BORN – Oswestry
HOMEFRONT – Place / Occupation / St Oswald’s Church / WMLlanyblodwel
JOB – Blacksmith
UNIT – 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Lance-Corporal 24296
THEATRE – Arras / Monchy. 7 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 1-14 May 1917
DIED – 13 May 1917. Aged 27
BURIED – Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt. (CWGC)
Albert Davis (variously spelt as Davies / Davis – records suggest correct spelling is Davis) was born 14 December 1889 at Oswestry. He was baptised at St Oswald’s Church the following February. He was the third child and son of Frank and Jane Davis. His father was a calf skinner and shaver. His mother Jane would have 7 children, 2 of whom died young. His siblings were Charlie, Frankie, Eliza (died), Emily and Fred. The family lived at 1 Swan Crescent and later moved to 1 Castle Place, Chapel Street and by 1911 to 1 Vine Cottages, both on Albert Road. At this time he was working as a blacksmith and at the outbreak of war was employed at Oswestry Gas Works. Shortly after war was declared he married Rosa J Owen and they would move to live at 25 Lorne Street. They would have 2 daughters, possibly twins, Emily and Rosa, born in 1915.
Albert enlisted at Oswestry, probably in 1915. He joined the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, probably 9 bn and after training spent time at The Base Depot before being posted to 7 Bn KSLI. He went over to France, probably, in 1916 (he was not awarded the 1915 Star). He was KIA at Monchy during the latter stages of Third Battle of The Scarpe, Arras Offensive and is buried at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry. His widow, Jane, chose the headstone inscription ‘Rest in Peace’. She moved to Cefn Blodwel Cottages, Nantmawr after his death, hence Albert is also recorded on Llanyblodwel War Memorial.
NOTE: Date of Death – On CWGC Albert was listed as KIA on 30 May 1917. His obituary (Border Counties Advertiser 30 May 1917) and military records (Casualties WW1 & Soldier’s Effects) gives 13 May 1917. Following submission to CWGC his date of death has been amended to 13 May 1917. EMAIL FROM CWGC – Re: 24296 Lance Corporal ALBERT DAVIS, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
“Thank you for contacting the CWGC concerning an error in the date of death for Lance Corporal A Davis. We have now amended the date to 13 May 1917 but please allow 24 hours for the amendment to be visible on our public website.”
“Kind Regards, Records Team, ref:_00D24Kljz._50024w0UBW:ref”
Acknowledgements.
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