JOHN DAVIES 

John DAVIES
Rank: Private
Service Number:W/29.
Regiment: No. 1 Coy. 13th Bn. Cheshire Regiment
Killed In Action Tuesday 5th October 1915
Age 34
FromIrby.
County Memorial Wallasey
Commemorated\Buried Tancrez Farm Cemetery
Grave\Panel Ref: I. C. 13.
CountryBelgium

John's Story.

John, son of William and Susannah Davies of Greasley, husband of Mary Davies.

The 13th battalion Cheshire Regiment embarked for France 25th September 1915;



John was the first from the battalion to be killed just ten days later. The war diary for the period reads.

Aldershot 25th September 1915

Entrained for Boulogne via Folkstone. All transport with 108 having left for Le Havre via Southampton day previous. Channel crossing on RMS Victoria ½ battalion. Remainder on a following boat. Reached Ostrahove, large rest camp about midnight.

Boulogne 26th September 1915

In camp

Caestre 27th September 1915

Entrained for Hazebrouck. Sent on to Caestre, Billeted in village

Caestre 28th September 1915

Enbussed in 40 motor busses for Armentieres. Debussed at Nieppe and marched 3 miles to billets in convent and blue factory.

Armentieres 29th September 1915

Our advance party of transport re-joined.

Trenches 3rd October 1915

Took over sector 90 – 94 on North bank of river Lys, 3 miles out of Armentieres from 9th Durham L I. Having had instructional period 30/9/1915 to this date.

Trenches 4th October 1915

Quiet. Some rifle fire principally or own during the, post and patrols with nothing to report

5th – 12th October 1915

Trenches 90 – 94

Battalion behaved excellently for their first time under fire. Nearest point of enemy trench the well-known Le Touquet salient 40 yards away. 2 men killed 3 wounded. 1 officer Lt. G.C.W White killed by a chance shot when out repairing wire. Sergeant Bell recommended for D.C.M. for bringing Lt White in under fire and for digging out corporal Dodd from shell smashed parapet also under fire.

 

John’s story appeared in the local press in 1915.

Within two months of their confreres of the 4th Battalion (T.F.) of the Cheshire Regiment being placed in the firing line at the Dardanelles, the members of the 13th Battalion, have had their baptism of fire. Some weeks ago we intimated that they were about to leave the shores of England, and this took place quite recently. To the surprise of man, the men were drafted to the trenches within a few days of landing. Then followed their first experience of being within the danger zone, with bullets whistling around and shells screeching overhead. It was not very pleasant, and to make matters worse they had hardly got settled down when one of their number fell mortally wounded. Nevertheless, they were determined to do their bit, and were almost glad of the opportunity of showing the kind of stuff they are made of. Wallasey is proud of them.

The first victim referred to above was Private Jack Davies, of 6, Big Yard, Wallasey Village, “a gallant and promising soldier,” as his colonel wrote to Mrs. Davies. Thirty-four years of age, he was born at Greasby, and came to Wallasey about eleven years ago. For nine years he was employed as a plasterer by Mr. Hoyland, builder, of New Brighton. When the call went out for men and the Wallasey Battalion of Pals was formed, he was amongst the first to enlist, and he put in twelve months of strenuous training at several places and under varying conditions. Sometime after the battalion had been formed a band was got together, and Pte. Davies, who was previously a prominent member of the Wallasey Village Silver Band, played second cornet in this. Just before leaving for the front he wrote to his wife saying that on account of his position he would not have to do duty in the firing-line, but this was apparently all altered, and he again took to the ranks. The sad incident occurred about breakfast time, and although nothing is known beyond the fact that he fell victim to a German sniper, it has been stated that he was waiting for rations, while another account is to the effect that he had just been for tea and was returning. It is a strange coincidence that his photograph appeared in a group of the 3rd Platoon in the Chronicle the day following his death, which occurred on October 5th.

 

Chaplain’s Condolence

The Rev. Halstead L. Connor, chaplain attached to the battalion, wrote a touching letter, in the course if which he said:-

“Your husband was killed yesterday morning while on duty in the trenches, and we laid him to rest in a little cemetery by the trenches yesterday morning. A little wooden cross marks the spot where he is buried. The words are – ‘Killed in action, October 5th, 1915, J. Davies.’

“It will be some consolation that he fell while doing his duty for his King and country, and may God grant you His peace in this time of sorrow.”

 

 

The second soldier mentioned killed in the war diary was Private William Curran, he is listed as died of wounds on the 12th and is also listed on the roll.
Sergeant John Joseph Bell was awarded a D.C.M. he was killed in action nine months later 7th July 1916 and is also listed on the roll.

In the early 1920’s when the CWGC were collating information John’s wife had remarried and was then Mary Jones living at 6, Big Yard, Wallasey.