Trooper William J Davies
by Alec Humphrey & Alan Rowe
Embedded Files
In May 2016, the St Peter's ringers received a message from the custodian of the Rolls of Honour kept by the Central Council of Church Bell Ringers. The rolls, which are kept in St Paul's Cathedral, commemorate those ringers who fell in the Great War 1914 - 1918 and the 1939 - 1945 War. This message brought the story of William John Davies to light.
William's parents were Joseph and Louisa Davies (nee Smith) from Coppenhall on the outskirts of Crewe. The 1891 census shows Joseph living with his parents at 36 Church Street, and that he was an apprentice engine fitter (presumably for the London and North Western Railway which had its locomotive works in Crewe). Louisa is shown as living at the rectory, where she was employed as a domestic servant. Other entries in the the census indicate that her parents were farmers in the area.
1891 Census - Louisa Smith
1891 Census - Joseph Davies
Joseph and Louisa married at St Paul's church in Crewe on the 3rd July, 1893, by which time they were living at 50 Newdigate Street. William was born on the 18th October, 1893, and was baptised at St Paul's on the 31st December that year, by which time they had moved to 40 Alfred Street. The birth certificate gives Joseph's occupation as 'Railway Engine Fitter', so he had presumably finished his apprenticeship by this time. Joseph's father was named William and Louisa's father was named John, which may well have influenced the choice of names for their son.
Marriage Certificate - Joseph Davies & Louisa Smith
Birth Certificate - William Davies
Baptism Register - William Davies
Reports in the Bell News shows that Joseph Davies was a bellringer. The earliest record that we have found of his ringing career is in a report of a Crewe Society outing to Macclesfield on the 14th October, 1893. He is mentioned in several other ringing events over the next few years including becoming auditor of the Crewe Branch of the Chester Diocesan Guild on the 18th January 1896. His first peal was covering to Grandsire Triples at Christ Church, Crewe, on the 31st July, 1894.
The family moved to Derby in 1897: a footnote to some ringing at Crewe on 6th June 1897 says that "The above was rung as a farewell touch to Mr J Davies, who is leaving Crewe for Derby, the ringers wishing him well in his new capacity." Joseph appears to have retained links with the area, ringing quarter peals in Crewe during 1900 and 1901.
The 1901 census shows Joseph, Louisa and William living at 3, Colombo Street, Derby, and that Joseph is still working as a Steam Engine Fitter.
1901 Census - Joseph, Louisa & William Davies
When the family arrived in Derby, ringing at St Peter's was not an option for Joseph. The west end of the church was largely rebuilt in a restoration project starting in 1896, and the new tower was not completed until 1900. Joseph joined the St Peter's band during 1903. The early annual meetings of the new band are recorded in the tower minute book, and an additional note to the 1903 AGM records that "Messrs J Davies and G Thompson were appointed official ringers on Oct 13th." At the time the band consisted of a fixed number of 'official' ringers and Joseph had been able to join due to other members resigning: the Easter 1904 minutes record that "The secretary reported Messrs Basson and Tomlinson resigned from August 1903, and that the vacant places had been filled by Messrs J Davies and G Thompson." Later meetings record Joseph being elected as tower captain at the 1905 AGM but resigning during the year due to "the unavoidable absence of the captain on practice nights".
Joseph rang four peals at St Peters, all of which are recorded on peal boards in the tower. The first of these was in 1908. He became vice-captain in 1909 and was re-elected as captain in 1910 AGM. Later that year he left Derby to work in Nigeria, and a special meeting was held on the 9th October 1910 “Owing to Mr J Davies (Captain) leaving for West Africa."
Joseph was back in Derby at the time of the census on the 2nd April, 1911. All of the family were then living at 855 London Road, Joseph was again working as an Engine Fitter and William's occupation was given as an Office Clerk. This was the first census in which the forms were completed by an occupant rather than an enumerator, and it was Louisa Davies who completed the form. While she noted that Joseph's work was with a railway company, William's occupation is stated as being with a general engineering company, so it seems that he did not follow his father in working for the railway.
