 Nyorai kupfuurira kweiyi ndima - Davidson akaberekerwa muShooters Hill, Kent, uye akakurira muWelwyn, Hertfordshire. Akadzidza paHenley Grammar School uye Bute House School, Petersham. Muna September 1875 akagadzwa Sub-Lieutenant mu4th Foot, asi gore rakatevera akaendeswa ku60th Rifles uye akatumirwa ku2nd Battalion muIndia. Nokukurumidza pashure pacho akasimudzirwa kuva Lieutenant. Akatora chikamu muHondo yechipiri yeAfghan muna 1878-1880 uye akagadzwa ADC kuna Lieutenant-General Sir Donald Stewart, uye gare gare kuna Major-General Ross. Akashanda muHondo yeBoermuna 1881 uye vakarwa paHondo yeTel-el-Kebir muna 1882. Muna 1883 akagadzwa Assistant Inspector of Army Signalling paAldershot, chinzvimbo chaakabata kusvika muna 1889, aine chinzvimbo chenguva pfupi chaKaputeni. Muna 1885 akakwidziridzwa kuva Kaputeni uye mwedzi mumwe gare gare akakwidziridzwa kuva Brevet Major mukucherechedza kunonoka kwebasa rake muAfghanistan makore mashanu apfuura. Akatora rutivi muBechuanaland Expedition ya1885. 