DAVIS, Geoffrey Crocker 1906–1967

Title
DAVIS, Geoffrey Crocker 1906–1967
Description
Geoffrey Crocker Davis, born in 1906 at Sorell, was a farmer who was tragically killed at Penna on 7 February 1967 fighting the catastrophic bushfires approaching Sorell township.
Father of world renown combat cameraman and war correspondent, Neil Davis.
Biographical text
Born in 1906 at Sorell, Geoffrey Crocker Davis was a farmer who was tragically killed at Penna on 7 February 1967 fighting the catastrophic bushfires approaching Sorell township.
In 1926 Geoffrey Crocker Davis married Marjorie Elaine New and they raised four children at Nala (near Oatlands) and at Sorell. Marjorie died at Sorell in 1944. Their eldest son, Geoffrey (known as Jimmie/Jim), died in 1947 at Laverton in Victoria "in his 21st year". Their youngest son, Neil, became a world renown combat cameraman and war correspondent, and was killed by tank fire shrapnel on 9 September 1985 while filming a coup in Bangkok.
A plaque in Gordon Street, Sorell commemorates the bushfire victims:
"Geoffrey Crocker Davis, Manfred Weil, Beatrice Burdon, Edith Hayton and Irene Barwick who lost their lives in the tragic bushfires on 7th February 1967 which devastated the whole Sorell community".
Family name
Davis
Given name
Geoffrey Crocker
Date of birth
1906
Birthplace
Sorell, Tasmania
Child of
DAVIS, George Ross 1860–1941
DAVIS, Mary Hansford Crocker 1865–1958
Gender
Male
Occupation
Farmer
Spouse of
DAVIS, Marjorie Elaine New 1904–1944 (m1926)
Parent of
DAVIS, Geoffrey (Jimmie) Herbert 1926–1947
DAVIS, Darrel 1929–2016
DUNN/NEWITT, Barbara Cecilia 1928–2015
DAVIS, Neil Brian 1934–1985
Date of death
February 7, 1967
Contributor
Moya Sharpe
Carmel Torenius OAM
Creator
Melinda Reed
Related Items
DAVIS, Neil Brian 1934–1985
Pitt Water Chronicles Volume 2
PWC2 pp73–75 '67 Bushfires Remembered' by Elaine Targett (with Fay Duncombe)
Source or reference
Find a Grave – Geoffrey Crocker Davis, Columbarium Wall, St Georges Cemetery, Sorell. Photo by Rosemary Bruce-Mullins, 2019
Virtual War Memorial Australia – Geoffrey Herbert Davis, RAAF/RAN, died at Laverton, Victoria on 9 Oct 1947 "in his 21st year"
Find a Grave – Mary Hansford Crocker Davis, Henry St Cemetery, Sorell
Item sets
People
Media
Memorial plaque, 1967 bushfire victims, Sorell [Peta Kelly, 2017]

Linked resources

Items with "Related Items: DAVIS, Geoffrey Crocker 1906–1967"
Title Class
DAVIS, Neil Brian 1934–1985
Items with "Relation: DAVIS, Geoffrey Crocker 1906–1967"
Title Class
Pitt Water Chronicles Volume 1
Pitt Water Chronicles Volume 2