1911 Census - Joseph, Louisa & William Davies
Joseph returned to Nigeria on more than one occasion, and it seems likely that Louisa and William remained in Derby while he was there. An entry on a passenger list shows a 'J Davies' with an occupation of 'Fitter' travelling from Liverpool on the 27th September, 1911, to Forcados in Nigeria. but without any accompanying family. This was aboard the RMS Tarquah, a ship with the Elder Dempster Line, sunk by a torpedo in 1917. Several other passengers on the same sailing as Joseph also had occupations related to railway work, such as 'Locomotive Driver' and 'Platelayer'.
RMS Tarquah Passenger List
While Joseph does not appear in the tower minute books as an 'official' ringer again, he rang a peal at St Peter's on the 7th June, 1911. He rang peals at Duffield and Long Eaton during August 1912, one of these having a footnote "Arranged for Jos. Davies who is home for a holiday from Northern Nigeria, West Africa." The Bell News at that time also recorded that "Mr Jos. Davies is spending a well-earned holiday (home from Northern Nigeria) and is getting in some ringing practice." He next appears in February 1914, ringing in a peal at Duffield.
Like his father, William Davies also became a ringer at St Peter's. He is recorded as being present at the 1911 AGM, although not as a full member of the band. He rang a quarter peal at St Peter's on the 5th November, 1911, this being a birthday compliment to his father who was back in Nigeria at the time. He rang his first peal on 11th December, 1911, at St Peter's, being elected to membership of the Midland Counties Association prior to the peal.
William is is again mentioned in the minute books as being present at the 1912 and 1913 meetings. The 1912 meeting includes a note that "The vicar & Mr Chambers agreed to F.W.Stone, A.B.Stone & W. Davies being appointed Official Ringers." The 'Mr Chambers' referred to was the churchwarden Alderman Robert Baker Chambers, a former mayor of Derby and president of the Midland Counties Association of Change Ringers from 1919 to 1929.
The minute books also include details of a quarter peal which included William. This was rung at St Peter's on the 22nd May, 1913, and was rung in memory of Sir Edwin Ann, another long-standing churchwarden at St Peter's.
William rang at least two more peals, within a few days of each other in 1913. One of these was at Alvaston, on the outskirts of Derby, and the other at St Peters.
William rang two more quarter peals, later in 1913. These were at St Peter's and also included his father, presumably on a visit home from Nigeria. These are the only records that we have found of the two of them ringing in either a peal or quarter together.
From the Derby Daily Telegraph, 9th October 1913
BELL RINGING AT ST PETER’S
On Sunday evening last for divine service eight members of the Midland Counties Association of Change Ringers rang a quarter peal of grandsire triples (1,260 changes) in 47 minutes, standing as below: a A B Stone treble, W Davies 2, J Davies 3, F W Stone 4, Wm Poyser 5, W Holbrook 6, H Fletcher 7, b Jos Haynes tenor, being conducted by H Fletcher. a First quarter peal with a bob bell. b First quarter peal.
BELL RINGING AT ST PETER’S
On Sunday evening last for divine service eight members of the Midland Counties Association of Change Ringers rang a quarter peal of grandsire triples (1,260 changes) in 47 minutes, standing as below: a A B Stone treble, W Davies 2, J Davies 3, F W Stone 4, Wm Poyser 5, W Holbrook 6, H Fletcher 7, b Jos Haynes tenor, being conducted by H Fletcher. a First quarter peal with a bob bell. b First quarter peal.
Early in the war, Lord Kitchener founded a new regiment of Hussars, with barracks at the Curragh, Dublin. The then superintendent of the Midland Railway's Stores Department was Major Lincoln Sandwith, previously of the 8th Hussars, and still a reserve officer. He was mobilised for duty and began recruiting men from the Midland Railway's office staff to join this regiment . Some 120 clerks from the Midland Railway answered the call, and they were joined by a number from other employers in the town. This included William Davies who was then working in the Weights and Measures department.
