Name
Arthur James Davey
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
07/10/1916
20
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Rifleman
5356
Rifle Brigade
12th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 (Mons) Star, British War and Victory Medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 16B and 16C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Watford Borough Roll of Honour, Christ Church Memorial, Watford, North Watford Methodist Church Memorial, Watford
Pre War
Son of Arthur James and Caroline (nee McGREGOR) DAVEY of Watford.
His parents married 1 November 1894 at St Mary the Virgin, Chatham, Kent. Arthur died 1937 in Watford aged 68, and was buried 25 January in Vicarage Road Cemetery, Watford.
Arthur was born 26 October 1896 in either Shorncliffe or Folkstone, Kent, and attended Callowland Board School, Watford, from 1 October 1906 to 21 October 1910. He resided in Watford.
On the 1901 Census, aged 4 he lived in Gillingham, Kent, with his mother and one sibling [name recorded as DAWLEY]. On the 1911 Census, aged 14 he lived in Watford, with his parents and two siblings.
Wartime Service
He enlisted in London; was entitled to the Victory, British War and 1914 Star medals, his qualifying date being 23 October 1914, and was presumed killed in action. The 12th Battalion was involved in the Battle of Le Transloy Ridge 7 October 1916 (part of the Somme Offensive), the first objective being Rainbow Trench; however, the Battalion took heavy casualties as it reached the crest of the ridge, but as they reached Rainbow Trench the Germans surrendered in large numbers.
Additional Information
There is an article about and a Death announcement for Arthur in the West Herts and Watford Observer dated 11 August 1917. Unfortunately, Arthur’s Service Record appears to be one that did not survive the World War Two bombing.
Acknowledgments
Sue Carter (Research) and Watford Museum (ROH on line via www.ourwatfordhistory.org.uk)
