Douglas Ophia Edward Gordon Cavey, was born 1889 in Launceston, Cornwall. His parents were William John Ophia Withers Johns Cavey (1886-1922) and Emma Aiano (1863-1948). His father was the caretaker at the Launceston Telephone Co. in 1911.

Douglas was the eldest of 5 children: Evelyn Cavey (b. 1891), Stuart Charles Cavey (b. 1893), Geoffrey Cavey (b. 1896) and Clarence Reginald Lawson Cavey (b.1899- d.1988). 

In 1891, the family are recorded as living at Race Hill, Launceston - but they'd moved house prior to the 1901 census, which shows them as living at Windmill Lane, Launceston (off Race Hill).

By 1911 they'd moved again, to Exeter Street in Launceston. At this time, Douglas was recorded as being a 22 years old Dispenser (M.D’s).

In 1912 Douglas married Gertrude Kate Rice (1890-1978), at South Petherwin, taking up residence at 5, Race Hill Terrace, Launceston. The marriage was reported in the West Briton & Cornwall Advertiser on the 11th of April, 1912.

He was working for Doctor’s Thompson, Gibson and Budd as a Dispenser prior to enlisting in the Royal Army Medical Corps (RAMC - Service No. 8224) in August 1914 at Devonport. He was one of the first to answer the call and was in France on the 9th of August 1914, serving with various Medical Units until eventually he was with the 9th Field Ambulance Company, of the RAMC.

He came home regularly, and wrote not only to his wife, but also to a close friend, Dr. Arthur Budd (a Captain in the R.A.M.C.)

On the 14th of June 1916, Douglas and Gertrude had a son, Stewart Douglas Haig Cavey (1916-2000).

On the 29th of August 1917, the 9th Field Ambulance was at Bleuet Farm, East of Elverdinghe in Belgium and it was from here that Douglas wrote what was to be his last letter home to his wife.

The following day (the 30th of August 1917) Douglas was part of a team working in a dug-out that was being used as a medical store/dressing room. He was with two other men and also, a badly injured patient who was on a stretcher, when a large High Explosive shell penetrated the roof, and exploded. The three were killed outright. Douglas was badly wounded, and although alive, was unconscious. He was taken by ambulance to the nearby Hospital at Canada Farm, where he passed away shortly after arrival. A large cross was erected and he was buried there (now known as Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium). He was 28 years old.

In a letter sent to his wife Gertrude by A.J. Boyd of the R.A.M.C. (believed to be Private 18760 Albert John Boyd) it says:

“Dear Mrs. Cavey, Many thanks for the newspaper. The cutting I have sent home for my wife to take care of. You asked me to get all particulars possible about poor Douglas. I have not been able to do so before for, as you know I am not now with the 7th Field Ambulance. But yesterday I managed to find the old Unit and saw the action spot where poor Doug was killed. It was a half round splinter-proof ‘dug out’ built of thick corrugated iron and protected with sand-bags. It was being used as a dressing room. At the moment of the catastrophe, Doug was inside with two other R.A.M.C. men and a badly wounded patient (on a stretcher). A large H.E. shell penetrated the roof and exploded inside the shelter. The other three occupants were killed outright but Doug, although very badly wounded and quite unconscious, was alive.

"The shelling continued for some time. Doug was immediately attended to and taken on a stretcher to the main road and put into a motor ambulance and taken out of the danger zone to the big hospital. He passed away soon after reaching there.  He is buried in the cemetery attached to the hospital. The graves are well worked after by men specially employed on that duty. I went to the grave this morning. When I went before the spot was marked by a small cross and a label. Now there is a large cross a rough sketch of which I enclose. It is impossible for me to get a photo of it for cameras are strictly forbidden. But I believe it is possible for you to get a photo. For this and any other particulars you may want you should apply to :- The Director of Grave Registration and Enquiries, Winchester House,St. James’ Square,London S.W. (1).

"I made enquiries about your dear husbands effects and was told that, with the exception of one photo of himself which Sgt. Major Lamkin is going to have copied, his kit had been sent to the Base for transmission to you. I don’t suppose there is a great deal for a man can’t carry much out here. I forgot to tell you that the shelling and what afterwards happened took place between two and three in the afternoon.

"I only hope Mrs. Cavey, that what I have told you will not add in any way to your grief. You will at any rate gather that everything possible was done for your dear husband. I, too, derive much comfort from this fact.  Although my loss is not to be compared with yours I feel that I have lost a very dear friend. He was always cheerful under the most trying circumstances and his fine disposition often acted as a tonic to me when I felt very downhearted. I shall never forget dear 'Old Dug' as we called him.

"My home address is:- 2 Imperial Road, Clifton, Bristol, and if at any time my wife or I can be of any assistance to you we shall consider it a favour to do so. Hoping that you are bearing your great trouble as bravely as possible. I remain your very sincere friend, A. J. Boyd.

"P.S. If you wrote to the Graves Commission you should, of course, state the particulars given you by Colonel Fraser as to the position of the Cemetery.” 

Lt. Colonel Alexander D. Fraser, Officer Commanding the 9th Field Company R.A.M.C., also wrote to Douglas's wife, and both of the letters were published in the Launceston Weekly News on the 8th of September 1917. Also the Mess Sergeants of the 9th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. wrote to Gertrude on the 2nd of September 1917, and told her that: "he was the most popular member of the Mess, and was held in very high esteem."

The other men identified from the entry in the 9th Field Ambulance War diary as killed in the shelling that day were: 
Pte. 90318 Alexander Fraser and Pte. 72724 Albert Pettit, both of the 9th Field Ambulance R.A.M.C. (they are buried at Bleuet Farm Cemetery - buried next to each other). Other casualties have not been identified.

The official notification of Douglas's death - "died of wounds received in action" - was sent to Gertrude on 10/9/1917.

Gertrude, received a war pension for herself and their son, and his settlement allowances/effects of £20.2s.11d was notified by letter to her on the 19th of December 1917. One item returned to her was a bottle of perfume that he'd intended for give to her as a gift. Family accounts say that she never opened it.

In June 1921, Gertrude and Stewart were living at Race Hill Terrace, Launceston, with a boarder. Gertrude had correspondence with, the then, Imperial War Graves Commission and after paying the appropriate fees the message “ Onward Christian Soldiers” was added to his headstone.

It appears that on the 7th of May 1926, Gertrude had problems obtaining a death certificate after paying the fee of 5s/1d to Somerset House. The reason later being found that the death was registered in the name CAVAY and not CAVEY. However, the death certificate was eventually issued on the 12th of May 1926, and his estate and effects (of £219.4s.6d) was left to his wife. In August 1937.

On the 20th anniversary of her husband's death, Gertrude went to France and Belgium with the British Legion programme to tour and visit the battlefields and Cemeteries of the Somme and Ypres regions. A photograph taken of her standing with her husband's grave still exists. 

In 1939, Gertrude was recorded as living at 5, Race Hill Terrace, Launceston, with Stewart, a stores clerk. Gertrude is noted as being a member of the Nursing Auxiliary Service. Sadly she died on the 29th of July 1978 (it's believed, at her home address), having never remarried. Her estate amounted to £12,849.00.

Stewart, Douglas and Gertrude's only son, died on the 1st of December 2000 in Brentwood, Essex.

For his service in the Great War, Douglas was awarded the 1914 Star, the British War medal and the Victory medal. Those together with his Memorial plaque and Scroll, were sent to his wife (the medals are believed to be still with the family).

Douglas is buried in plot II. G.14. Canada Farm Cemetery. He is further commemorated on the War Memorial at St. Mary Magdalene Church in Launceston.