Percy James Davies was born in Trefonen, 3 miles South West of Oswestry, in 1895. He was the second youngest of the eight children of Evan and Ada Davies. Three of their children had died in infancy. Evan was from Kinnerley and in 1901 was a general labourer. Later, in 1911 he was a builder’s carter . At Trefonen they lived at Primitive Methodist Chapel Cottages and by 1911 had moved to Oswestry, where they were living at 39 Orchard Street. Percy started his working life as a confectioner’s errand boy but was later employed at Brynkinallt Colliery in Chirk.

Percy enlisted in Royal Welsh Fusiliers in September 1915 and saw service on the Somme, where he was wounded at High Wood or Flers Courselette. At some time later he was transferred to the Labour Corps – it is possible his transfer from a fighting unit to the Labour Corps. was as a result of his wound rendering not A fit. Percy survived the fighting and just before the Armistice was on home leave.

He died at home on 7 November 1918. It is probably that he died of Influenza given his weakened state due to his previous wound and general poor health on returning from the front, also the seemingly relative short duration of his illness. His obituary in the Border Counties Advertiser of 6 Dec 1918 states that he was the “…. The particulars of his death are very sad as he only came from France a few days prior to his death and at the time was awaiting discharge from the army.’ 

He was buried on Armistice Day, 11 November, at Oswestry Cemetery with full military honours, the firing party and buglers being provided from the Inniskilling Fusiliers stationed at Park hall Camp. The chief mourners were the father, sister, brothers. He is also commemorated at Holy Trinity Church, Oswestry.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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