Category Archives: Memorials

Joseph Davis

Australian, Commemorated name/s, Reading Blue Coat School, Somme

Joseph Davis
Private 3154
49th Battalion Australian Imperial Force

Division 40

CIMG2198

Joseph Davis, is commemorated on a family memorial.  Grave number 8790.  He was killed in action at Dernancourt, a small village SW of Albert, Somme, on 5th April 1918.  The village was captured by the Germans for a time during the spring offensive to be reclaimed later in the year by the allies.   

Joseph Davis has no known grave.  His name is commemorated on the Villers-Bretonneux Memorial.  This is the Australian National Monument erected to commemorate Australian soldiers who fought in France and Belgium, to their dead, and especially those of the dead who have no known graves.  These soldiers fell in the battlefields of the Somme, Arras and the “Hundred Days”.  There are over 10,000 casualties commemorated on this memorial. 

Herbert Charles Davies and Arthur S Davies

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Graves, St. Batholomew's Church

Herbert Charles Davies
 Rifleman 40925
2nd Battalion The Rifle Brigade

 Bombardier Arthur S. Davies
2nd/1st Battalion Berkshire Royal Horse Artillery

Division 79
Extension

Davies HC grave

Herbert Charles Davies and Arthur S. Davies were the sons of Mary Davies and late Evan Davies of 122.  Cumberland Road, Reading.  The whole family are buried in Division 79. Grave 16550 of  the Reading Cemetery.  The grave is actually registered as a war grave but at the start of this research did not bear the distinctive war pattern headstone.  The CWGC placed a war pattern headstone on the grave when Herbert’s name became indistinct and he was not appropriately commemorated on the family grave. Herbert’s name is the one registered with the CWGC.  He is also commemorated on the St. Bartholomew’s memorial.

Herbert died 4th December 1918 Aged 19. The inscription on the grave states that he was a repatriated prisoner of war. It has not been possible to locate a picture of Herbert Davies.

 It has also been difficult to trace information about Arthur Davies because his service details are not registered with the CWGC.  However, The Standard of July 26th 1917 Pg. 5 carried an article:

 Missing, Feared Loss of Memory

Mr A.S. Davies formerly of the Berks. R.H.A., of 122 Cumberland Rd. Reading has been missing from his home since Thursday in last week.  He had been badly wounded in the head, and it is feared that he is suffering form loss of memory.  He was wearing brown trousers and a light grey cap and coat, also an grey shirt, socks and boots.  He has very heavy eyebrows, which meet across the bridge of his nose.  His height is about 5ft 8inches.

A picture, published in the Chronicle 28th September 1917carries the caption “wounded in both legs, one arm and head”.  Arthur Davies obviously suffered for some time.  The inscription on the grave indicates that he died on July 17th 1919, aged 24.

 “Another victim of the war”.

alfred sutton mem

 

The brother are commemorated on the War Memorial  of Alfred Sutton Primary School. 

 

 

 

Evan Lloyd Davies

Alfred Sutton School War Memorial, Army, Reading University College, Registered War Grave, Royal Berkshire Regiment, Somme

Evan Lloyd Davies MM
Corporal 200422 
1st/4th Royal Berkshire Regiment

 Division 32  Grave number 8995

 EL Davies oval2 ELDavies plaque

Evan Lloyd Davies was the son of William and Rhoda Davies and husband of Grace Ethel Davies.  He died on the 5th November 1918 of wounds received on 27th August 1916 as the 48th Division tried to take the Thiepval ridge.   During the battle he received the head wound which ended his war and ultimately his life.  Evan Lloyd Davies had acquitted himself well during the battle and was commended for the Military Medal for ‘distinguished bravery in the field’. He was buried in Reading Cemetery on the morning of the Armistice,  11th November 1918 aged 35.  He left his wife and two children.

Evan Lloyd Davies was a teacher at the Wokingham Road Senior School, now Alfred Sutton Primary School. The plaque above commemorates his name and is in the junior hall of the school.

 He had served overseas with his Territorial unit from the beginning of the war.  His full story is told in  ‘The School, the Master, the Boys and the V.C.’ which is the story behind  the Alfred Sutton School Memorial.

Children Remember ELDavies
In 1998 children from the school laid a poppy wreath on the grave of Evan Lloyd Davies in remembrance of his service to the school and his role in the Great War.

Evan Lloyd Davies was one of six Reading teachers to lose their lives in the war.