Sergeant Major Davidson - Kendal hero

We know little about the NCOs and Other Ranks of our Regiments who served before WW1. Sergeant Major Davidson (left seated) is an exception. He was a valued part of the Kendal community in the mid-19C.

We are lucky to have photograph of John Davidson. One of a remarkable series taken between 1852 and 1854 of the 55th Foot (Westmorland) Regiment by Captain Alfred Capel Cure. The magazine of Cumbria's Museum of Military Life will feature 20 of the photographs in its Spring 2027 edition.

Weaver

John Davidson was born in Kendal in 1804. He was a weaver. In the 1820sweaving was in parlous state. In May 1826 he joined the 55th Foot. At the time the depot companies of the Regiment were in Carlisle. It is possible that he was in Carlisle in June 1826 when a detachment of the 55th under Captain Gardner shot at rioters in Caldew Gate and killed four bystanders.

By 1830 he was a Corporal, Sergeant in 1832 and Colour Sergeant by 1836. By now the Regiment was in India. In 1834 the 55th took part in a short war that resulted in the East India Company annexing the Coorg, in southern India.

China

Peace in India but now the row between the East India Company and China erupted. The First Opium War is at the very least a puzzle to us, but at the time Britain believed that China was a danger to western lives and trade.

It was during this War that Davidson seized the Regimental colour as fell from the hands of the dying Ensign Duel at Chusan in October 1841. Whilst Davidson was carrying the Colour the head of the pike was shot off.

Home

Davidson returned from China in 1844. The Regiment spent two years in southern England then in 1847 they were posted to Ireland. By now he was a Sergeant Major. In 1848 he was awarded the Meritorious Service Medal.Described at the NCO’s dinner at which it was celebrated as the ‘Annuity Medal’, because it came with a small annuity. The newspaper report of the dinner concludes that he was,

“… about to leave next year with the medal and annuity.”

He did not leave in 1849.

In 1850 the 55th’s Colours were laid up in Kendal Parish Church. At the dinner that followed, the Vicar praised Davidson and announced that a silver watch had been bought for him by the ladies of Kendal. It was engraved:

“[Presented]... to Sergt. Major a native of Kendal, a man whose approved valour and fidelity has been honourably noticed by his sovereign....”

The watch had this inscription:

"Presented by the ladies of Kendal, May 21st, 1850, on the occasion of the deposition of the veteran colours of H. M.’s 55th or Westmorland Regiment of Foot, in the Parish Church of Kendal, to Sergt. Major John Davidson, a native of Kendal, a man whose approved valour and fidelity have been honorably noticed by his Sovereign, and whose strict integrity and honesty of purpose in every situation, have won for him the respect and confidence of all who have known him."

Photographed

In 1851 the Regiment was posted to Gibraltar, but by 1854 he was serving with the Depot Companies of the Regiment at Templemore in Ireland. It is here on the 28 June 1854 that Captain Capel Cure photographed Davidson with Quarter Master Sergeant Maloney. Davidson is shown with two medals. These are presumably the China War medal and the Meritorious Service medal.

We know nothing of his service , if any, during the Crimean War, but by June 1860 he is helping train the new Kendal Rifle Volunteers.

Funeral

Davidson died in March 1861. The funeral procession left his house on Beast Banks escorted by members of the Volunteers. The Westmorland Gazette reported:

"The march was down All Hallow's-lane, and thence through Highgate and Kirkland to the Parish Church; the band playing the " Dead March, in Saul," perhaps the noblest air that ever was composed by man. The procession was headed by a firing party of twenty, with their rifles reversed, who were to perform the last honours at the grave of their brother soldier firing three volleys over him.

 “...assemblage of an immense concourse of civilians to honour the obsequies of a Sergeant-Major of the 55th Regiment.”

The Gazette went on to state that there were over 2,000 people in the Parish Church for the service.

The Editor