On Sunday 1st September 1914, about 165 men recruited by Major Sandwith left Derby by train for Heysham, then travelling by sea to Dublin. A second group left a week later. Once in Dublin, William enlisted in the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars. This regiment, which was based in the city, was one of the Light Brigade regiments that had charged the Russian guns at Balaclava, and was also one into which Winston Churchill was commissioned in 1895. In August 1914 the regiment had been moved to France as part of the British Expeditionary Force and by 13th September it was transferred to the 2nd Cavalry Division. The regiment did not leave France until the end of the war.
Two local newspaper articles describing Major Sandwith's recruiting efforts can be seen here.
Since he was a private soldier in a regiment of Hussars, William would usually have been referred to by the army as 'Trooper Davies' rather than 'Private Davies'. His army number was 13284 and his medal card shows that he entered the theatre of war on the 17th October 1915. The regimental war diary has no mention of new arrivals on that day, but does refer to 100 'other ranks' arriving from England a few days later, on the 21st October 1915.
Medal Card
Regimental War Diary
William Davies was killed in action in June 1916, less than eight months after arriving in France, and when still only twenty-two years of age. The regimental diary notes his death in the entry dated 12th June, but later documents relating to his burial give the date as the 11th June, and this is the date recorded on his gravestone (he is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, Belgium). The diary also appears to refer to him using the initial 'J' from his middle name rather than 'W', but it is his correct army number that is given.
Regimental War Diary
Grave Registration Report
After the war William was posthumously awarded the 1914/15 Star, the War Medal and the Victory medal. These three medals were commonly referred to as 'Pip, Squeak and Wilfred'. His medal card notes that he was also awarded the latter two medals under the name 'John Davies' and that these incorrect entries had been deleted. It may be that he tended to use his middle name, which would also explain the use of that initial in the regimental diary entry.
Medal Card
William's parents moved to Kidderminster in 1919, and we have not found any records of Joseph ringing in Derby again. He rang several peals and quarter peals in the Kidderminster area over the following years, and also rang for the opening of the Kidderminster war memorial on the 22nd October 1922. He rang a peal back at Crewe on the 26th December 1922. The footnote records that it was 30 years since he last rang one at that tower. In fact his first peal was rung at that tower in 1894, suggesting that either his record-keeping or his mathematics might not have been up to scratch!
Joseph Davies died at Kidderminster on the 8th April, 1937, aged 64, and was buried in Coppenhall, Crewe, on the 12th April. His obituary in the Ringing World states that he had also lived in Loughborough before going to Kidderminster but we have found no details of this. Despite the obituary giving him a peal total of 49, a peal at Halesowen on the 2nd August, 1924, had previously been claimed as his 50th, and he rang at least one after that.
Louisa Davies died on the 3rd July, 1949, aged 82. She is buried with Joseph in Coppenhall Cemetery, Crewe.
It seems unlikely that Joseph and Louisa had any children other than William. His grave registration document states that he was an only son, and we have found no mention of a daughter in any other records.
Memorials
Memorials
William Davies is buried in Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3, Belgium, plot 14, row A, grave 11.
Voormezeele Enclosure No. 3Reproduced by kind permission of Steve Rogers
of the War Graves Photographic Project
of the War Graves Photographic Project
William Davies' GraveReproduced by kind permission of Steve Rogers
of the War Graves Photographic Project
of the War Graves Photographic Project
The inscription on the gravestone reads:
13284 Private W. J. Davies
4th (Q.O.) Hussars
11th June 1916 age 22
Though lost to sight to memory ever dear
The headstone inscription document shows that the quotation was chosen by William's mother The source is not certain, but it is similar to the titles of poems by Ruthven Jenkyns and William Barnes.
