William Richard Davies, Machine Gun Corps

The 74th Company, MGC became part of 74th Brigade, 25th Division on 17 March 1916 at Chelers. The first quarter of 1917 was spent in the Ploegsteert sector. This was a relatively quiet time punctuated by frequent raids and minor operations.

Private Davies was born in Holyhead in 1897, the eldest son of William Hugh Davies and Elizabeth Jane Davies (nee Williams) of 2 Baker Street, Holyhead. His mother later lived at 27 Queens Park, Holyhead. He may have also resided at 11 Edmund Street, Holyhead. In 1901 he lived with his parents, two sisters, one brother, grandmother and two aunts at 1 Fairview, Holyhead. In 1911 the family lived at 14 Baker Street, Holyhead and comprised William Hugh Davies (47) - a Carpenter, Elizabeth Jane Davies (38), Mary (17), Annie (16), William (14), Owen (12), Hugh (10), Rosy (8) and George (1).

He enlisted in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham on 4 March 1916 (39736), having been previously employed as a Labourer. He was posted to France on 4 July 1916 and transferred to the 13th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (52037) on 4 September 1916. He joined the Machine Gun Corps on 2 January 1917. The Company War Diary records the unit at Ploegsteert, near Ypres during January 1917 experiencing very cold conditions including snow and heavy frost. On 22 January the enemy attacked on a 5 Division front after 4 hours of heavy bombardment. The war diary records four killed and three wounded from the company.

Awarded the Victory Medal and British War Medal.

Buried in the Berks Cemetery Extension, Belgium. Grave location I.M.25.

Photograph from British War Graves http://www.britishwargraves.co.uk/