BORN – Llanyblodwel
HOMEFRONT – Llanyblodwel, Shropshire/Cwmdy Cottages, Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire/2 Stuart St. Bradford, Manchester/Labourer in Sewage Works
JOB – General Labourer
UNIT – 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry
RANK – Lance-Corporal 18166
THEATRE – 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry / Medals. Military Medal, 15 Star, British, Victory
DIED – KIA 26 March 1918. Aged 26.
BURIED – Pozieres Memorial (CWGC)
Note: There are 2 possible candidates for ‘Richard Davies’.
Both men are identified on Shropshire Roll of Honour but it is not possible to say which is the ‘Richard Davies’ on the Gates. With probability this man is more likely but there is uncertainty. This man is recorded on Shropshire Roll of Honour under Oswestry.
It is possible that this is the Richard Davies named on the Gates. Richard was born in 1892 in Llanyblodwel, Shropshire to George and Margaret Davies. He was the oldest of 9 children. Both his parents were also born in Llanyblodwel. By 1901 the family were living at Cwmdy Cottages, Llanidloes Without, Montgomeryshire. In 1911 they are at 2 Stuart St., Bradford, Manchester. They obviously moved around a lot in these ten years. Birthplaces of Richard’s siblings show that they were in Overton, Flintshire in 1894, Cadoxton, Glamorgan in 1896, Llanidloes 1899-1901, Rhayader 1903, Plumstead, Kent, 1909 and Manchester by 1910. By 1911 George, Richard’s father, Richard, his brother George, and his cousin, Thomas Hiles (b 1888, Oswestry, who was lodging with the family in 1911), were all working as General Labourers for a sewage works in Manchester. Richard’s father died in 1912.
Richard enlisted in 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry in 1915 in Bradford, Manchester, stating that he was born in Oswestry. His medal roll shows entry to Western Front at 1 October 1915.
6th (Service) Battalion
The 6th fought at Loos in September 1915, around Ypres in 1916 (where it relieved the 1st Battalion) and then on the Somme, including the capture of Guillemont. It fought at Langemarck (3rd Ypres) in August 1917 and on the Menin Road, Ypres, in September. Served against the Hindenburg Line near Cambrai at the end of the year and throughout the German Spring Offensive in 1918, seeing severe fighting at St. Quentin.
Richard was awarded the Military Medal but where has not yet been ascertained.
Acknowledgements.
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