Headstone Inscription Details
William is commemorated on the Commonwealth War Graves Commission website. The relevant entry can be seen here.
The following documents related to William can be downloaded from that website:
CWGC Commemorative Certificate
William is also commemorated on his parent's gravestone in Coppenhall Cemetery, Crewe. The gravestone is inscribed:
Sacred to the memory of Joseph,
beloved husband of Louisa Davies,
who died April 8th 1937 aged 64 years.
Also of Louisa Davies
who died July 3rd 1949, aged 82 years.
And 13284 Pte. W. J. Davies,
4th (Q.O.) Hussars,
11th June 1916, aged 22 years.
Coppenhall CemeteryReproduced by kind permission of Sandra Rogers
of the War Graves Photographic Project
of the War Graves Photographic Project
Joseph and Louisa Davies' Grave, Coppenhall CemeteryReproduced by kind permission of Sandra Rogers
of the War Graves Photographic Project
of the War Graves Photographic Project
The last address that we have for William is 855 London Road in Derby. That is within the parish of St Osmund's church, but unusually that church does not have a war memorial. The vicar of St Osmund's suggested that that this is because the majority of those from the parish were railway employees and were commemorated on the Midland Railway memorial in Midland Road. However, his name does appear on the war memorial in St Peter's church.
St Peter's, Derby, War Memorial
St Peter's, Derby, War Memorial Detail
Having worked for the Weights and Measures Department, William will have worked for the local council. The war memorial in the Derby Council House includes an inscription for a 'Davies, W I'. The second initial does not match William's name, but such errors are not unknown, so this might refer to him.
Derby City Council War Memorial
A plaque commemorating William Davies was installed in the ringing room at St Peter's church during 2018. The plaque includes a 4th Hussars cap badge and miniature replicas of the three medals that he was posthumously awarded. It also includes the quotation selected by his mother for his gravestone.
Memorial Plaque in St Peter's Ringing Room
William Davies is commemorated in the Central Council of Church Bellringers Roll of Honour. The relevant entry is shown below, and additional details can be seen here.
CCCBR Roll of Honour
Commemorative Ringing
Commemorative Ringing
A muffled peal was rung at St Peter's in memory of "the late Earl Kitchener and other fallen heroes" on Saturday 17th June, but news of William's death had not reached Derby by that time. However, a muffled quarter peal in memory of William was rung at St Peter's by his fellow ringers on Sunday 25 June 1916.
On the 9th June, 1919, a peal of Stedman Triples was rung at St Peter’s, with the dedication 'an anniversary peal to the memory of late Trooper W. J Davies'. This included ringers from All Saints (now the cathedral), St Andrew's (demolished in the 1960’s) and St Peter's. The details were published in the Ringing World on the 20th June, 1919. While the footnote to this peal gives the date of his death as being the 10th June, 1916, this is probably an error as other documents all refer to the 11th June.
Five further muffled peals were rung at St Peter's in memory of William Davies, in 1920, 1921, 1922, 1923 and 1926.
On 10th June, 2016, the St Peter’s Ringers rang a quarter peal in memory of Trooper Davies on the middle six bells (a minor key, the Dorian mode).
On 1st July, 2016, a half-muffled quarter peal was rung at Derby Cathedral, which included a dedication to William Davies in its footnote.
Additional Notes
Additional Notes
On the 1st July, 2016, three weeks after the quarter peal at St Peter's to mark the centenary of William's death, a further quarter peal was rung, this time half-muffled, on the 100th anniversary of the first day of the Somme Offensive. This was the deadliest day in the history of the British military with over 57,000 casualties.
William's regiment, the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars, eventually merged with the Queen's Royal Hussars, the most senior armoured regiment in the British Army. More information can be found on their website or the at the regimental museum in Warwick.
As part of the Great War 100th anniversary commemorations, a ring of eight bells has been installed in the tower of St. George’s Memorial Church in Ypres, Belgium. Details can be seen here.
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