David Owen Darley Davies was born in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire 6 February 1897. The family moved to Holywell, Flintshire during 1909 and resided at Wesley House, Llanasa, Holywell.
The 1911 census tells us that the head of the family was David Darley Davies aged 50 a Wesleyan Methodist Minister. His wife Mary Ellen Darley Davies aged 40 and their daughter Helen Myfanwy Darley Davies aged 9. David Owen Darley Davies was at that time attending Kingswood Wesleyan Public School, Landsdown Road, Bath and does appear on the 1911 England Census residing at that address. David left school aged 17 and began employment as a Bank Clerk with the London City and Midland Bank at their Flint Branch.
On 6 December 1915 aged 19 years 1 month, he enlisted at Flint, Flintshire as a Private with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. On enlistment he is described as 5′ 7″ tall, chest measurement 34″, extension 3″, physical development good and he is described as fit for military service. His Short Service Record (Attestation Certificate can be viewed on www.ancestry.co.uk) which shows that it was for the duration of the war. What is interesting to note is that the witness to his Attestation was James Ayer the father of Leonard Stuart Ayer who also appears on the Holywell War Memorial and was also employed as a Bank Clerk with the London City and Midland Bank.
He embarked for France at Southampton on Monday 11 December 1916 and later posted to Ypres, Belgium where he was killed in action on Friday 27 July 1917.
There is a copy of the first page of a letter written by his father, The Reverend David Daley Davies to the Military Authorities which reads :-
Ref No 12586/37611 – Wesley House, Holywell 18 August 1917.
Dear Sir, In reply to yours of the 14th I beg to say that I have received as reply to a wire, from the Headquarters of the Battalion that my boy was killed on the 28 July and that he is buried in a British Cemetery near Ypres. I shall be glad (1) To know that his death has been recorded by the War Office. (2) Also will you kindly let me know how his grave may be………………
On 7 January 1918 a payment of £4.19s.11d was made by the War Office to the Rev David Davies, this being monies owed to his son David. On 31 October 1919, a further payment which is recorded as a War Gratuity of £6.10s.0d was also made to him.
He is also remembered on the North Wales Heroes Memorial Arch, Deiniol Road, Bangor, Gwynedd, North Wales.
There is a Flintshire Roll of Honour card for David Owen Darley Davies at the County Archives Office, Hawarden, containing details of medals awarded.
