16 August 2024

By Tim Koch

Tim Koch on a coxing record unlikely to be repeated.

GL Davis most famously coxed Cambridge in the 1877 “Dead Heat” Boat Race. He and his opposite number in the Oxford boat that year, FM Beaumont, hold unique Boat Race coxing records in that both steered Blue Boats that won, lost and drew. Beaumont raced in 1877 (Drew), 1878 (Won) and 1879 (Lost). Davis coxed the Light Blues a remarkable five times: 1875 (Lost), 1876 (Won), 1877 (Drew), 1878 (Lost) and 1879 (Won). The emergence on the market of Davis’ medals prompts me to look closer at his career. 

George Latham Davis was born in Kingston-upon-Hull, Yorkshire, on 14 June 1855. From St Peter’s School, York, in late 1874 he went to Clare College, Cambridge. With a weight of 6 stone 10 pounds / 94 pounds / 43 kilograms, it was almost inevitable that he should take up coxing and was put in the CUBC boat in his first year, a place that he kept until he graduated with a Second in Law in late 1878. He became a barrister but did not have a particularly active career.

His medals include those for four years of “Trial Eights” but a final one for the December 1878 Trials is missing, so it could well be that he was not required to Trial in that year, his place in the April 1879 Race already assured. He did not receive Boat Race medals for the years that Cambridge lost (1875 and 1878) but he did get medals for the winning years of 1876 and 1879 plus one for the draw of 1877 (Oxford also gave their 1877 crew medals).

Davis steered Leander in Henley’s Grand Challenge Cup three times between 1880 and 1885, winning in 1880. His gold medal for that achievement is included with his framed Boat Race medals. He also coxed for Kingston Rowing Club in 1882 and 1883.

Despite his very light weight, Davis seemed to have been an enthusiastic enough sculler to have a boat made for himself. The Magnet of 22 December 1884 reported on a boat race between two men named Hosmer and Follett to be run between the Duke’s Head, Putney, and “the site formerly occupied by the Old Mile Tree.” The former weighed 6 stone / 84 pounds / 38 kilograms and the latter 5 stone / 70 pounds / 32 kilograms. It was noted that “Hosmer will row in the tiny outrigger built in 1876 for Mr GL Davis the Cambridge (Dead Heat) coxswain…”

Although Davis’ competitive coxing career ended in 1885, in 1894 he steered a Leander crew that was put together to “pace” Oxford in training for the Boat Race. Apart from Davis, the crew included other such greats as Guy and Vivian Nickalls, WAL Fletcher, RPP Rowe and CW Kent.

When Davis died suddenly aged 44 on 6 July 1899, the tributes were fulsome (even allowing for hyperbole).

The Illustrated Sporting and Dramatic News wrote, Mr Davis was one of the finest coxswains who ever handled the lines and in modern times was without a rival. 

The Bognor Regis Observer held, If he was not, as many thought of him, the best cox that ever steered, it is at least certain that he had no superior.