Pte 200232 Arthur Davies

• Age: 22
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 17th Btn
• K.I.A Tuesday 31st July 1917
• Commemorated at: Menin Gate Memorial
  Panel Ref: Panel 4 & 6

Arthur Davies was born in 1895, the son of Joseph Davies and his wife Elizabeth (nee Burns) who married in St Mary's Church, Walton on the Hill, Liverpool in 1891. Arthur was baptised on 14th January 1895 at St Mary's Church, Walton.

At the time of the 1901 census the 6 year old Arthur was living with his siblings and parents at 19 Havelock Street, Everton. He had an older brother John who was 8, a younger sister Elsie aged 4 and a younger brother Joseph aged 2. Their father Joseph was a journeyman baker who was 30, and their mother Elizabeth was 28 years old and at home. Havelock Street was reportedly the steepest street in Liverpool and with its freestanding handrail which ran the length of the street, was a favourite place for children to play.

The 1911 census records the family living at the same address. Joseph is now described as a master baker and confectioner and Arthur at the age of 16 is working with him as an apprentice baker. His older brother John is a mineral water engineer. Elizabeth has had nine children and all of them are living at home. As well as John and Arthur, there’s Elsie 14, Joseph 12, Elizabeth 9, Thomas 7, Constance 5, Alice 3 and 3 month old Agnes. Up to that point the couple had been fortunate for the era in not having any of their children dying in childhood, but sadly a few months later little Agnes dies aged just 6 months. Also staying with the family is a 22 year old niece Constance Davies whose occupation is caramel wrapper.

Arthur married 19 year old Rose Ann Ellison in St Peter's Church, Liverpool on 09th February 1914, and their son Joseph Ellison was born in June 1914.

Arthur enlisted in Liverpool and was serving in the 17th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 200232 when he was killed in action on 31st July 1917 on the first day of the Third Battle of Ypres, better known as the Battle of Passchendaele.

On that day, the 89th Brigade was to follow up the attacks of the 21st and 90th Brigades and once their objectives had been taken, to go through them and secure a line of strong points on the German third line. The 89th Brigade line of attack was from the South West corner of Polygon Wood, to the Menin Road. The 17th Battalion The King’s Liverpool Regiment was on the left of the attack, and the 20th to the right, with the 19th Battalion and the 2nd Battalion The Bedfordshire Regiment, in Divisional Reserve.

The Battalion moved into assembly positions east of Maple Copse between 05.00 and 05.20am, they were heavily shelled and suffered many casualties. At 07.50 they began to advance with the 17th Battalion on the left, and the 20th on the right, the whole time under heavy shell fire. On reaching their position which was the Blue Line , troops of both the 21st and 90th Brigades were still pinned down and thus any attempt at further progress were futile.

Despite this they pushed on until their flank was just touching Clapham Junction. They then dug in and awaited the inevitable bombardment which hit them soon after. Despite this, they held onto the ground.

During the action and their time in the line the 17th Battalion lost three officers and 79 men killed or died of wounds, and four officers and 198 men wounded. They were eventually relieved on the night of 3rd -4th August.

His death was reported in the Liverpool Express on 28th September 1917:

Cpl. Arthur Davies, K.L.R. second son of Mr and Mrs Davies 19 Havelock-street, Everton, was killed in action on July 31st 1917. His officer writes: -

"There are few non commissioned officers who were so useful to his platoon as he was. His death is a great loss".

Arthur's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres in Belgium.

The site of the Menin Gate was chosen because of the hundreds of thousands of men who passed through it on their way to the battlefields. It commemorates casualties from the forces of Australia, Canada, India, South Africa and United Kingdom who died in the Salient. In the case of United Kingdom casualties, only those prior 16 August 1917 (with some exceptions). United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after that date are named on the memorial at Tyne Cot, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war. New Zealand casualties that died prior to 16 August 1917 are commemorated on memorials at Buttes New British Cemetery and Messines Ridge British Cemetery.

The YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL now bears the names of more than 54,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield with sculpture by Sir William Reid-Dick, was unveiled by Lord Plumer on 24 July 1927.

His name appeared in a list of those killed in action in the local press on 18th September 1917.

Pension records show that Rose was given a £5 grant on the 9th October 1917, and then a pension of 18s and 9d a week for her and Joseph from the 11th March 1918. Soldiers Effects to widow Rose A., Pension to Rose, Joseph and C.M.Davies (probably his Auntie Constance Mary)

Arthur and Rose’s son Joseph is found in the 1939 Register living in Robsart Street with his widowed maternal grandmother Elizabeth Ellison. He has carried on his father and grandfather’s trade as he is recorded as a bakers assistant.

Grateful thanks are extended to Kenny Nolan who contacted the website and advised that Arthur was the brother of his Grandmother, Alice Davies. 

We currently have no further information on Arthur Davies, If you have or know someone who may be able to add to the history of this soldier, please contact us.