David Davies was born in 1886 at Guilsfield and grew up at Llanyblodwel, living at Ivy Cottage. All told there had been 8 children but only 6 had survived into adulthood, with David being the youngest. His father Richard worked as an agricultural labourer. His mother Eleanor, by 1901, was the postmistress at Llanyblodwel.  After leaving school David had worked at Bryncoch Farm, Llanfyllin as a helper and worker on the farm. He was 15.

Around this time and certainly by 1908, he joined the local territorial unit at Llanfyllin – 1/7Bn Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Merioneth & Montgomery Battalion). By 1911 he was back at Llanyblodwel and working as a postman. His mother was still the postmistress and living at the Post Office. At the outbreak of war David had been with his battalion at summer camp at Towyn. The camp was cut short, the men sent home and were then mobilised reporting to Newtown. As with others David volunteered for overseas service. The battalion eventually left England in July 1915 bound for Egypt and the Dardanelles. He landed with the battalion on C Beach at Sulva Bay on the 7/8 August.

He was killed two days later on 10 August during the fighting for Chocolate Hill. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial. He is also on war memorials at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry and Llanyblodwel.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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