Henry Davies was born in 1890 at Trefonen, Shropshire. He was the second youngest of 7 children with siblings Clayton, Aubrey, Eliza, Priscilla, Lawton and Minnie. Their parents were David and Mary Davies. Henry’s father worked on the railway. The family lived at 6 West Street, Oswestry. No record of him can be found for 1911 but around this time he moved to Bristol and was working for Messrs Oliver and Stevens, tea and coffee merchants. At this time it is possible that he had joined 1/6 Bn Gloucestershire Regiment Territorial Force. He would have been mobilised at the outbreak of war and went over to France with the battalion on 31 March 1915.

Henry was at first listed as missing, later amended to KIA on or since 17 July 1916. At this time the 1/6 Bn Gloucs. were in action between Ovillers la Boisselle and Authuille Wood during the Somme Offensive. The battalion War Dairy has no entries for the 16-19 July but between the 20 and 23 they made 2 raids on the enemy line. Neither was successful. In October 1916 Henry was still listed as missing when his parents put a notice in the BCA Roll of Honour. Henry was buried in No Man’s Land about midway between Ovillers and Authuille Wood. His body was recovered in May 1927, identified by his dog tags, and re-interred at Serre Road No.2 Cemetery. He is also commemorated at St Oswald’s Church, Oswestry.

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