Arthur first appears on a census in 1901. He lived with his family at Hendre, near Rhdymwyn. The family comprised father John Davies37 a lead miner, mother Margaret 32,Arthur Raymond 6 (born in Huyton, Lancs) and Rhoda A 2.
Ten years later in the 1911 census the family had moved to 2 Cestrian Street, Connah’s Quay. Father John was then 49 and by then was an insurance broker (born Cilcain) Mother, Margaret was 42 had been born in Llanasa,Arthur Raymond was 16 and an iron worker, Rhoda Annie was 12 and a scholar (born in Cilcain). Living with them was John’s widowed mother Ann Davies.
There is a card for Arthur in the Flintshire Roll of Honour in the County archive Office at Hawarden. It gives the address 106 High Street Connah’s Quay and the regimental details as above. It says that he served from May 1916 was ‘appointed stretcher’ was killed in action at Ypres. The card was signed by John Davies, his father.
British Army WWI Medal Rolls Index Cards, 1914-1920about Arthur Davies does not tell us where his first Theatre of War was nor when he entered it.
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919about Arthur Raymond Davies confirms his regimental details above and tells us he enlisted in Connah’s Quay.
Arthur Davies in the UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 tells us that the sole Legatee was his father John who was paid £5. 2 s 11ds on the 22nd November 1917 and his War Gratuity of £4.10s 0d on the 10th November 1919 and on the 10th December 1917. Some small amounts were mentioned (i.e. 3/7d and 7/4d) but I don’t know why or to whom they went.
In the County Herald dated 14th September 1917 a List of Casualties was published and Arthur Raymond was among the men who were named as having been killed – Welsh Regiment – Davies 53954. A. (Connah’s Quay)
Arthur’s grave in the Welsh Cemetery known as Ceasar’s Nose. This very small cemetery was at a battle site close to Ypres. When E & V Williams took the photograph below, all the surrounding fields were ploughed and crops of potatoes, onions and beans had been harvested. There were rusty relics at the side of the fields – barbed wire and two old shells Now the cemetery is overlooked by 8 large wind turbines. 9th October 2013
When farmers turn up relics like these artillery shells as they plough their fields they put them at the edges and they are collected by specialised bomb disposal units who dispose of them. Some are very dangerous indeed, containing explosives or deadly gas. Many shells failed to explode as they just sank into the soft Flanders mud.
