Name
Percy William Davis
Conflict
First World War
Date of Death / Age
27/01/1917
30
Rank, Service Number & Service Details
Private
33714
Border Regiment
1st Bn.
Awards: Service Medals/Honour Awards
British War and Victory medals
Cemetery/Memorial: Name/Reference/Country
THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Pier and Face 6 A and 7 C.
France
Headstone Inscription
Not Researched
UK & Other Memorials
Hitchin Town Memorial, St Mary's Church Roll of Honour, Hitchin, Not on the Great Offley Village memorials
Pre War
Son of George, who had been born in Offley in 1849, and Sarah who had been born in Preston in 1856. His parents' home in 1891 was Little Offley Cottage, Offley and at that time he had a sister Emily born in 1880, also a brother Reginald born in 1889 who also went to France. Percy was the husband of Florence Jane Davis, of 5, Chalkdell Terrace, Union Path, Hitchin, Herts. and they had four young children.
In 1911 he married Florence Jane TEBBET (b 29/3/1887), with the banns being read in Offley on 20th February. The census of that year records them living at 5 Chalk Dell Terrace, Union Path, Hitchin, Percy age 24 was a domestic gardener with wife Florence Jane (24).
They had four children: Emily Gertrude (b 14/6/1911), Elsie Elizabeth (b 28/9/1913), Edward George (b 20/9/1914) and William Reginald (B 7/2/1917) – born after Percy’s death.
Before enlisting he was employed by Hubert Moss at the Croft in Bancroft, Hitchin as a gardener. He had been born in Offley and was residing in Hitchin when he was called up into the army at Offley on the 14th October 1916.
Officially recorded as born in Offley, Herts., and enlisting in Hitchin, Herts.
Wartime Service
He was allocated the Regimental Number 178405 and posted to the Royal Field Artillery. Sometime later he was transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Border Regiment and given Regimental Number 33714. The 1st Border Regiment at the time was in the 87th Brigade of the 29th Division. He was sent to France on the 6th January 1917 and was killed in action at Le Transloy having initially been reported as missing. At the time of his death he was in 10 Platoon of ‘C’ Company.
From the 16th November 1916 the 1st Battalion had been in the Lesboeufs sector of the front south of the River Ancre and on the 27th January 1917 participated in a raid made on a sunken road near Le Transloy. For weeks a great frost had hardened the ground and constant fog assisted the British attack. The objective was achieved but the ground proved too hard to dig and, with enemy shellfire increasing, the British units retired to their former positions. It is most likely that Percy perished in this attack.
The British Red Cross & Order Of St John Enquiry List, Wounded & Missing, 1914-1919 records confirm that he reported missing or wounded 27/01/1917. Tragically, his wife and family had to wait for a long period with uncertainty as to his fate. Finally sometime around April 1918 news was released that he was presumed killed in January 1917. He had only arrived in France some three weeks before that date.
Additional Information
His brother Reginald was also in France.
There seem to be multiple 'In Memorium' notices placed in the newspaper. The latest one found was on January 1st, 1927 and it reads:
"DAVIS. - In loving memory of Percy William Davis, 1st Border Regt., posted as missing January 27, 1917.
And with the morn those Angel faces smile which we have loved long since and last a smile.
Which we have loved long since and lost awhile.
From his loving Wife and Children, Father and Mother, Sister and Brother."
Acknowledgments
Adrian Dunne, David C Baines, Adrian Pitts, Jonty Wild
