In the 1901 census, Frederick George Davies was living with his family at 2, Garnet Street, Hanley, Staffordshire. The head of the household was also named Frederick George, 36 , a Steel Smelter, who had been born in Chester, Cheshire. His wife Annie E. Davies 36 had been born in Wrexham, Denbighshire. Their listed children were James Taylor Davies 10, Albert E. 8, Mary A 5, Frederick George 2 and Maggie was 1 month old. There was a boarder living there as well, Esther McHutcheon, a widow aged 44.
The mother, Annie Elizabeth died in 1907 Frederick George senior remarried in 1910 an Ellen Guest. There was another child born – Albert.
By the 1911 census the family was living at 4, New Street, Pentre, Hawarden, Frederick George Senior 47 was a Sheet Roller. He stated on the census form that he had 10 children born who had survived, but 3 had died. The form states too that he had remarried the year previously. His new wife Ellen was 38 and had been born in Flintshire. The children in the household were listed as James Taylor 19 a Sheet Roller like his father. Fred George was 12 and at school. Maggie was 10, William E 8, Annie 4 and Ellen’s son Albert was 2 months old.
UK, Soldiers Who Died in the Great War, 1914-1919 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms the regimental details above left and that he was born in Old Stanton, Staffordshire and enlisted in Mold. His medal card, also on ‘ancestry’ details his medal entitlement.
Frederick’s Army Service Records survive and are accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk
Frederick enlisted in January 1917 and began his military career in a Training Reserve battalion. He attested on the 5th March 1917 at Wrexham. He gave his address a 4 New Houses Pentre, Hawarden. He was 17 years and 11 months old and his trade was ‘labourer’. He named his father as his next of kin. He was 5 ft 4ins tall and his chest measures 32 inches with a range of expansion of 2 inches. His religion was Methodist.
He had a few brushes with authority as can be seen on a Conduct Sheet in his records. Whilst at Kinmel camp on the 28th July 1917 he was Confined to Barracks for 5 days for ‘Not complying with an order’. Then in Gongh Barracks on the 3rd January 1918 he was deprived of 21 days pay for ‘Overstaying leave from Tattoo by 113 hours’
I am so glad he had a little fun before he went overseas.
He left for France on the 18th January 1918 and arrived in Rouen on the 23rd. He joined his regiment in the field on the 29th January 1918 and on the 16th February, he was first ‘missing’ and then deemed to have been killed in action that day.
UK, Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects, 1901-1929 in which the army calculated what moneys were owed to deceased soldiers, includes an entry for Frederick George Davies. It tells us that the Sole Legatee was his father Frederick G. Who received £3 15s 3d on the 7th June 1918 and his War Gratuity of £3 on the 4th December 1919.
A family grave in St Deniol’s Churchyard , Hawarden includes the following inscription.
In Loving memory of
Anne Eliza Davies who Died Jan 7th 1907 aged 43 years.
Also
Frederick George Davies
Killed in France Feb 18 1918
Aged 18 yrs.
(There is a discrepancy of two days on the grave inscription above, but his Army Service records seem to confirm his death date).
Frederick was remembered on the Queensferry School Plaque in the Queensferry War Memorial Institute.
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