Note: There are 2 possible candidates for ‘Richard Davies’.

See also – Lance Corporal 18166 Richard Davies, 6 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. KIA 26 March 1918, Pozieres Memorial

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 the other man is more likely but there is uncertainty. This man is recorded on Shropshire Roll of Honour under Trefonen and for Oswestry Rural.

Richard Davies was born in 1897 at Sychtyn and grew up at Candy Wood,  Llanforda near Oswestry. He was the youngest son of Thomas and Mary Davies with an older sister, Florence. They lived at Glanarafon Cottage. His father was an estate worker, possibly at Llanforda Hall, he died in 1912. The Hall was demolished in 1949. The parklands, derelict kitchen garden and carriage drives are all that remain.

Richard enlisted at Oswestry but was living at Taplow in Buckinghamshire – why he should be there is not known. He joined 5 Bn King’s Shropshire Light Infantry suggesting he was one of the first to volunteer just after the outbreak of war. He went over to France with the battalion in May 1915. Richard died of wounds on 25 January 1916 at Boulogne. It cannot be determined exactly when or where he received the wounds. During January the battalion were based at Elverdinghe, Ypres and were engaged on working parties and tours in the trenches. In the days preceding Richard’s death they were in the trenches around Malakoff. Saragossa and Pellissier farms, casualties for the month were about 16 ORs KIA and 22 wounded and 1 officer KIA and 1 wounded. Richard is buried in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. Richard is also remembered on Trefonen War Memorial. Also, he is possibly listed on St Oswald’s Church War memorial, Oswestry – recorded as KSLI so could be the alternative candidate, see above.

Acknowledgements.

References and Sources

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