Joseph Harold Davies was born in 1889  in Oswestry, the seventh of the nine children of John and Martha Davies. The family lived at Croeswylan Cottage, 1 Weston Lane, Oswestry but by 1901 were living at 52 Upper Church Street. In 1891 his father was a printer/compositor but would later set up business with an older son as a butcher. Joseph joined them in the business as an apprentice but would later move to Liverpool and join the police and, by 1911, was a police constable in the City and living at 91 Empress Road in Kensington, Liverpool.

He enlisted in April 1915 joining 133 County Palatine Royal Garrison Artillery. The unit had been raised by Lord Derby as an artillery unit for the 30 Division, they were later designated 133 Heavy Battery RGA. The men mainly came from Liverpool and Lancashire towns. After training they went over to France on 26 May 1916 and served on the Western Front. There is no record of him ever being wounded but he did spend 3 spells in hospital suffering from Porphyria and athritis, He was granted leave from 21 October 1918 to 4 November 1918 and was visiting his married sister, Martha Benbow, in Northampton when he contracted Influenza which worsened to pneumonia.

He died 3 November 1918 at his sister’s house – ‘Cae Hendre’ 193 Avington Avenue, Northampton. He was buried in Oswestry Cemetery in his family’s grave – recently the gravestone fell down and broke in half and was re-set with his name ‘below ground’. Joseph is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

** On CWGC Joseph is listed as 33 Heavy Battery Garrison Artillery, there was no such unit and is most likely an error for 133 Heavy Battery RGA. This is borne out by his Attestation Form which has him joining 133 Heavy Battery. RGA

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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