L/Cpl 22358 George Henry Davies

George Henry was born in Birkenhead on 12th June 1889,  the son of William Davies and his wife Margaret (nee Preston). His parents married in 1886 at St Catherine's Church, Tranmere.

On the 1891 census George Henry is aged 1 and is living at 58 Borough Road, Tranmere. His father William is 34 years of age and employed as a gas stoker, he was born in Oswestry,  whilst his mother Margaret  is 32 years of age and was born in Liverpool. He has one elder brother William  who is aged and, like George, he was also born in Birkenhead. THere are also two members of his mothers family living at the property. His grandmother, Anna Preston, a widow aged 66 and born in St Asaph and his uncle John Preston 34 gas stoker b.Liverpool.

On the  1901 census he is aged 11 living at 10 Milton St, Birkenhead. His father William  is now  shown as a 42 year old gas stoker, born in Denbigh, whilst his mother, Margaret, is shown as aged 36. he now has three siblings;  Edward aged 9, Albert aged 7 and Alfred aged 5.

At the time of the 1911 census he is aged 21, a corporation labourer, living at 1 Collingwood St, Birkenhead with his parents and five siblings. His father, William, is recorded as a 52 year old corporation gas stoker b.Gobowen, Shropshire, whilst his mother Margaret is described as being 48 years of age. They advise that they have been married for 24 years and have had 6 children. His siblings, all born in Birkenhead are shown as; Edward 19 apprentice gas fitter, Albert 17 apprentice electrician, Alfred 14 a shop boy, John 12 at school and Elizabeth 9 at school. 

He enlisted in Liverpool on 07th November 1914 joining the 20th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 22358. He gave his age as 25 years and 186 days, giving his occupation as clerk. He is described as being 5’ 9 and a half inches tall, and weighing 140 lbs, with brown hair and brown eyes. He stated his religion as Church of England.

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 07^th November 1915.

He was granted leave to the UK over the Christmas holiday 1916. 

On 10th April 1917 he was wounded in action, with gunshot wounds to the neck, and sent to 96 Field Ambulance. From there he was sent to 5th General Hospital in Rouen, where he died of his wounds on the 15th April 1917 aged 27.

His death was reported in the local press:

ONE OF THE PALS GONE

News has been received by Mr Davies of 163 Borpugh Road, that his son Lance Corporal Davies of the King's Liverpool Regt ("Pals") died of wounds at the General Hospital,  Rouen, France. He joined the "Pals" at their formation and had been in France for two years. Before joining the Army he was employed by the Corporation gas lighting department, Hind-street, where he was respected by all who knew him. In a letter from his chaplain the letter speaks in the highest terms  of him and states that he was buried with military honours in an English cemetery at Rouen. Our deepest sympathy goes out to friends and relatives left to mourn his loss.        

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

During the First World War, Commonwealth camps and hospitals were stationed on the southern outskirts of Rouen. A base supply depot and the 3rd Echelon of General Headquarters were also established in the city.

Almost all of the hospitals at Rouen remained there for practically the whole of the war. They included eight general, five stationary, one British Red Cross and one labour hospital, and No. 2 Convalescent Depot. A number of the dead from these hospitals were buried in other cemeteries, but the great majority were taken to the city cemetery of St. Sever. In September 1916, it was found necessary to begin an extension, where the last burial took place in April 1920.

The Cemetery and the Extension adjoin each other but have separate Registers.

During the Second World War, Rouen was again a hospital centre and the extension was used once more for the burial of Commonwealth servicemen, many of whom died as prisoners of war during the German occupation.

The cemetery extension contains 8,348 Commonwealth burials of the First World War (ten of them unidentified) and in Block "S" there are 328 from the Second World War (18 of them unidentified). There are also 8 Foreign National burials here. The adjoining St. Sever Cemetery contains 3,082 Commonwealth burials of the First World War. There is also 1 French burial and 1 non war service burial here.

The extension was designed by Sir Reginald Blomfield.

His death was reported in the Birkenhead News on the 25th April 1917:

DIED OF WOUNDS

DAVIES - April 15, at General Hospital, Rouen, France, of wounds received in action, Lance Corpl G. H. Davies (One of the best), King's Liverpool Regiment. - Fondly remembered by Father, Brothers and Sisters-in-law, 166 Borough Road. 

Du Ruvigny's Roll recorded George's service as follows:

DAVIS(sic), GEORGE HENRY - Lance Corporal (Service) Battalion the King's Liverpool Regiment; son of William Davies of 166 Borough Road, Birkenhead, gas works labourer by his wife Margaret, daughter of John Preston of Crewe; born Birkenhead Co. of Chester, 12th of June 1889; educated the Woodlands Council school there; was employed by the Corporation as an assistant store keeper in the fittings department of the Gasworks; enlisted in November 1914, served with the expeditionary force in France and Flanders and died in the General Hospital at Rouen, 15th of April 1917 from gunshot wounds received received in action; buried in Rouen Cemetery; unmarried.

His personal effects were sent to his father William these included;  2 discs, 4 photos, 2 religious books, cig, case, 2 gold rings,(1 broken), metal chain, 5 keys on ring, case.

His living relatives at the time were listed as his widowed father, brothers William, Edward, Albert, and Alfred, and sister Elizabeth.

 

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