George Henry Douglas Davies (known as Douglas) was born in 1889 at Oswestry. He was the fourth of the five children of John Edward Davies, a farmer at The Fields in Maesbury and Emma Jane Davies. The children were John, Thomas, Cyril and youngest, sister Hilda who died in infancy. Brother Thomas would also be a war casualty. George was baptised at Holy Trinity, Oswestry on 7 May 1889 and was educated at Oswestry Grammar School.  Their father bred horses and farmed. Of the 4 brothers, Thomas would go to sea whilst John, Cyril and George would stay at home and work on the farm.

George first enlisted in 3/1 Bn Shropshire Yeomanry, a cavalry battalion and training unit stationed at Wrexham – making use of his equestrian skills and knowedge. This was probably in 1915. In summer 1916, the unit ‘dismounted’ and became a training infantry unit based at Oswestry Park Hall Camp with the existing draft transferring to other units. It is likely George was posted to 10 Bn Cheshire Regiment at this time and went over to France as a draft in the first half of 1916.  The battalion had moved into the Somme battle zone on 3 July going into the trenches at Authuille in front of Theipval.  George was KIA on 24 August 1916 during the Somme Offensive when the battalion was in the line near to Wood Post in Authuille Wood. The battalion were on working parties in preparation for the forthcoming renewed assaults to take Thiepval and the Ancre Heights. On this day the battalion was heavily shelled and suffered 8 other ranks killed and 19 wounded.

George was buried at Blighty Valley Cemetery near to Authuille. He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Maesbury, Holy Trinity Church and at Oswestry School War Memorial and also the family grave in Oswestry Cemetery and where his brother Thomas is interred.

BROTHER TO Lieutenant Thomas R Davies. Royal Navy Reserve HM Yacht Conqueror II. KIA 27 September 1916, Oswestry General Cemetery

Acknowledgements.

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