A sailor who ran a missionary in Bermondsey where he helped the less fortunate and got pensions for American Civil War veterans has been nominated for a Southwark Blue Plaque.
Ensign John Davis lived many lives in his lifetime, going from a drunken sailor to putting his life on the line in battle, to spending his ‘retirement’ advocating for others.
In fact, following his death in 1917, a condolence letter addressed to his son read: “You can have the consolation of feeling that no man lived his life to a better purpose than your father.”
Born in 1839 in Hampshire, England, Davis ran away to sea aged ten and worked on several merchant ships.
After sailing around the world, he ended up in America – where he was known for ‘drinking, gambling and womanising,’ according to his great-grandson, Peter Collins.
When civil war broke out in America, Davis was lost and penniless in New York, which prompted him to enlist.
In 1861 he signed up for the Unionist side and served in the U.S. Navy, battling the slave owners of the American South.
Surviving the conflict he went on and was appointed master’s mate of a wooden storm ship named the USS Tulip. It was then he had another brush with death, after managing to escape on a lifebuoy when a defective boiler exploded on board, killing 49 of the 57 crew.
But this chilling experience was not enough to put him off going to sea, choosing instead to return and rank up to Ensign status. Following a stint searching for gold in Australia, he returned to England and worked as a gatekeeper at the London Docks.
After making a promise to stop drinking, Davis became religious and started helping out at a local church.
In 1877 he joined the London City Mission – which ran a Ragged School in Bermondsey – and began working in the slums and dockyards, whilst living at 14 Blue Anchor Lane.
During this time he was working on the streets and in the workhouses assisting the less fortunate and striving for change in the community.
Having found his calling, he opened a missionary church at Gedling Place under the railway arch, known as ‘the Telescope’, which attracted congregations of up to one hundred at a time.
Under the same arch, Davis famously founded the London branch of the American Civil War Veterans.
One of the lucky servicemen, Davis received a decent pension from the Navy and wanted to help others who had served but not been recognised.
Altogether 137 men joined and Davis helped many of them and their widows get pensions from the US Government.
The veterans would come and have quarterly meetings under the unassuming arch.
Guests who attended on his invitation were wide-ranging and very important – from American politicians and former slaves to Bermondsey VIPS of the time including Ambrose Pomeroy-Cragg and Robert Knox Bevington (the son of the borough mayor).
He died in 1917 aged 76, with the US Consul General attending his funeral.
Interested in his great-grandfather’s life, Peter was able to track down his grave at Nunhead Cemetery, with the help of Southwark Council.
Peter applied for a special grave marker through the U.S. Veterans Association – something offered to anyone who had served in their armed forces.
The Friends of Nunhead Cemetery cleaned up the grave and when the stone arrived from America it took pride of place there.
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