Name
HARRY DAVIES
1872
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
08/02/1915
42
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Serjeant
9403
Lincolnshire Regiment
2nd Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
RUE-PETILLON MILITARY CEMETERY, FLEURBAIX
III. B. 14.
France
Headstone Inscription
"KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD"
UK & Other Memorials
Not on the Cheshunt Memorials, Not on the Waltham Cross Memorials
Pre War
Harry Davies was born in 1872, in Birmingham, Warwickshire, son of Sarah Davies.
No Census record for 1881, 1891, or 1901 were found for Harry.
Harry enlisted for 7 years with the Colours and 5 years in the Reserve, in January 1894, in Birmingham, giving his age as 23 years & 2 months, his occupation a Fitter Turner, joining the Royal Engineers as Sapper Harry Davies issued with the service number 27960. He served in the UK until January 1897, when he went to Egypt with his Regiment, returning home to the UK in July 1899.
While back in the UK Harry married Jane Nightingale in August 1899, in the Parish Church, Waltham Cross, Herts. They went on to have four children, Harry Jr. (B 1900), Owen (B 1903), Edward (B 1910), and Ada Nightingale Davies (B 1911).
In January 1900, Harry and his Regiment were sent to South Africa, and promoted to Lance Corporal, in September 1900, he was promoted to Corporal. He served in South Africa until October 1901, when he was discharged as his term of engagement was up, he returned to the UK.
Harry was awarded the Sudan 1898 Medal, The Queens South Africa Medal with four clasps.
1901 Census records Jane and 8-month-old Harry Jr. living with Janes parents, Edward and Elizabeth Wellstead, at 27 Alexander Road, Cheshunt, Herts.
1911 Census records Harry (39) married to Jane, they have two of their children Owen (7), and Edward (1), living with them, at 42 Wollard Street, Waltham Abbey, Essex, Harry is back working as a Fitter turner at the Electric Lamp Factory.
Wartime Service
At the outbreak of war Harry enlisted at Walthamstow, Essex, in September 1914, for 1 year or the duration of the war and posted to the Lincolnshire Regiment and issued with the service number 3/9408. He gave his age as 42 years & 10 months, his occupation a Fitter Turner. He was posted to the 3rd Battalion, a training Battalion stationed at Grimsby, Lincs, appointed Acting Corporal in late September and Sergeant on 3rd December 1914. Posted to the 2nd Battalion on 4th December 1914 and sent to France. Seeing service on the Western Front he was Killed in action just 156 days later on 8th February 1915, aged 42. He is buried in the Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleubaix, Pas de Calais, France. Grave Ref; III. B. 14.
1921 Census records, his widow Jane, son's Harry Jr. (20), Owen (17), Edward (11) and daughter Ada (9), living at 135 Eleanor Cross Road, Waltham Cross, Herts.
Additional Information
Jane received a widow’s pension of 26/- (£1-06-00) a week from 30th August 1915, and his effects of £1-18s-02d, pay owing and his war gratuity of £6.
His headstone inscription “KEPT BY THE POWER OF GOD” was requested by his widow Jane Davies.
Both his service records are available on the internet at, Find My Past and Ancestry UK.
Acknowledgments
Stuart Osborne
