Private Lewis Sewart DAVIDSON (266719)
8/10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders

Date of birth: 1st March 1898
Date of death: 28th March 1918

Killed in action aged 20
Buried at Tilloy British Cemetery, Tilloy-les Mofflaines Plot IV Row E Grave 25
Lewis Stewart Davidson was born at Knockando on the 1st of March 1898, the third son of Peter Davidson, a ploughman, and Annie (nee Mackay) Davidson of Tomindugle Cottage, Knockando.

He was educated at Knockando Public School following which he became a telegram messenger based at Elgin Post Office in July 1914. He enlisted into the Gordon Highlanders at Aberdeen on the 18th of July 1916.

On the 28th of March 1918 the 8/10th Battalion Gordon Highlanders was holding a switch trench on the Neuville-Vitasse Ridge during the German spring offensive. At 3am an intense bombardment fell upon the front trenches which were being held at the time by the 7th Battalion Cameron Highlanders. This battalion was virtually annihilated. By 8.30am the survivors had fallen back and joined with the 8/10th Gordons on the ridge. The Germans began attacking the new front line and by 1pm the Scots were forced to withdraw as part of a wider retirement by their Division. At one point the Gordons had both flanks unprotected and managed to fall back in good order by company to a new line. The Germans had advanced so quickly that their attack had lost impetus and the small groups who attacked the new position were driven back and by 5pm the fighting had ceased.

The battalion had suffered casualties of 1 officer killed and 5 wounded with 25 other ranks being killed, 195 wounded with 79 missing. Lewis Davidson was among the dead.

His brother, Private 241961 Peter Davidson 1/5th Battalion Seaforth Highlanders, died of wounds on the 14th of May 1917.
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