Superintendent James Herbert Davenport BEM OStJ St John Ambulance
The Man James Herbert Davenport was born on Friday 29th May 1914 in Chesterfield, Derbyshire, son of Harry Herbert Davenport and Lily nee Ratherham. He had one brother Harry junior born in 1916.
Following school, James worked at the British United Shoe Machines Company (BUSM) in Leicester and joined their St John Ambulance & Nursing Division on 17th June 1935 aged 21 as an Ambulance Member.
By 1939 aged 25, James was living with his mother and brother at 4 Stonehill Avenue, Birstall, Leicestershire. He was working in a reserved occupation as a Centre Lathe Turner at BUSM, the register also shows him as being a member of the SJA and involved with the Air Raid Precautions. WWII saw a high percentage of BUSM's precision engineering capacity switched to manufacturing arms. Products included Naval gun sights, Besa machine gun and the technically very demanding precision cast wheelhouse for the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine. BUSM also worked extensively on aspects of the development and was the main sub-contractor for the Rolls-Royce 40mm Cannon, which was originally intended for mounting in aircraft, especially for use in the anti-tank role. No operational use was made of the experimental aircraft fitted with this gun, but the Royal Navy saw its potential when fitted to Motor gunboats. BUSM was the main subcontractor for several hundred examples built for the Royal Navy.
James was promoted to Corporal in the SJA on the 12th January, 1941 and between July and August, married Joyce Ann Roff in Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire. Following the war, he was awarded the Defence Medal presumably for his ongoing ARP duties and Ambulance work.
In about 1950 he began working at the National Gas Turbine Establishment (NGTE), at Whetstone Leicester, transferring to their SJA Division and in December 1951 became Divisional Secretary. In 1953 James was awarded the Order of St John Service Medal and in May 1955 transferred with the NGTE and SJA from Whetstone to their new location at Pyestock, Farnborough, Hampshire.
NGTE Pyestock was part of the Royal Aircraft Establishment. It was the prime site in the UK for design and development of gas turbine and jet engines. Created by merging the design teams of Frank Whittle's Power Jets and the RAE turbine development team run by Hayne Constant. NGTE spent most of its lifetime as a testing and development centre, both for experimental developments and to support commercial engine companies. In 1995 the establishment became part of DERA and closed in 2000.
James was awarded the first clasp to his St John Service Medal in 1958, second in 1963, third 1968, fourth - silver gilt in 1973, fifth - silver gilt in 1978 and sixth - silver gilt in 1983.
On 28th August 1958 he was appointed Divisional Officer and on 8th March 1968, Divisional Superintendent. He also became a Civil Defence Instructor in May 1956 and obtained a Brigade ‘Methods of Teaching’ Certificate in January 1963 and a SJA ‘Lay Instructor’s Certificate’.”
For his involvement with the Civil Defence, Number 5708, on 19th January 1961 he was one of the first to be awarded the Civil Defence Medal for 15 years’ service, indicating his involvement since the end of the War.
James worked tirelessly as a Craftsman Chargehand at NGTE and in the New Year’s Honours list of 1971 was rewarded by being awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to the organisation. On 17th May 1972 he was entered into the Order of St John Roll of Honour and appointed as a Serving Brother in the Venerable Order. The area Commissioner said of James
“Mr Davenport has been a tower of strength in the Pyestock Area and has carried out duties far in excess of the normal duties of a St John member. This Division runs an Ambulance and Mobile unit which is always on call for special duties and transport and we have never been let down even at very short notice I would recommend him for recognition by the Order.”
In 1974 aged 60 James retired from Government service, working as Craftsman I with the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive. This was the acquisition organisation of the Ministry of Defence and widely known as PE. It was established on 2nd August 1971 as a single procurement agency for all three services with Derek Rayner (later Lord Rayner) as the first Chief of Defence Procurement. It was superseded by the Defence Procurement Agency on 1 April 1999.
Upon retirement James was awarded the Imperial Service Medal notified in the London Gazette of 14th February 1975. He continued working with SJA but having finished work, left the NGTE Pyestock Division SJA and ran the Northeast Hampshire centre as Secretary for the next 10 years. He continued his first aid instructing also teaching first aid to students in further education courses and the Scouts.
On 28th May 1987 James was entered once again into the Order of St John Roll of Honour and appointed an Officer Brother in the Venerable Order.
Joyce died in 1989 aged 71 in Surrey and James six years later in December 1995 aged 81, also in Surrey.
Following school, James worked at the British United Shoe Machines Company (BUSM) in Leicester and joined their St John Ambulance & Nursing Division on 17th June 1935 aged 21 as an Ambulance Member.
