Albert Davies, Private, 1st/6th Battalion Royal Warwickshire Regiment
Albert Davies was born in 1894 at Lower Hamnish Farm, Kimbolton, Herefordshire. His father, John, a farmer, was born in Melindwr, Cardiganshire and his mother Sarah was born in Tregarron, Cardiganshire.
By 1901, the family were residing at Heath Farm, Redmarley D’Abitot in Worcestershire. By this time Albert Davies had eight siblings. The four oldest had been born near Pontypool, Monmouthshire, the next four in age had been born at Lower Hamnish, Kimbolton while the youngest had been born at Redmarley D’Abitot. It would appear that, geographically speaking, John Davies had been on the move over the years.
In the 1881 census, John Davies is described as a lead miner based in Melindwr, Cardiganshire. The Welsh lead mining industry during the 19th century was a period of boom and bust but generally miners in the lead industry were not well paid. One year of large profits could easily be followed by another of depression or closure. Over the years mines were repeatedly re-opened or closed as flooding or price fluctuations dictated.
Above photo: The remains of Melindwr lead mine, today (Wikipedia)
By 1911, Albert Davies is a “boarder” at 2 Thomas Terrace, Llandybie, Carmarthenshire. The head of the house is a “boatmaker”, married with two children. There are five boarders at the house aged between 18 and 27. Albert Davies is the youngest. Three of the other boarders are from London while another is from Lancashire. All five of them are described as miners working at Ammanford Colliery.
Above photo: Ammanford Colliery, 1912 (1)
According to the 1912 Electoral Register, Albert Davies is residing at 1 College Green, Gloucester which must have been quite a contrast to his time spent in rural West Wales.
By 1914, Albert Davies had enlisted in the 1st/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment which was a territorial battalion.
The 1st/6th Royal Warwickshire Regiment, which was part of the Territorial Force. 48th South Midland Division, would drill at Thorp Street Drill Hall, Birmingham.
Above photo: Thorp Street Drill Hall, today, now a car park Wikipedia)
“The 48th South Midland Division was selected to proceed to France to join the British Expeditionary Force (BEF) early in 1915.” (Wikipedia)
Above photo: A British battalion begins to march out of camp or depot and towards pre-planned locations to gather in preparation for joining the British Expeditionary Force (2)
“The 1/6th Royal Warwicks disembarked at Le Havre at the beginning of April. Within days it began learning the routine of trench warfare around St Yves, Messines and Ploegsteert.
On 12 May the division was designated the 48th (South Midland) Division and the brigade became the 143rd (Warwickshire) Brigade. The battalion later moved south to a section of the line around Hébuterne, Foncquevillers and Gommecourt.
It was still in this area a year later when the Battle of the Somme began.
Above photo: “The Royal Warwickshires entering Peronne, 18th March 1916” (William Orpen) (IWM)
Although 48th Division was in Corps Reserve for the first day on the Somme, two battalions (1/6th and 1/8th Royal Warwicks) were detailed to attack with 11th Brigade leading the assault of 4th Division towards 'Redan Ridge'.
Even before Zero hour the 'jumping-off' trenches came under fire from 'crumps' of enemy artillery, and machine guns began playing over No Man's Land from both flanks. 1/8th Royal Warwicks was shielded by the ground from direct fire and managed to get into the German second line and into 'Quadrilateral Redoubt'. 1/6th Battalion, following up, passed the Quadrilateral.
Above photo: British troops advancing, 1st July 1916 (IWM)
“The right-hand companies of both battalions pushed on and made contact with the rest of 11th Brigade in 'Munich Trench', but the left companies suffered heavy casualties from the village of Serre, which 31st Division had been unable to reach. 4th Division's support brigades now arrived: it was too late to stop their leading battalions, who also suffered heavy casualties crossing No man's Land to join 11th Brigade. Although 4th Division had broken into the German positions, it now came under attack from both flanks, many of the men who had advanced furthest being cut off and shot down. Running short of hand grenades and ammunition, and attacked by German troops moving down from Serre, the survivors were forced back from Munich Trench to the Quadrilateral.
The 1/8th Royal Warwicks had suffered heavier casualties than any other TF (Territorial Force) battalion on the First day on the Somme, and those of 1/6th were not far behind with 466 casualties.” (IWM)
Above photo: Men of The Royal Warwickshire Regiment resting during The Battle of The Somme (Wikipedia)
At some point during July, Albert Davies was granted leave. He returned to England and married Elsie B. Young. The marriage was registered in Leominster.
In the 1901 census, Elsie Young, aged 6, had been living on a farm in Dilwyn, Herefordshire with her grandmother, Marie Montague, her mother and three siblings. Both her grandmother and mother were widows, the latter described as “living on own means”. Elsie, along with her three siblings, had been born in Esher, Surrey.
Upon Albert Davies’s return to France, he would probably have seen action at The Battle of Pozieres Ridge (13th- 28th August 1916)
Above photo: “The "Gibraltar" bunker, Pozières, in late August. A fatigue party laden with sandbags heads for the fighting at Mouquet Farm” (Wikipedia)
Also, the 1st/6th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment fought at The Battle of Bazentin Ridge.
Above photo: “Battle of Bazentin Ridge. Five British and German walking wounded, injured in their arms and legs, on the way to a dressing station near Bernafay Wood, 19th July 1916” (IWM)
And, in late 1916, the 1st/6th Royal Warwickshire Battalion was involved in The Battle of Ancre and Ancre Heights which were the last British attacks of the Battle of the Somme against the Germans.
Above photo: British troops crossing a muddy area in the Ancre Valley, November 1916 (IWM)
4th February, 1917, the day that Albert Davies was killed, was a reasonably quiet day on The Western Front. Apart from some shelling there were no tactical advances being made. Therefore, it’s possible that Albert Davies was killed by shell-fire. His wife, Elsie, several days later, might have received a letter similar to the one below, which was written on the same day as Albert Davies was killed, by an officer to a relative of a dead soldier.
“Dear Mr Harrison,
It is with great regret that I have to report the death of your son yesterday afternoon. He was in my dug out making up my fire when a German shell made a direct hit demolishing the dug out and burying him. On examination it was found that death was instantaneous. It is some consolation to know that he could not have suffered any pain. It is impossible for me to express my sorrow and sympathy with your loss he had been my servant for the last month. He always did his work well and as a man he was one of the best. He was intensely popular with his comrades and everybody is very grieved. May the Lord have mercy on you and comfort you and bless you.
Yours very sincerely
H Clement, 2nd Lt
P.S. His personal effects will be forwarded in due course.” (3)
Albert Davies is buried at Assevilliers New British Cemetery which lies approximately 10 kilometres south-west of Peronne.
Above photo: Assevilliers New British Cemetery (CWGC)
Assevillers New British Cemetery was made after the Armistice by the concentration of graves from the battlefields of the Somme and from other burial grounds. There are over 800 1914-18, war casualties commemorated in this site. Of these, two-fifths are unidentified.” (CWGC)
Albert Davies’s headstone is inscribed with “BE THOU FAITHFUL UNTO DEATH AND I WILL GIVE THEE A CROWN OF LIFE”.
Rory MacColl
Sources
1/ https://www.mindat.org/loc-383301.html
2/ https://greatwarphotos.com/category/british-army/
4/ https://www.tracesofwar.com/sights/2614/Commonwealth-War-Graves-Tournai-Extension.htm