Commando Edition 17 2023

Service number 055435 Air Cadet Charles
Barnett Edgar Davis joined the Active Citizens
Air Force (now known as the Air Force Reserve)
in April 1958 and progressed into the Permanent Air
Force in 1965 when he completed his medical studies
under an Air Force Medical scholarship program. Ed
served in a number of routine Air Force medical posi -
tions including a posting to RAAF Base Butterworth. It
was during this time that Ed was involved in a medical
evacuation from Vietnam on the 24 th February 1968
with 37 Squadron to the RAAF Hospital in Richmond,
New South Wales.
Ed transferred from the Regular Air Force to the
Reserves in 1970 to commence his civilian medical
career and continued serving on the Inactive RAAF
Reserve until 1978.
In 1978 Ed was motivated to join the Army Reserve
and was posted to 6 Field Ambulance where he spent
several years, prior to being posted to 2 Commando
Company in January 1980. This was unusual not only
because of his age but also he was a Major at the time
and technically too senior for the position. Somehow or
other he managed to ‘work the system’. Ed stayed with
2 Commando Company for five years where he made
a great impression on unit members, particularly as he
was 40 years old at the time and he gave the younger
unit members a challenge to keep up with the Doc.
This was noteworthy particularly during his
participation in the arduous Small Craft handlers
course, Parachute course, Roping and Rappelling,
Diving and a number of other specialist skills while still
undertaking a heavily committed severe medical
career. It was very unusual for the Medical Officer to be
specialist qualified, but Ed’s view was that he had to
experience what the Commandos did, so that he could
provide full support, and in doing so he also qualified
for the coveted Green Beret during his posting.
At the time the Green Beret annual arduous
physical retests including a 2 mile equipment run in
less than 16 minutes, 9 mile in 90 minutes and 20 mile
cross-country navigation exercise in five hours. Plus
numerous other physical and weapons, medical and
other skill tests.
It was during Ed’s time in the unit that the six-week
SASR Patrol Medics Course was realigned for part-time
training, including numerous hospital attachments at
Ballarat Base Hospital (a major road trauma centre),
and was delivered in 16 days continuous training with
pre-course study and three subsequent weekends of
hospital attachments. This course was continued for a
VALE
Colonel C.B.E (Ed) Davis, RFD
Born on 03 September 1940 and passed away on 26 August 2023
34 Years of ADF Service
By Doug Knight
number years until replaced by the Combat First-Aid
course.
Ed receiving a presentation Commando Fairburn Sykes fighting
knife from the 1/91 Special Forces Patrol Medics Course,
Capt Doug Knight.
Source: Author
In December 1985 Ed was transferred to 2nd
Battalion, the Royal Victoria Regiment Ballarat where
he was the battalion regimental medical officer, for two
years and then returned to 6 Field ambulance in 1987
as the Commanding Officer where he served for four
years, which is an unusually lengthy posting. Until
January 1991 when he assumed the staff position in the
medical component of the Headquarters of the 3rd
Military district in 1992 where he remained serving until
1997.
Eds’ military honours and awards are:
• Reserve Force Decoration
• Australian service medal 1945-75 with clasp
Southeast Asia
• Australian Defence Medal
Ed’s service medals and green beret on his casket at the funeral
commemoration.
Source: Author
COMMANDO ~ The Magazine of the Australian Commando Association ~ Edition 17 I 2023 51