There is an Edwin DAVIES, Pte., R.W.F. on the Saltney Ferry War Memorial and an Edward DAVIES on the Saltney War Memorial, both now housed in the St. Mark’s Church, Saltney. The Clwyd Family History Society have Edward DAVIES on Saltney having been in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry and gives his Regtl. No. as 6387, however I do not know where they got this information from, but an Edward DAVIES with these credentials did indeed die on the 25th May 1915, 6 days after arriving on the battlefront.
Working on the theory that Edwin could have had his name miss-spelt and that he could have changed regiments, and as I am unable to find any of his Attestation Papers for the latter or Edwin, I am recording his story as he does need to be remembered if he was or was not the right man.
There is no Flintshire WW1 Index Card for an Edwin DAVIES, and the only information on the Saltney Ferry Memorial is that he was in the R.W.F. However, the only Index card that might prove to be his is this one. Was it another case of the wrong name being painted or engraved onto a War Memorial, as there has been a few:-
Saltney Ferry, F8
Davies, Edward, 2, Shepherd’s Row, Stone Bridge* 6387, Shropshire K.S.L.I. Period of Service 18 years. Killed in Action 25th May 1915 Card signed by M.A. Davies.
* Stone Bridge was in Saltney.
Commonwealth War Graves Commission additional Information: Son of the late William and Mary Ann Davies. Served in the South African Campaign.
This Edward Davies was born circa 1883 in Saltney, the son of William & Mary A, Davies, who on the 1891 census was living at 11, Curzon St., Chester (St. Mary-without-the-Walls), William Davies, 44, a Chainmaker’s Labourer and his son Thomas, 17 a Blacksmith’s Labourer had both been born in New Bridge, Glamorganshire. William’s wife Mary Ann, 45 had been born in Old Hill, Staffordshire. Daughter Sarah Ann, 15 and Edward, 8 had been both born in Saltney, Cheshire.
Edward’s family were living there on the 1881 census before Edward was born. William, 34, was a Striker, probably for a Blacksmith, Mary Ann was 34 years old. Son Thomas, 7 and Sarah Ann, 5, made up the family.
I cannot find any trace of the family after that, and as stated on his Flintshire WW1 Index Card he had been in the Army for 18 years and had served in the South African Campaign. The card was signed by an M.A. DAVIES, circa 1919/20, was this his mother?
According to the UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 on Ancestry, he was born and resided in Saltney, but I cannot find any census entries for him other than the 1891 one, and on the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929, the War the Gratuity of £5.0s. 0d and Credits £11. 8s 8d was “Unissued” This leads me to the conclusion there was no family left, as any money goes to a Legatee, usually the wife or parents, or had Mary Ann Davies moved and did not receive notifications?
Edward Davies in the British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920 confirms regimental details above and also tells us that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 19th May 1915, meaning he died 6 days later, bless him. On the reverse of the medal card was written ” O i/c Recs. Requests insti. Re disposal of medals d/ 1st January 1921.” So no-one asked for his medals either.
However, someone, somewhere loved him enough to put his name forward to be added to the Memorial, so we can bless them for that.
Any help to add to Edward’s story would be gratefully appreciated.