Walter Benedictus Davey was the child of quite elderly parents George B and Mary Davey. In 1901, 7 year old Walter was living in Duck Street (now Duke Street) with his parents and on the night of the census they had a visitor (Walter’s cousin Herbert was up from Devon). Walter’s father George was listed as a horse feeder but in the previous census he had been a coal miner.

The next census of 1911 records the family still in Duck Street, Sychdyn. George B Davey, head of the household was 66 and described himself as a ‘Mole Catcher’ who had been born in Yarcombe, Devon. His wife of 35 years, was Mary. She had been born in Rhosesmor. She had given birth to 5 children, two of whom failed to survive. The only ‘child’ listed at home on census night was 17 year old Walter Davey who was a Labourer in the Coal Pit. There was a 29 year old boarder in residence – also a Labourer in the Coalpit.

UK Soldiers Who Died in The Great War 1914-19 accessible on www.ancestry.co.uk confirms Walter’s Regimental details as at the top of this page. It says that he was born in Soughton and had enlisted in Mold. This source tells us he was killed in action at Ypres. he was the first to die from Sychdyn. His medal card also on Ancestry lists his three medals and adds that his first Theatre of War was France and he entered it on the 27th September 1915.

Walter joined the army on 5th September 1914 and served in France from the 27th September 1915. The Register of Soldier’s Effects in which the army calculated monies owed to deceased soldiers includes an entry for Walter. The £8..13sh..11d that was owed was paid to his father George Benedictus Davey.