Ships
- HMS Mauritius (80) Captain from 22 March 1943 · Relieved on 23 October 1944
William Wellclose Davis commanded the light cruiser Mauritius from 22 March 1943 until 23 October 1944. He took her from the Eastern Fleet into the Mediterranean, then to Anzio, Normandy and the Bay of Biscay. Uboat.net's rank list ends with admiral.
Uboat.net gives his birth as 11 October 1901. It gives no place, no parents, and no death.
The page lists him as acting sub-lieutenant from 15 January 1921, sub-lieutenant from 15 September 1921, lieutenant from 15 October 1922, lieutenant-commander from 15 October 1930, commander from 30 June 1935, and captain from 31 December 1940. It has no career note beyond the ranks and the one command.
Mauritius is the only warship command on his page. On 23 March 1943, the day after he joined, she was docked at Durban flying the flag of Admiral J. F. Somerville, Commander-in-Chief of the Eastern Fleet. In May the ship was sent to the 15th Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean. Under Davis she grounded in the Suez Canal, grounded again at Malta on 9 July 1943 and damaged her keel, fired off Sicily and at Salerno, took the flag across from Newfoundland on 23 July after that ship was torpedoed, supported Anzio from 30 January 1944, and on 6 June 1944 bombarded Houlgate and the Merville battery for the Sword landing. On 13 June she was slightly damaged by shore fire. In August, as Force 27, she worked the Bay of Biscay. He was mentioned in despatches on 1 January 1941, on 21 December 1943, and on 28 November 1944. He received the Distinguished Service Order on 23 May 1944 and a bar on 14 November 1944. The page does not say for which service.
Uboat.net promotes him rear admiral on 7 January 1950, vice admiral on 15 September 1953, and admiral on 22 October 1956, and dates his retirement 17 August 1960. It lists the CB on 1 January 1952, the KCB on 2 January 1956, and the GCB on 13 June 1959. It does not say what appointments those flags covered, and it does not give a death.