William Thomas Frederick Davies
Encyclopedia
Lieutenant-Colonel William Thomas Frederick Davies CMG
DSO
(13 August 1860–24 June 1947) was a South Africa
n surgeon
, army officer and politician.
Davies trained at Guy's Hospital
in London
. In the South African War he served as Surgeon-Major
with the Imperial Light Horse and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
(DSO). From 1914 to 1915 he commanded the 2nd Imperial Light Horse in German South-West Africa
, where he was wounded. From 1915 to 1917 he was a member of the South African House of Assembly, for which he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1920 New Year Honours. In 1917 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
and remained with the corps until 1919, serving as Surgeon Specialist at the General Military Hospital, Colchester
. Returning home, he became President of the South African Medical Council.
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is an order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George, Prince Regent, later George IV of the United Kingdom, while he was acting as Prince Regent for his father, George III....
DSO
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(13 August 1860–24 June 1947) was a South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
n surgeon
Surgeon
In medicine, a surgeon is a specialist in surgery. Surgery is a broad category of invasive medical treatment that involves the cutting of a body, whether human or animal, for a specific reason such as the removal of diseased tissue or to repair a tear or breakage...
, army officer and politician.
Davies trained at Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital
Guy's Hospital is a large NHS hospital in the borough of Southwark in south east London, England. It is administratively a part of Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust. It is a large teaching hospital and is home to the King's College London School of Medicine...
in London
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
. In the South African War he served as Surgeon-Major
Major
Major is a rank of commissioned officer, with corresponding ranks existing in almost every military in the world.When used unhyphenated, in conjunction with no other indicator of rank, the term refers to the rank just senior to that of an Army captain and just below the rank of lieutenant colonel. ...
with the Imperial Light Horse and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order
Distinguished Service Order
The Distinguished Service Order is a military decoration of the United Kingdom, and formerly of other parts of the British Commonwealth and Empire, awarded for meritorious or distinguished service by officers of the armed forces during wartime, typically in actual combat.Instituted on 6 September...
(DSO). From 1914 to 1915 he commanded the 2nd Imperial Light Horse in German South-West Africa
German South-West Africa
German South West Africa was a colony of Germany from 1884 until 1915, when it was taken over by South Africa and administered as South West Africa, finally becoming Namibia in 1990...
, where he was wounded. From 1915 to 1917 he was a member of the South African House of Assembly, for which he was appointed Companion of the Order of St Michael and St George (CMG) in the 1920 New Year Honours. In 1917 he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps
Royal Army Medical Corps
The Royal Army Medical Corps is a specialist corps in the British Army which provides medical services to all British Army personnel and their families in war and in peace...
and remained with the corps until 1919, serving as Surgeon Specialist at the General Military Hospital, Colchester
Colchester
Colchester is an historic town and the largest settlement within the borough of Colchester in Essex, England.At the time of the census in 2001, it had a population of 104,390. However, the population is rapidly increasing, and has been named as one of Britain's fastest growing towns. As the...
. Returning home, he became President of the South African Medical Council.