Albert Charles (Cranwell) Davis RNVR/RAF (Temporary Second Lieutenant)

He was born on 11 June 1892 to Charles H. and Jessie Davis, who lived at 73 Limes Road, Croydon, Surrey.

 His recorded occupation was that of a warehouseman, although a year later he changed careers and became an insurance clerk in Croydon

 Albert Charles Davis joined HMS President on 23 June 1910 and was allocated service number 1/2280.

There are no surviving records of Albert's pre-war naval training. However, it is known that he was rated Ordinary Seaman (OD) on 1 January 1911 and advanced to Able Seaman (AB) on 15 September 1914.

On 2 August 1914, following the outbreak of war, he was drafted to the Royal Navy Depot at Chatham.

On 16 September he was transferred to 'B' Company, Drake Division, Royal Naval Division (RND). Along with the remainder of Drake Division, he served during the defence of Antwerp in October 1914.

Upon his return from Europe, Albert was again drafted to the Royal Navy Depot at Chatham. It is unlikely that he attended the infantry training establishment at Walmer, as he requested a transfer to the Signals Branch.

He qualified as a signalman in December 1914 and was subsequently drafted to HMS Halcyon. Further service followed in HMS Attentive II before he moved to HMS Actaeon for advanced training.

Upon completion of this training on 10 February 1915, Albert joined HMS Harrier, later renamed MTA Ceto. In March 1915 he was joined by former HMS President shipmate Archibald Heath.

 MTA Ceto operated primarily in the North Sea and along Britain's east coast. Her duties included sweeping moored contact mines, patrolling coastal routes, and supporting naval bases around Grimsby, Hull, and Lowestoft.

Albert remained aboard until July 1917, when he transferred to the Royal Naval Air Service (RNAS) as a Flight Cadet. Albert reported to RNAS Redcar, where he would have spent approximately six weeks completing elementary flight training.

This instruction included basic aerodynamics, engines and aircraft mechanics, navigation and signalling, and elementary flying training amounting to approximately 20–30 flying hours. Training also involved dual instruction with an instructor, a first solo flight, and the practice of basic manoeuvres, take-offs, and landings.

The date of his transfer to RAF Cranwell is not known. However, on 21 December 1917, Albert was gazetted as a Temporary Second Lieutenant (on probation) in the General List of the Royal Flying Corps.

When the Royal Air Force was formed on 1 April 1918 through the amalgamation of the Royal Naval Air Service and the Royal Flying Corps, Albert's commission was automatically transferred to the new service.

Tragically, on 28 June 1918, at the age of 26, Albert was killed during a training flight near Cranwell. Records indicate that he died when the Sopwith F.1 Camel fighter aircraft he was piloting (Serial No. B5744) entered a spin and crashed in a nose-dive. The flight log records that the aircraft spun into the ground during training exercises. The impact caused catastrophic structural failure, followed by a fire—an all too common occurrence in the wood, canvas, and fuel-laden aircraft of the period. The machine was officially struck off charge as completely destroyed.

Albert is buried in Croydon (Queen's Road) Cemetery, Grave Reference H.4.34950. He is also commemorated on the HMS President Memorial.