Davidson, Sir Walter Edward

Walter Edward Davidson (1839-1923), civil servant, colonial secretary, governor of Newfoundland (1913-1918), was born in Killyleagh, County Down, Ireland, on 20 Apr. 1859. He married twice. In 1882 he married the daughter of John Baber, London; they had one son. In 1907 he married Margaret Agnes Fielding; they had two daughters, Diana and Daphne. Davidson died in Sydney, Australia, on 15 Sept. 1923.

Following graduation from Christ's College, Cambridge, Davidson joined the British Foreign Service. He was appointed to Ceylon (now Sri Lanka) in 1880, where he remained for 22 years, serving in a number of administrative posts, including chair of the municipal council and mayor of Colombo. In 1902 Davidson was appointed colonial secretary of Transvaal, a northeastern region of South Africa, and, in 1904, governor of Seychelles, a former French dependency located in the Indian Ocean (1904-1912). In 1912 Davidson was named governor of Newfoundland, arriving in the colony in 1913.

With the commencement of World War I, Davidson assumed a prominent role in Newfoundland's war effort. On 7 Aug. 1914, with the approval of Prime Minister Edward Morris, Davidson telegraphed the British government with notification of Newfoundland's willingness to raise and equip a Newfoundland regiment and to expand the existing Royal Naval Reserve. On 21 Aug., Davidson issued a proclamation requesting Newfoundland men to enlist in the regiment.

On 12 Aug. Davidson and Morris organized a meeting of prominent St. John's citizens to direct the Newfoundland war effort. This committee, the Newfoundland Patriotic Committee, was reorganized as the Patriotic Association of Newfoundland (commonly called the Newfoundland Patriotic Association) and delegated all necessary power to organize, equip and administer the regiment, powers usually reserved by the government. Davidson remained as governor of Newfoundland during much of World War I. He assumed the position of Lieutenant-Colonel of the First Newfoundland Regiment (later the Royal Newfoundland Regiment), served as chair of the Patriotic Association, and participated actively in recruitment campaigns, frequently assuming powers which exceed advisory and ceremonial aspects of his office. In 1917, the formation of a National Government (announced 16 July 1917) resulted in the replacement of the Patriotic Association by the Department of Militia, with direct responsibility for the maintenance of the regiment, and the removal of Davidson as governor. In 1918 Davidson was appointed governor of New South Wales (1918-1923).

Davidson was an avid sportsman, enjoying golfing matches, the Regatta, curling, hockey, croquet, sportfishing and regular walks and hikes around St. John's and the surrounding area. He was knighted in 1914 for services rendered as a colonial administrator.

Created - April 29, 2013

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