David Davies, Age 41

Private ,2894, 57th Australian Imperial Force.

David's link to Dawley is tenuous; He was the son of Mr Davies of Lower Brithdor Farm, Berriew and had for many years been a butcher at Church Street, Welshpool.

He had gone to live in Australia a few years before the war where he had enlisted on 9th December 1915. He embarked for France on the 3rd November 1916 from Sydney on Ship No.19 (H.M.A.T Afric) and arrived in England in the January of 1917 and from there was drafted to France in March.

His wife according to his will was resident at the Old Red Lion Pub at Dawley Bank, what connection she had with Dawley is unknown, but in July of 1917 their 14 year son, Harold was killed whilst working as a crane cleaner at the Priors lee steel works apparently he had been underneath the machinery when it had started, badly crushing his legs from the effects of which he died, Harold was buried at Malinslee.

David was killed in action on the 25th September 1917 in the Ypres Salient during the 3rd battle of Ypres (Passchendaele) and his body never recovered, His name is recorded on the Menin Gate.

As with all men who served with the Australians and for that matter the Canadians their service records are easily researchable and intact unlike the British records which were in the main part destroyed during the London Blitz. Shown below are just some of the documents available, as you will see the Australians held enquiries into their casualties to confirm what had happened.

Extra Notes:
Alice Louis Davies, Maiden name Roberts, was born at Mossey Green, her father James was the inn keeper of the Old Red Lion Inn, Dawley Bank, and after he’s death her mother Diana tuck over the pub, I don’t know how Alice met David Davies but in 1901 she was working as a Servant at an hotel in Aberdare, Glamorgan, and David had a butchers shop at 3, Church street, Welshpool, on the 25th Feb 1902 David and Alice got married at Malinslee, David’s father was Thomas Davies and he’s mother was Catherine.

Enlistment form.

Commonwealth War Graves
David's commemorated Ypres (Menin Gate)

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Victory Medal	British War Medal	1914-15 Star Medal