Captain George Harold Davis Died on November 6, 1942, from an Airplane Crash, over the Africa Area. According to the Report of Death, his first resting place was a cemetery near Khartoum, the capital of Sudan. On the report, his brother-in-law, Naomi’s husband Earnest H. Vignes was listed as the emergency addressee. Additionally, George’s parents Mrs. Bertha Allen Davis and Mr. Artie George Davis were listed as his Beneficiaries.
It was later revealed that Davis was first buried at the New Christian Cemetery that was located just outside of Khartoum, Sudan. Davis was buried on November 7, 1942, at 16:20 (4:20 pm nonmilitary time) local time, at A.E.S. Cemetery, Khartoum, Sudan. He was buried in the Military Church of England Section, in Grave A91, with a mahogany cross marker with identification markers that indicated his grave.
Davis was buried with an unknown person buried south of him, and with H.E. Brooker buried to the west of him in plot 80.
Possessions at the time of his death
At the time of his death, Davis carried a lot of personal items with him. Some of these items are his army insignia designating him as a captain, his army uniforms and civilian clothes, various linen, shoes, his prized camera the folding Eastman six-20 Kodak and films to accompany it, his toilet case, his briefcase that included some papers and letters, his Bible, some bracelets crafted from souvenirs, vases, a statue, ashtrays, and some boxes; along with some other unlisted items.
The journey of his remains.
According to the Report of Internment filled out on December 6, 1945, the diagram of Davis’s teeth indicated that his teeth were perfectly healthy. It indicated that Davis was free from any fillings, decayed teeth, cavities, missing teeth, bridges, or crowns.
George was reburied on December 6, 1945. He was disinterred from his previous resting place of New Christian Cemetery Khartoum and placed in the Heliopolis U.S. Military Cemetery located in Heliopolis Egypt. He was buried in Grave 22 located on Row D, with a flush slab grave marker placed to indicate his bed.
Buried on his left in Grave D-21 was Lewis S. McCullochs, a Technical Sergeant who had the Serial Number 14078433. Tech Sergeant McCullochs worked as a part of the 110 AACS.
Buried on his right in Grave D-23 was Niles K. Stevens, a Merchant Seaman who had the Serial Number Z 263039. Stevens worked as a part of the Merchant Seamen Cario.
From Egypt to Algeria
According to the Report of Internment verified by 1st Lieutenant Alexander Capasso, Davis was reburied a second time, in a new location on April 4, 1947, at 14:00 (2:00 pm nonmilitary time). He was buried in the U.S. Military Section of the Kl-Alia Cemetery, Located in Algiers, Algeria.
Davis was put to rest in a blanket and a wooden Cross was placed as a grave indicator. He was placed in grave 74, located on row 7, plot 12-E. A plate tag was attached to his grave Marker and he was buried with both a tag and the QMC form 1042 sealed in an airtight bottle.
Buried on his right in Grave 75 lies Burran W. Ingram, a private who had Serial Number 3309016. Private Ingram worked under the 125th infantry regiment.
Buried on his left in Grave 73 was Anthony J.Long, A RFE who had Serial Number 32036291. RFE Long worked with the 711 Engineer Railway battalion.
The chain of letters
On November 14, 1946, Major General T.R. Larkin wrote to George’s father, Artie George Davis, informing him that his son’s remains were located in the American Heliopolis Cemetery, Heliopolis, Egypt, more specifically in Grave 22 on Row D.
The Headmaster General stated that the war department had been authorized to comply with the wishes made by his next of kin, regarding the interments and treatment of the remains, and that the government would be willing to comply with the wishes made by the next of kin in regards to them.
According to the correspondence Action Sheet and the letter written to the war department, Artie created and requested them. In the letter, George’s father, Artie first informed the US War Department of his change in residence from 424 40th Avenue Meridian Mississippi to 614 Rich Avenue Gulfport Mississippi. Artie then goes on to request information about the possibility of a government-paid trip. He asks whether the government would be giving the Gold Star mothers (women entitled to display a gold star after they have suffered the death of a family member who was part of the armed forces. The gold star is a tradition started in WW2 as soldiers fell in battle, the gold star was placed over the regular blue star that indicated service family.) on a trip to visit and see the resting places of their loved ones.
The Government’s response
On July 14, 1947, Major Richard B. Coombs of the Memorial Division wrote in response to the letter of Artie Davis. He stated that there were presently no provisions by which the United States Federal Government could sponsor a trip overseas. In contrast, he stated that should congress wish for it, funds would be purposed for it and an agency would be designated to carry it out. He then follows up by stating that the records have been changed to reflect the most accurate, up-to-date information. He informs Artie that the records have been changed to reflect the family moving from 424 40th Avenue, Meridian, Mississippi, to 614 Rich Avenue, Gulfport, Mississippi.
On September 22, 1947, Major general Thomas B. Larkin wrote Artie a letter where he explained the various options and services made available for him by the government. He starts by informing him that enclosed within the envelope were pamphlets “Disposition of World War 2 Armed Forces Dead,” along with the form “Request for Disposition of Remains.”
Major General Larkin requested that part 1 of the form “Request of the Disposition of Remains'' be filled out if Artie wished to express his request about the location or movement of George’s remains. He then goes on to state that if Artie wished to relinquish his rights as the next in line of kinship, he should complete part 2 of the form. The Quartermaster General lists the final option that was to complete part 3 of the form if Artie wished to inform that he is not the next of kin. Major General Larkin finishes off the letter by requesting that it be finished as swiftly as possible, preferably within 30 days.
On October 15, 1947, Artie requested that filled out part 1 in the “Request for Disposition of Remains” form. He requested that George be placed in a permanent American Military Cemetery overseas as opposed to any of the other options. The “Request for Disposition of Remains” included options for the remains to be placed in a permanent American Military Cemetery overseas, returned to the United States for burial at a private cemetery, sent to a country outside of the US for a foreign burial, and the option for them to be returned to the United States for interment in a national cemetery.
Artie chose the first option and requested that the remains of his son, Captain George Harold Davis, be laid to rest in the American Cemetery located in Tunis, Tunisia.
The road to his final resting place
On March 31, 1949, Major General H. Feldman wrote to Artie informing him that the remains of George were interred into the U.S. Military Cemetery located at Tunis (Carthage) Tunisia, where they were placed into Grave 1, Row 13 of Plot 1, and a cross headstone erected. Major General Feldman stated that the cemetery would be transferred to being under the supervision of the American Battle Monument Commission, who would be in charge of placing the headstone and maintaining the cemetery. The letter ends with him stating that the cemetery will not be open whilst interments are being conducted, but Artie should rest assured that they will treat the remains with the utmost care and respect.
On March 15, 1948, the skeletal remains of George Harold Davis were removed from their shroud burial and prepared and placed into a casket by Homer D. Leslie, and the casket was then boxed and marked by George H. Brahm later that same day. The casket was sent from Borgel lab Tunisia, to Morgue Storgel Tunisia to USMC Carthage Tunisia.
Davis’s final resting place is in the North Africa American Cemetery located in Tunis, Tunisia where he is to this day. The U.S. Government mailed Artie an American flag on February 4, 1949, in honor of George.
Legacy and Awards
Captain George Harold Davis was awarded the Air Medal for his contributions during WW2. The Air Medal was awarded to people who distinguished themselves by meritorious acts of heroism during their time in the armed service. The award was used to both recognize single acts of merit or heroism, or to recognize a sustained meritorious service that lasted for 6 months or longer.