Charles was the son of John & Mary Davies of Ewloe. In order to put Charles’s story into the context of his large family, we need to look at the census of 1881 – before his birth and then the 1891 census.
In 1881 the family was living in Reynold’s Houses in Hawarden. Head of the household, John Davies was a 35 year old labourer in the Ironworks. His wife Mary was 32. Their listed children then were William 11, John 9, Elizabeth 7, Walter 5 and Frank 2. (Elizabeth became an important figure in Charles’s life).
In 1891 the family lived in Ewloe. John Davies 45 was a Coalminer. Mary was 41. The children listed in the household were John 19 Walter 14, Frank 11, Jessie 8, Samuel 6, Hedley 4 and Thomas 1. (Hedley Davies also lost his life in WW1 and has his own page on this website. Follow the link) (Frank Davies also lost his life in WW1 and is remembered on the Gwersyllt War Memorial. He was living in Gwersyllt with his wife and family and is buried in Gwersyllt Churchyard).
Charles was born on the 26th December 1891 and registered in Hawarden in1892. His Baptism was on the 24th March 1892.
The mother Mary died in February 1895. Charles was no more than 3 and a half years old. Mary was buried at Hawarden on the 11th February 1895. That same year, her daughter Elizabeth married a Thomas Wainwright.
The 1901 census recorded a Wainwright family living in Ewloe, Hawarden. Head of the household was Thomas, 28, a Coal Miner (Hewer). His wife Elizabeth was 26. Their listed children were Edward J 5, Mary R 4 and Eugenia 2. Also in the household were Elizabeth’s father John Davies, a widower, who was 58 and was a Gardener and her brother Charles who was 9. Charles was to suffer the death of his sister Elizabeth in 1908. Thomas Wainwright remarried about 1 year later. He married a Mary E Wyatt in a civil ceremony in 1909 in Hawarden.
The census of 1911 records Thomas Wainwright aged 35, still a coalminer/hewer living with his wife of 2 years Mary Elizabeth wainwright 34, at Chapel Row, Ewloe. The listed children were all from Thomas’s first marriage. Mary Elizabeth was 14 and was a domestic servant. Edward John was 15 and he worked as a ‘Scrap boy’ at the Ironworks. Eugine was 12 and Thomas Albert was 7. Also listed , still in this household was Charles Davies – brother in law. He was then 19 years old and was a Coal miner haulage worker. ( Edward John Wainwright also lost his life in the Great War, please click on the link to reads his story).
UK, Soldiers Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details above left and tells us that Charles resided in Ewloe Green and enlisted in Buckley. Charles’s Medal card also on ‘ancestry’ details his medals and adds that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on 2nd December 1915.
There is an index card for Charles in the Flintshire Roll of Honour at The County Record Office in Hawarden. his address was given as Chapel Row and the card was signed by Thomas Wainwright on the 16th October 1919 the same day he signed his son Edward John’s card. (He seems to have made a mistake with Charles ‘regimental number as it doesn’t match up with other records.
Charles is remembered on the family gravestone
In Loving Memory of Elizabeth,
beloved wife of Thomas Wainwright of Ewloe
who died January 30th 1908 aged 33 years.
“Safe in the arms of Jesus”.
Also Pte. E.J. Wainwright 10th Batt. R.W.F.
son of the above, who died of wounds
Feb 5th 1917 aged 21 years.
Also Pte. C. Davies 14th Batt R.W.F.
Killed in France May 6th 1916 aged 24 years.*
*Charles is also remembered on the Imperial War Museum – Memorial Project –
Inscription
Pte C Davies 14th batt RWF Killed in France May 6th 1916 aged 24 years. We have fought the good fight.
This family paid a very high price for WW1. Brothers Charles, Hedley and Frank Davies and their cousin Edward John wainwright all died.
