son of James and Isabella Davidson who had married in Eyemouth in 1893. Before enlisting in September in 1914 he had been employed by the North British Railway Company in Dundee. He is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Helles, Gallipoli, Turkey.  The battle was fought to capture the commanding height of Achi Baba and to cut the peninsula in two. It failed with few gains and heavy casualties. The Royal Naval Division was comprised of sailors, reservists and marines who were deemed surplus to Royal Naval fleet requirements for manning warships. Officers and men kept their naval ranks. The poet Rupert Brooke was an Officer in this Division but died of Blood Poisoning before the Gallipoli landings. The Division was eventually sent to the Western Front and re-titled the 63rd ( Royal Naval ) Division where it remained until the Armistice. The photograph shows Achi Baba. This was the “hill” which dominated the battlefield and was never captured.