670112 Private William Norman Davis was born in Toronto, Ontario on 26 February 1899, the son of James William Davis and Rosina Charlotte Warren. He had five brothers and two sisters. One brother, John Oliver Davis, served with The Queen’s Own Rifles in the Second World War and was killed in action in France on 11 June 1944 in the battle for Le Mesnil Patry.

Davis was working as a clerk when he enlisted with the 166th Battalion on 1 May 1916 in Toronto at the age of 17 but attested he was born in 1897. He also claimed two months of service with the 77th Battalion (which was in Ottawa) but was discharged after two months – perhaps for being underage.

After arriving in England in October, he was hospitalized with influenza for 10 days in December,

He was transferred to the 12th Reserve Battalion in January 1917 and then to the 124th Pioneer Battalion in February and arrived in France in March. At some point, he was transferred to the 4th Division Train of the Canadian Army Service Corps.

He was demobilized in Toronto on 16 June 1919, and in 1920 he married Velma Beryl Gillelan in Toronto. He may also have later married Elsie Helena Sharp.

He may have died in 1988 in Hamilton, Ontario.