Interview with John Gordon Davis November 21, 2002 - Tape 1
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- [1940-1989] (interview content), November 21, 2002 (interview date), digitized in 2020
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Oral History collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 audio cassette (50 min., 53 sec)
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with (John) Gordon Davis conducted by Mabel F. Nichols with her husband Jack Nichols. Mabel is interviewing Gordon as part of a research project to provide background information to the Burnaby Village Museum who are accepting a donation of Gordon's wife Anne's World War I…
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Oral History collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 audio cassette (50 min., 53 sec)
- Material Details
- Interviewer: Mabel F. Nichols and husband Jack Nichols
Interviewee: John Gordon Davis
Location of Interview: New Westminster
Interview Date: November 21, 2002
Total Number of tracks: 2 (side A & B of audio cassette)
Total Length of all Tracks: 50 min., 53 sec.
- Scope and Content
- Recording is an interview with (John) Gordon Davis conducted by Mabel F. Nichols with her husband Jack Nichols. Mabel is interviewing Gordon as part of a research project to provide background information to the Burnaby Village Museum who are accepting a donation of Gordon's wife Anne's World War II nursing uniform. Gordon provides background information on his family history and describes his experiences while serving overseas during World War II (WWII) including his experiences as a radar operator and working at a military air squadron repair depot. Gordon also provides biographical information about his wife Anne Davis (nee Williams) and her experiences serving as a military nurse during WWII and their life in Burnaby. Interviewer, Mabel and Jack Nichols also provide anecdotal stories about their own life in Burnaby during the interview.
Track 1 - Side A (30:34)
00:00 - 30:34 Interview opens with discussion between interviewer Mabel F. Nichols and Gordon Davis about his wife, Anne Davis' experience working in the nursing corps. Mr. Davis provides background information about working in mining between 1933 and 1940 before training in Ontario to become a radar operator during World War II. Gordon also describes his parents origins and how they moved to Burnaby in 1940 while Gordon headed off to Nova Scotia to serve with the RCAF. Gordon also shares information about his sister Anne Davis who married George L. Davis from Kirkland Lake and how they lived with Gordon's parents in the auto court in Burnaby. He tells of how George L. Davis worked for Dominion Bridge Co. and later as a meat cutter for Safeway near 6th Avenue and Kingsway in Burnaby. Mabel shares her own husband Jack's experiences growing up in Burnaby as the son of butcher, George Nichols, his career as a deisel mechanic and later in the GVRD Engineering Department. Gordon shares that his father, Gilbert died in 1957 and his mother Elizabeth died in 1968 and his older sister Ruth died in 1990. Gordon recollects his wedding day and honeymoon in North Wales in 1945 with his wife Anne.
Track 2 - Side B (29:19)
00:00 - 14:37 Gordon continues with his recollections about his wedding and honeymoon in North Wales in 1945. The interviewers, Mabel and Jack discuss the geography of the area sharing their own experiences travelling in 1981 and try to get an idea of where Gordon and his wife were married. They agree that the place was Llandudno. He tells of signing up for another year of Military Service since his wife was still serving in the nursing corps. and describes working North of London at a Military facility to repair aircraft including mosquito bombers.
14:38 - 21: 53 Gordon shares information about working in the Middle East in 1943 while his wife Anne survived the bombing of the Dutch passenger ship, the Marnix that she was travelling on. Gordon tells of how Anne couldn't swim but had a life jacket on and was picked up by a life boat. Anne corresponded with Gordon to let him know that she was alright but had to be cryptic since all letters were censored. Gordon tells of how Anne then travelled to India. Interviewer, Mabel, speaks of her own brother Bill who was picked up in Gibralter and taken to England.
21:54 - 26:18 Gordon recollects first meeting his wife Anne in London and the bombing that occurred during WWII. He tells of how Anne trained as a midwife at the Royal College of Midwives in Yorkshire and how he attended Radio college in Ontario.
26:19- 29:19 Gordon speaks about his experience travelling east on the Queen Mary in World War II and how full the ship was. He says that they were 30 days at sea from May to June in 1942.
