Charles Roland Davis: A WWI Story

 


At just 21 years of age, Charles Roland Davis registered for the World War I draft on 5 June 1918. His registration card, meticulously filled out, offers a glimpse into his life in Granville County, North Carolina, during the Great War.

Roland lived on Rural Free Delivery (RFD) Route #3 in Youngsville; a small town nestled in the rolling hills of central North Carolina. He was born on 15 February 1897 in Granville County, North Carolina. His father's birthplace was also Granville County, solidifying the Davis family's deep roots in the region. 

Roland was employed by his father, Sid Davis, in Granville County, working on a the family farm. He listed his father as his nearest relative, residing at the same address: RFD #3, Youngsville. He identified as white, a native of the United States, and signed the card himself, affirming the accuracy of the information provided and attesting to the fact that he could read and write.

The registrar's report, completed by W. H. Walter, noted Roland's physical characteristics with brown eyes and dark brown hair. He had no apparent physical disqualifications for serving his country in the war.

Granville County and World War I

In 1918, Granville County was a predominantly rural agricultural community with its economy deeply intertwined with tobacco farming. The county seat was Oxford, not far from Youngsville, which served as the administrative and commercial hub of the county. The draft registration, conducted by the Local Board for the County of Granville, with its office in Oxford, reflected the national mobilization effort in full swing.

In the book A History of the Great World War (author unknown, published by Oxford Orphanage in 1920), you can read more about Granville County's contribution to the war effort. 

On 7 June 1918, the war in Europe raged. The German Spring Offensive, launched in March, had stalled but the Allied forces were bracing for further attacks. American troops were now arriving in increasing numbers and were beginning to make a tangible impact. This bolstered the morale of the war-weary Allied soldiers. The Second Battle of the Marne was just around the corner the following month in July.

The United States had declared war on Germany a little over a year prior, in April 1917, and the Selective Service Act of 1917 had mandated the registration of all men between the ages of 21 and 30 for potential military service. Roland's registration was part of this massive nationwide effort to raise an army capable of fighting on the Western Front.

Roland was ultimately called to serve aside millions of his fellow countrymen on 16 September 1918.  He mustered in as a Private with Company D, 5th Engineering Training Regiment in the US Army.  He undertook his basic training at Camp A. A. Humpries (now Fort Belvoir) in Fairfax County, Virginia. 

His draft registration card serves as a poignant reminder of his life, his community, and the pivotal moment in history when the entire world was engulfed in war. It speaks of a young man rooted in his land, connected to his family, and ready to answer the call of his nation. It is a testament to the ordinary lives caught up in extraordinary times, a small piece of a much larger story of sacrifice, duty, and resilience.

Appropriately, Roland's grave bears witness of his service to his country. 

Note:  This post was created with the use of Storied utilizing Artificial Intelligence (AI).  The facts of this post are accurate and true.