Photos of cemeteries in France & NEA taken by Derek Parker, DDTS – June 2011: Faubourg d’Amiens Cemetery, Arras

The reason I starting looking for Arthur was because of an entry in the Monumental Inscription book for graves in Hawarden Churchyard, if he was local, as I believed him to be, then he should be on a local memorial, but I cannot find his mention anywhere locally after 1911.

Monumental Inscriptions for Hawarden – Vol.11 Lovelock shows the gravestone inscription below:-

Page 52 DAVIES – Q6 Stone Cross on stepped base and with kerbs, Lead Lettering.

“Alice Phillips Davies, born May 30th 1898, Died November 14th 1898.

Arthur Davies, born April 15th 1859, Died September 1st 1927. South:-

Elizabeth wife of the above, born 30th December 1865, Died July 12th 1928.”

Q7 At the foot of Q6, with Lead lettering, In Loving Memory of Arthur H. DAVIES, died of wounds, France 8th May 1917 age 26 years.

The above is also recorded on the Imperial War Museum – Memorials Website – http://www.iwm.org.uk/memorials/item/memorial/60256-

The family obviously came back to Hawarden for Arthur and Elizabeth to be buried there, and also with their lost child – Alice Phillips Davies, she was the child who is referred to in the 1911 census.

The 1901 census show the family living at North Terrace, Hawarden, Flintshire (all family spoke only English).   Head of the household was Arthur Davies, 35 a Joiner & Builder on his own account and had been born in Newport, Monmouthshire.   His wife Elizabeth (nee Walmsley), 35, had been born in Golborne, Lancashire. They had married in a Civil Marriage (or Registrar Attended) in Chester in 1888 (Cheshire West ROC/23/180).   Their eldest son Rees Walmsley Davies, 11 and 2nd son Arthur H. Davies, 9, and daughter Dorothy Mary Davies, 8, had all been born in Chester.   Sons Garth W., 6, and Henry W., 1 had been born in Hawarden, as had daughter Erica M. Davies, 5.

Arthur was on the 1911 census living at 6, Warrington Road, Prescot, Lancashire. (7 Rooms) as the family had all moved there between the censuses.   Arthur Davies, 52 and now a Joiner Foreman in a Joinery Works tell us that he had been married 22 years.   His wife Elizabeth, 45 tells us that 10 children had been born to them and sadly 1 had died.   Arthur Henry Davies, 19 was an Apprentice Joiner, daughter Dorothy Mary Davies, 18, single and a Lamp Cleaner Packer (Electric Clock? Works). Daughter Erica Margaret, 15, Henry Walmsley, 11 and Alice Ann, 9 had been born in Hawarden.   Daughter Ethel Elizabeth, 7 and son Oswald Hugh, 5 had been born in Prescot.

There are 2 births registered in Hawarden that could be the baby who died – is “our” Alice Phillips Davies, possibly the 1st one (HAW/44/90) the name on that is “Alice F.” so did the registrar take Philips with an “F”, the other birth was for just “Alice” (HAW/44/77).   The death entry is for an Alice P. Davies (HAW/27/48) and is possibly the correct death as it is the only one with “P” in the name and also the only Alice Davies that year who died.

Commonwealth War Graves Commission additional Information for DAVIES, A H B – Husband of Hilda Davies, of 1, Portico Buildings, St. Helens, Lancs.(My note – On the Grave Registration Documents, (Finals) He is listed as having died on the 8th March 1917, this is different to what is on the Register, which says the 8th May 1917, and gives his initials as H.H. While on the Grave Registration Documents – Registers, his initials are – A.H.B.)

There is no Flintshire WW1 Index Card, neither “Fallen” nor “Living” for Arthur that I can find.

However I have found that he is on the Prescot Roll of Honour, please click on the link to read more of his story, with special thanks for Stephen Nulty for permission to use his website to help tell Arthur’s story and for the work he has done.

Prescot Roll of Honour:-

http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/casualty-92-Arthur_Henry_Davies.html

He is also remembered on the St. Helen’s Roll of Honour:-

http://www.sthelensrollsofhonour.co.uk/casualty-3276-Arthur_Henry_Davies.html

Arthur is also remembered in Prescot: on the Methodist Church Memorial, Prescot :-

http://prescot-rollofhonour.info/methodist_church_memorial 

Courtesy of the Methodist Church Memorial, Prescot – Website:- http://www.prescot-rollofhonour.info/casualty-92-Arthur_Henry_Davies.html   –   Many thanks to them.

Sapper 167769 Arthur Henry Davies

Arthur Henry Davies attested for military service on 10th December 1915 at St. Helens. However, he was only actually posted on 9th May 1916, to the Royal Engineers. He was classed as a ‘Qualified’ soldier, working as a Carpenter.

At the time he was single, aged 24 years and 8 months, lived at 6, Warrington Road, Prescot and worked as a Master Joiner. He stood 5 foot 9 inches in height, weighed 10 stones 5 pounds and had a chest measurement of 35 inches, expandable by 1 1/2 inches. His next of kin was listed as his mother Elizabeth, of the same address. A second attestation sheet exists, and on this one he records his marriage to Hilda Simms at the Wesleyan Chapel in Prescot on 12th August 1916, thereby making her his next of kin.

He embarked for France on 11th November 1916.

His records show that he joined his unit, the 87th Field Company, on 7th December 1916. He was admitted to hospital on 4th January 1917, rejoining his unit 3 days later. The next entry shows that he was wounded on 8th May 1917, and that he died the same from the wounds received.
Note – There is an A. DAVIES on the Connah’s Quay and Shotton Cenotaph, but I have been unable to find any information on him, I wonder did the family miss having Arthur’s name added to the Hawarden War Memorial and added his name on the Connah’s Quay and Shotton Cenotaph, which was unveiled in 1927?   Just a thought.   Any help on this A. DAVIES would be gratefully received.