James Davis

He rescued an officer, then went back for a wounded comrade.

James Davis, whose family name was Kelly, was born in the Canongate district of Edinburgh in February 1835. His father was a labourer, and Davis worked as a shoemaker before enlisting in the 42nd Highlanders on 2 November 1852. He entered the army under the name by which his Victoria Cross would later be recorded.

He served in the Crimean War with the Black Watch and subsequently went to India. On 15 April 1858, during the attack on Fort Ruiya, he went out under heavy fire to assist Lieutenant Bramley, who had been wounded. Private Eadie was also struck during the rescue. Davis helped bring the officer clear and then returned to the exposed ground for his fellow soldier. His repeated movement towards casualties, rather than withdrawal with the first rescued man, was central to the conduct recognised by the Victoria Cross.

The award was announced on 27 May 1859. Davis received the decoration at Bareilly on 7 April 1860. His campaign service was also represented by the Crimea Medal with the Alma, Balaklava and Sebastopol clasps, the Turkish Crimea Medal and the Indian Mutiny Medal with the Lucknow clasp.

He continued in the army long after the fighting in India. In November 1868 he married Catherine Daily in Edinburgh. He completed more than twenty years of service before being discharged at Portsmouth on 2 December 1873.

Davis returned to civilian life in Scotland and died in Edinburgh in 1893. His grave and memorial identify him as a Black Watch recipient, while the alternate surname Kelly remains important in tracing the personal records behind the name used in the official award. His service linked two of the major British campaigns of the 1850s.