Venue: Maritime Museum
Dates:
Saturday 31 March 2012 - Sunday 4 November 2012
Between 1922 and 1940, in the era of hunger marches, the Wall Street Crash and the Great Depression, Jersey-born Thomas Benjamin Davis gave away an estimated million pounds to what he deemed to be good causes.
The greatest philanthropist the Island has ever known, Davis was born into poverty in Havre des Pas, yet when he died in South Africa 75 years later, he was a multi-millionaire.
TB Davis, Cowes, 1932
This new semi-permanent exhibition will tell his story, from humble beginnings as a 13-year old fisherman to becoming a qualified extra master under sail. His history will be traced through the years when he made his fortune in Southern Africa to the glory of owning the racing schooner Westward.
For the first time in many years, Davis’ yachting trophies will be on display for the public to see, along with recently discovered photographs telling the story of this enigmatic Jerseyman who left a lasting legacy to the Island.
The Westwood, 1932
Sponsored by Coutts
Find out more about Coutts Charitable Giving.
The only sailor in the fleet - TB Davis (1867-1942)
TB Davis was born into a working class family in Havre des Pas, Jersey in 1867. When work was available in the local shipyards, his father was a carpenter otherwise he was a fisherman. Davis started working on a fishing boat when he was nine years old after school and at the weekends. He became a full time fisherman when he left school at the age of 12l and two years later took up a career as a seaman. Over the next 17 years he sailed on board sailing ships, paddle steamers, liners and tramp steamers. He rounded Cape Horn eight times and sailed around the world twice. From a deck boy he worked his way up to Chief Officer and was a qualified extra master under sail.
In late 1900 he came ashore and emigrated to South Africa where he embarked upon a second career organising port services along the Indian Ocean from his base - Sivad Building in Durban. This coincided with the opening up of the African interior and Davis was there to ship out the minerals and wealth of the 'Dark Continent'.
Although he made his fortune hi life was struck by tragedy when his second son, Howard Leopold Davis, was killed from wounds received during the Battle of the Somme. In his later years he donated vast amounts of his money to charities in the name of his dead son. Amongst the gifts he gave to his home island were the Howard Davis Farm, the Howard Davis Park, Howard Hall at Victoria College and various charitable bequests like the Howard Davis Scholarship. In his adopted home of South Africa he set up Howard College (now the University of Kwa Zulu Natal) and the SATS General Botha - a training ship to nurture boys in the traditions of the navy.
However, it is perhaps for his love affair with his racing schooner Westward that he is best known. He bought her in 1924 and for the next eleven years was a regular on the big yacht circuit and his duels with King George V and Britannia were legendary. It was the King who called him 'the only sailor in the fleet' because of his immense practical knowledge. Unlike the other big yacht owners, Davis employed his men 12 months a year and did all his own maintenance including making spars and sails. When the King died in early 1936 Davis gave up racing and put engines into Westward.
Following his death, Westward was taken to the Hurd Deep in the English Channel and scuttled. He could not bear the thought of her being neglected after his death.