- History
- Interviewee biography: John Gordon Davis was born to Elizabeth Ann Vert (nee Eyres) and Gilbert Davis on September 13, 1913 in North Cobalt, Ontario. Gordon was the second youngest of six children. After graduating from high school he attended Radio College in Toronto. He spent two years prior to World War II working in radio on British ships. In 1940, after retiring, his parents moved to British Columbia. They purchased the Flowerland Auto Court in 1941 at 4212 Douglas Road, Burnaby. During this time, Gordon moved to Ontario and sought employment in radio range stations that were dealing with new technology throughout Europe. He joined the RCAF in 1941. While in London, in May of 1941, he met his future wife Anne Williams. In World War II, Anne served as a nurse in Queen Alexandra's Imperial Army Nursing Corps. In November 1943, Anne survived the bombing of the Dutch passenger ship, SS Marnix while it sailed in a convoy from England to the Mediterranean. Gordon did many tours throughout the Middle East, Turkey, Egypt, Italy, the Battle of the Bulge, Sarnia before he was known as “surplus to requirement”. Since Anne was still in the nursing corps, Gordon signed on for another year and was sent north of London to a Repair Squadron where he worked on operational repairs of Mosquito bombers which were manufactured in Canada. Anne and Gordon continued their correspondence and eventually married in North Wales on January 23, 1945. Gordon was shipped back to Canada in October of 1945 and moved in with his parents at their auto court on Douglas Road in Burnaby. Anne joined Gordon in Burnaby in April 1946 when her mission was completed. Anne packed up her things in a large trunk that she addressed to Gordon’s parents on Douglas Road. Gordon moved around British Columbia in his work for BC Electric and eventually retired with HB Contracting Ltd. in Surrey working on the BC pipeline between 1953 and 1954. In the late 1950s, Gordon and Anne purchased a home in Burnaby at 1508 6th Street (now 7591 6th Street) which they lived in until 1984. In 1985, Anne and Gordon sold their house in Burnaby and moved to Hyack House in New Westminster. Anne Davis died in 1989 at the age of 76 years. Gordon's father, Gilbert died in 1957 and his mother Elizabeth Ann Verta died in 1968.
Interviewer biography: Mabel F. Nichols (nee Lawrence) was one of six children born in Hope [ca.1932] to Elmer E. Lawrence and Louise (nee Pennier). Elmer and Louise married in Yale B.C. in 1916. Mabel’s mother, Louise Pennier was part of the Sts'ailes Nation (Chehalis First Nation). Elmer and Louise had three sons and three daughters. Both of Mabel’s parents died in Langley in 1960. Mabel married Jack (John) Nichols [between 1959 and 1960]. They lived at 6004 Wilson Street, Burnaby in 1959; 4910 Willingdon Avenue [between 1960 and 1962] and 4662 Hazel Street [between 1963 and 1987] before moving to Surrey. Jack Nichols' parents, George and Alma Nichols owned and operated Nichols Family Meat Market at 4018 Kingsway (later renumbered 4500 Kingsway). The family lived behind the butcher shop.
- Subjects
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Occupations - Nurses
- Clothing - Uniforms
- Names
- Davis, John Gordon "Gordon"
- Davis, Anne Williams
- Davis, Gilbert
- Nichols, Mabel F. Lawrence
- Nichols Family Meat Market
- Accession Code
- BV005.37.1
- Access Restriction
- Restricted access
- Reproduction Restriction
- May be restricted by third party rights
- Date
- [1940-1989] (interview content), November 21, 2002 (interview date), digitized in 2020
- Media Type
- Sound Recording
- Notes
- Title based on contents of sound recording
- Recording is closed due to poor sound quality
- See also: Anne Davis' (nee Williams) WWII nursing uniform- BV003.15.10 & BV03.15.11 & BV003.15.12
Less detail
At Vimy Ridge monument
- Repository
- Burnaby Village Museum
- Date
- 1945
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Village Museum Photograph collection
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6 x 10.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of uniformed soldiers scattered on a field around the Vimy Ridge monument in France. The soldier marked with an "X" is Frank Battersby (who has stopped to wait while "Tommy" lights his pipe).
Billy Bishop
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [between 1941 and 1945]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 21 x 25 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Billy Bishop, World War One pilot, standing next to a plane. The photograph has been autographed by Billy Bishop.
Jim Ellis, Bobby Ellis and Bob Smith
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1944] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.0 x 2.3 cm print on contact sheet 20.4 x 26.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Jim Ellis, Bobby Ellis and Bob Smith at the front of the Ellis home on Nelson Avenue. The men are in uniform and the boy in the middle (Bobby) is wearing a sailor's suit.
