Name
John Davies
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
14/07/1916
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Corporal
14406
King’s (Liverpool )
13th Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
1914 /15 Star, British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 1 D, 8 B and 8 C
France
Headstone Inscription
NA
UK & Other Memorials
Markyate Village Memorial,
St John The Baptist Church Memorial, Markyate
Pre War
John Davies was born in 1883 in Llandudno, Caernarvonshire, Wales to David Davies, a labourer and Jane (nee Roberts).
On the 1891 Census the family of parents, Evan (born 1882), John, Robert W (born 1879), Hugh (born 1886) and Thomas Charles (born 1888) were living at 43, Clifford Street, West Derby, Liverpool.
On the 1901 Census the family of parents, Mary,(born 1876), David (born 1878) Evan, John, Hugh, Thomas Charles, Robert W (born 1894) and Daniel (born 1897) were living at 17, Benedict Street, Bootle, Liverpool. John, Evan and father David were working as dock labourers.
John married Elizabeth Mailes of Markyate about Nov 1909 in West Derby, Liverpool. Elizabeth died in 1916 and her sister Ethel became guardian to the children John (born 12 Apr 1910), Robert William (born 22 Jun 1912), Elizabeth (born 12 Feb 1915).
On the 1911 Census John , Lizzie (Elizabeth) and son John (born 1911 were living at 7, Grosvenor Road, Walton, Liverpool. John’s parents together with Evan (dock checker), Thomas Charles (cotton foreman) and Robert William (Mill Clerk) were living at 17, Benedict Street, Bootle , Lancs.
Wartime Service
No Service record was found for John. He enlisted in King’s (Liverpool) Regiment as Private 14406 probably soon after the declaration of the Great War. After his training he was posted to 13th (Service) Battalion of the Regiment and went to France with them landing at Le Havre on 27 Sep 1915.as part of 76 Brigade, 25 Division. Soon after the the Brigade was transferred to 3rd Division and 13 Battalion were transferred to 8 Brigade of the Division, a process to mix experienced and inexperienced troops. At some time John was promoted to Corporal. In 1916 3rd Division were deployed to the Somme Sector from Ypres, taking part in the Battles of the Somme, Albert (1-13 Jul) and Bazentin (14-17 Jul). During this last action John was reported killed in action on 14 Jul while taking part in the night advance on Longueval (captured on 18 Jul). His remains were not recovered and he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme.
Extract from Battalion War Diary:
To Vignacourt (4/7), Bertangles (5/7), Lahoussoye (6/7), Morlancourt (7/7), trenches north of Carnoy (9/7). In attack at Bazentin-le Grand (14/7). Held captured positions until relieved (19/7) and to bivouacs east of Talus Boise. To Delville Wood (22/7). In action (23/7).
Additional Information
War Gratuity £9 10s and arrears of £4 2s 2d was paid to Ethel Mailes (sister in law and guaredian of John’s children).
Acknowledgments
Neil Cooper
Anne & Gordon Mead
