Victoria Cross recipient Phillip Davey risked his life to save his mates when he stared down a machine gun in Merris

A HORSE driver from Unley saved a whole platoon when he put himself in the line of fire following the death of his commander.

04/02/15. Unley Museum has a WW1 exhibit on and has diaries, photos, scrapbooks etc from back in the war. Exhibition curator Elizabeth with information related to the Davey Family. Pic. Noelle Bobrige

WHEN Phillip Davey’s commander was killed in Merris, France, in June 1918, the 21-year-old corporal moved into point-black fire to save his fellow troops.

The 10th Battalion came under heavy fire and, while others took refuge in a trench, Davey launched a solo attack on the enemy.

He was able to kill the crew using grenades then, after attacking again, he captured the gun and used it to repel a counter-attack until he was severely wounded.

For his valour he was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Now, Davey’s bravery is recognised in a centrepiece display in Unley Museum’s In War, At Home: Unley 1914-1918 exhibition.

Curator Elizabeth Hartnell said his Victoria Cross showed how he was prepared to put his life on the line for other soldiers.

“He ended up getting a Victoria Cross for his determination and saving his platoon, basically by going after the enemy gun,” Dr Hartnell said.

“He saved them from being annihilated.”

Born in Unley, Davey, a horse-driver, enlisted on December 22, 1914, and left for Egypt two months later before heading to Gallipoli.

Seven months into his campaign, he was diagnosed withtyphoid and hospitalised in Egypt.

He was so sick he was sent home to recover in January 1916.

But, by June he was fit enough to rejoin the battalion in France.

Soon after, he would move into the line at Hill 60 near Ypres, Belgium, where he was accidentally wounded.

He was gassed on October 3, 1917, and, as a result, suffered bronchitis and emphysema for years.

On January 3, 1918, he received a Military Medal for rescuing a wounded man while under heavy fire in no-man’s land.

Two of his five brothers fighting in the war received the same honour.

“Five brothers were at war … and out of all the brothers three of them (including Phillip) ended up getting military medals,” Dr Hartnell said.

“All of them did some valiant act during the war.”

He was promoted to corporal on April 24, 1918, and, after his bravery in Merris, was awarded the Victoria Cross.

Davey was discharged on February 24, 1919.

He worked for many years as a linesman and labourer with the SA Railways and died on December 21, 1953.

He was buried with full military honours in West Tce Cemetery’s AIF section.

THIS story is part of Messenger’s 100 Years, 100 Days, 100 Stories project, which will profile 100 South Australian World War I heroes as the nation builds up to the centenary of the Allied landing on Gallipoli on April 25, 1915. If you have the details and war record of a family member who served during World War I, let us know. Please go to your local Messenger’s Facebook page and send us the details.

Originally published as Victoria Cross recipient Phillip Davey risked his life to save his mates when he stared down a machine gun in Merris