Corporal Norman Davidson was the son of Andrew and Annie (nee Pressley) and resided on Murphy Street in Rutherglen.
Cpl. Davidson joined the militia in 1936 and achieved the rank of Sergeant with the 59th Battalion. He enlisted for full time duty in 1941 at the onset of WWII and was a member of the 2/21st. The battalion was sent to Darwin where they responded to Dutch troops request for reinforcements for the defense of Ambon in late 1941.
Shortly after their arrival in late January, heavy fighting erupted with 20,000 Japanese troops invading Ambon and the surrounding areas. As one of the 1,311 members of Gull Force, Cpl. Davidson was amongst the soldiers engaged in the thickest of the battle. After three days of heavy fighting, Gull Force was overpowered and forced to surrender. Unfortunately many of the men were killed while the remaining were taken prisoner and sent to various war camps. These men endured brutal conditions and were subjected to heavy labour, starvation and torture.
Cpl. Davidson was sent to Hainan Island which was reputably one of the harshest camps. Under questionable leadership, he managed to survive the dangerous conditions on the island.
Cpl. Davidson and the remaining Gull Force men were liberated in September 1945 by British and Dutch soldiers. He received much needed medical attention and was discharged from service in June 1946. He had suffered considerable injuries, including two broken arms during his capture, that were improperly healed and required ongoing medical treatment. Gull Force was recognised for its great sacrifice and bravery with an administration building at Larrakeyah Army Base being named in its honour.
When Cpl. Davidson returned home to Rutherglen, he lived with his mother Annie. It was well known in the local community that Cpl. Davidson had seen extensive military action and was deeply impacted by his experiences during the war. He passed away 16th November 1992 at the age of 80 and is buried in the lawn section at Carlyle Cemetery.
Norman-1-2.jpg
Norman-2.jpg