Davis, Harrold Fosbery Consett (1913 - 1944)

Born in Sydney 23 June 1913; died in PNG, 11 November 1944.

Consett Davis had an outstanding academic record and appeared destined for great things. In 1943 he contemplated applying for the chair of biology at the University of Western Australia.

Although effectively in a 'reserved occupation', Consett Davis enlisted and was posted to an army guerilla unit operating in the Kimberley, WA, in 1943. His role was to identify edible plants and he used the opportunity to make scientific collections of both plants and animals.

Although determined to see active service, Consett Davis' military career was curtailed when he was persuaded to go to New Guinea as a biologist with the Tropical Scientific Service to study the disease 'scrub typhus'.

On 11 November 1944, at the age of 31, he was killed in a plane crash in New Guinea.

Much more detail in Kevin Kenneally's article below.

Source: Extracted from: Kenneally, Kevin F. (1993), 'Consett Davis: scientist, soldier, Kimberley collector and casualty of war', in Western Australian Naturalist, v.19, no.2, 30 Jan 1993, p.74-83 (ISSN: 0726-9609)
Portrait Photo: Extracted from: above article, taken while on military service in Kimberley, WA.

Collecting locations for 'Davis, H.C.F.' from AVH (17/2/2015)

Note: initials re-arranged for collector citation.