Second Lieutenant William Edward Davies was born in 1890, one of the seven children of Samuel Percy Davies and Charlotte Davies née Hirsch. His birth was registered in the 1st quarter of 1891 in the Chester registration district and his father was a tobacco manufacturer's manager.
The 1891 census that was taken on 5 April 1891 shows him as aged 6 months, living at 4 Eversley Park, Chester, Cheshire, with his parents, three siblings: Percy Twiston Davies, John Sloane Davies and Annie Violet Davies, his maternal aunt Harriet Hirsch, together with a nurse and a female domestic servant.
In the 1901 census he is shown at 20 Liverpool Road, Chester, living with his father, three siblings: Alfred Davies, Charles Davis and Hannah C. Davies, together with a nursery governess, a cook and a housemaid. The 1911 census confirms he was still residing at 20 Liverpool Road, Chester and gives his occupation as a student/architecture. He was living with his parents, his brother John and sister Annie, together with a cook and a housemaid.
He was enrolled as a student at the Royal Academy on 26 November 1912 and enlisted as a Private in the 28th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Artists' Rifles), service number 2149. He was granted a commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 5th (Earl of Chester) Battalion (Territorial), The Cheshire Regiment on 5 March 1915 and entered France on 18 July 1915. He died of wounds, aged 26 years, on 26 January 1916 and is buried in Row B, Grave 1, in the Chipilly Communal Cemetery, Rue d'Etinehem, Chipilly, Somme, France.
On 18 May 1916 his army effects totalling £53-2s-5d were sent to his father who was also sent his £5-0s-0d war gratuity on 19 April 1920. He was posthumously awarded the 1914-1915 Star, The British War Medal 1914-1918 and the Victory Medal.
Credit for this entry to: Andrew Behan.
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