By 1939 aged 25, James was living with his mother and brother at 4 Stonehill Avenue, Birstall, Leicestershire. He was working in a reserved occupation as a Centre Lathe Turner at BUSM, the register also shows him as being a member of the SJA and involved with the Air Raid Precautions. WWII saw a high percentage of BUSM's precision engineering capacity switched to manufacturing arms. Products included Naval gun sights, Besa machine gun and the technically very demanding precision cast wheelhouse for the Rolls-Royce Merlin aero engine. BUSM also worked extensively on aspects of the development and was the main sub-contractor for the Rolls-Royce 40mm Cannon, which was originally intended for mounting in aircraft, especially for use in the anti-tank role. No operational use was made of the experimental aircraft fitted with this gun, but the Royal Navy saw its potential when fitted to Motor gunboats. BUSM was the main subcontractor for several hundred examples built for the Royal Navy.
James was promoted to Corporal in the SJA on the 12th January, 1941 and between July and August, married Joyce Ann Roff in Barrow Upon Soar, Leicestershire. Following the war, he was awarded the Defence Medal presumably for his ongoing ARP duties and Ambulance work.
In about 1950 he began working at the National Gas Turbine Establishment (NGTE), at Whetstone Leicester, transferring to their SJA Division and in December 1951 became Divisional Secretary. In 1953 James was awarded the Order of St John Service Medal and in May 1955 transferred with the NGTE and SJA from Whetstone to their new location at Pyestock, Farnborough, Hampshire.
NGTE Pyestock was part of the Royal Aircraft Establishment. It was the prime site in the UK for design and development of gas turbine and jet engines. Created by merging the design teams of Frank Whittle's Power Jets and the RAE turbine development team run by Hayne Constant. NGTE spent most of its lifetime as a testing and development centre, both for experimental developments and to support commercial engine companies. In 1995 the establishment became part of DERA and closed in 2000.
James was awarded the first clasp to his St John Service Medal in 1958, second in 1963, third 1968, fourth - silver gilt in 1973, fifth - silver gilt in 1978 and sixth - silver gilt in 1983.
On 28th August 1958 he was appointed Divisional Officer and on 8th March 1968, Divisional Superintendent. He also became a Civil Defence Instructor in May 1956 and obtained a Brigade ‘Methods of Teaching’ Certificate in January 1963 and a SJA ‘Lay Instructor’s Certificate’.”
For his involvement with the Civil Defence, Number 5708, on 19th January 1961 he was one of the first to be awarded the Civil Defence Medal for 15 years’ service, indicating his involvement since the end of the War.
James worked tirelessly as a Craftsman Chargehand at NGTE and in the New Year’s Honours list of 1971 was rewarded by being awarded the British Empire Medal for his services to the organisation. On 17th May 1972 he was entered into the Order of St John Roll of Honour and appointed as a Serving Brother in the Venerable Order. The area Commissioner said of James
“Mr Davenport has been a tower of strength in the Pyestock Area and has carried out duties far in excess of the normal duties of a St John member. This Division runs an Ambulance and Mobile unit which is always on call for special duties and transport and we have never been let down even at very short notice I would recommend him for recognition by the Order.”
In 1974 aged 60 James retired from Government service, working as Craftsman I with the Ministry of Defence Procurement Executive. This was the acquisition organisation of the Ministry of Defence and widely known as PE. It was established on 2nd August 1971 as a single procurement agency for all three services with Derek Rayner (later Lord Rayner) as the first Chief of Defence Procurement. It was superseded by the Defence Procurement Agency on 1 April 1999.
Upon retirement James was awarded the Imperial Service Medal notified in the London Gazette of 14th February 1975. He continued working with SJA but having finished work, left the NGTE Pyestock Division SJA and ran the Northeast Hampshire centre as Secretary for the next 10 years. He continued his first aid instructing also teaching first aid to students in further education courses and the Scouts.
On 28th May 1987 James was entered once again into the Order of St John Roll of Honour and appointed an Officer Brother in the Venerable Order.
Joyce died in 1989 aged 71 in Surrey and James six years later in December 1995 aged 81, also in Surrey.
The Story The group of medals awarded to James Herbert Davenport were acquired from the Dix Noonan Webb auction on 20th April 1922. They were of interest because of the treble long service combination, with the British Empire Medal.
Ancestry.UK and the London Gazette enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, initially very little detail for such a fine and long service group of medals was available. However the Order of St John Museum in London were able to provide additional information enabling a far more detailed life story to be completed.
Ancestry.UK and the London Gazette enabled a brief biography to be pieced together, initially very little detail for such a fine and long service group of medals was available. However the Order of St John Museum in London were able to provide additional information enabling a far more detailed life story to be completed.
Medal Details:
- British Empire Medal: JAMES HERBERT DAVENPORT
- Serving Officer Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Serving Brother Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Imperial Service Medal: JAMES HERBERT DAVENPORT
- Civil Defence Medal: 5708 MR.J.H.DAVENPORT. 19-1-61
- Service Medal Order of St John: PTE J.H.DAVENPORT. LEICS. S.J.A.B. 1953
This page last updated 23 May 22
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