John and Lois Shaw
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- November 25, 1942
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 18 x 13 cm print
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of John Shaw and Lois Shaw (nee Gilbert) on their wedding day. At the time of the wedding, John was working as a non-commissioned officer with the Royal Canadian Air Force but both John and Lois worked for the Municipality of Burnaby.
Air force cadets
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4.5 x 4.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six air force cadets standing together in two rows outside their barracks in Vernon. Each of the three cadets in the front row have cigarettes in their hands. Written on the back of the photograph is: "Some of the boys on the porch." John Shaw is the third from the left; the rest are …
Air force cadet singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifteen air force cadets performing on stage at a show in Calgary, Alberta. John Shaw was a part of this musical group and he has written on the back of the picture: "The Captain looks a little nervous in this one, he's biting his lip. Sgt. Moody, leaning on the piano, takes the scrip…
Air force office
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 4 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of the interior of an air force office. John Shaw has written on the back of the picture: "The Orderly Room. Corporal Honey in the foreground leaning on the counter which holds all our forms in those pigeon holes you can see."
Air Force personnel
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twelve men in Royal Canadian Air Force uniforms outside their barracks in Vernon, BC. John Shaw is in the middle row, second from left.
Air force personnel
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 6.5 x 6.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of five men, all in air force uniforms, standing outside. The man on the far left is John Shaw and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another candid shot. My stand would be complete with a halo."
Air force personnel
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- January 1941
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 20.5 x 25 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fifty-three men sitting and standing in front of a building in their air force uniforms. The photograph is captioned "PL # 2 - No. 3 Co. / T.C. # 110 January 1941 / Vernon BC." This is the group of air force cadets that went through training with John Shaw at Vernon during the winter …
Air Force recruits
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 5.5 x 8 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of six men standing outside in the snow at the air force training camp in Vernon. All of the men are holding rifles.
Air force singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of eleven men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "Another informal one of the quartette. Cap's playing the accordion this time. The other …
Air force singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of ten men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet singing 'The West, A Nest and You.' We look kinda sick, I figure. Note the wedge…
Air force singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of twelve men - most in uniform - and one woman, performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: ""Yours truly" relaxing over a cigarette during the interviews." …
Air force singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph shows a group of 12 men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta, and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet doing a bit of a number accompanied by Cap on at the accordion."
A …
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Series
- Military series
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Description Level
- Item
- Record No.
- 485-041
- Access Restriction
- No restrictions
- Reproduction Restriction
- No known restrictions
- Accession Number
- 2005-15
- 2006-01
- 2007-18
- Scope and Content
- Photograph shows a group of 12 men in uniform performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta, and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The octet doing a bit of a number accompanied by Cap on at the accordion."
A caption on the envelope written by a previous archivist reads, "Pictures of John Shawn in Air Force WWII - In singing group - Calgary, Alberta."
- Subjects
- Occupations - Military Personnel
- Clothing - Military Uniforms
- Musical Instruments
- Wars - World War, 1939-1945
- Media Type
- Photograph
- Photographer
- Tigerstedt Studio
- Notes
- Title based on contents of photograph
- Photographer's stamp on verso
Less detail
Air force singing group
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1941]
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 9 x 13 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fourteen men - most in uniform - performing on stage for an audience. John Shaw was part of this air force singing group which performed in Calgary, Alberta and he has written on the back of the photograph: "The Captain (at the mike) looks a bit nervous in this one. Syd Bending is th…
Air force staff
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- 1943
- Collection/Fonds
- John Shaw fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 12 x 17.5 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of fourteen men and women in uniform sitting and standing together in an air force office. A caption on the back of the photograph reads: "Orderly Room Staff - Sea Island 1943." John Shaw can be seen standing in the back row, sixth from right.
Alastair Macdonald
- Repository
- City of Burnaby Archives
- Date
- [1940] (date of original), copied 1991
- Collection/Fonds
- Burnaby Historical Society fonds
- Description Level
- Item
- Physical Description
- 1 photograph : b&w ; 3.9 x 2.6 cm print on contact sheet 20.3 x 26.4 cm
- Scope and Content
- Photograph of Alastair Macdonald, in uniform, standing in front of a house at McKay Avenue and Kingsway.