Pte 25796 William Frederick Wilkinson Davis

• Age: 35
• From: Halifax, Yorkshire
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Wednesday 27th June 1917
• Commemorated at: Dickebusch New Mil Cem Ext
  Panel Ref: II.A.21

William Frederick Wilkinson Davis was born in late 1881 in Halifax the son of James William and his wife Emily Jane (née Green) who were married in late 1871, registered in Skipton. William was baptised on the 24th February 1882 at St Thomas'Church, Greetland and West Vale, his father a dyer of Chevinedge. 

The 1891 Census shows the family living at Chevinedge, Upper Exley, Halifax. His father, James William, is aged 44, born in Leeds in 1847 and his occupation is shown as dyer, he was also the Mayor of Halifax, his mother, Emily Jane is aged 39, born in Halifax, and has no occupation listed. They have six children declared in the household; Percy is aged 17, born 1874, Helen is aged 15, born 1876, Alice is aged 13, born 1878, Emily Constance (Connie) is aged 11, born 1880, William Frederick Wilkinson is aged 9, and are all scholars, Elsie Jane is aged 4 and the children were all born in Halifax. They also have four servants living with them, Marie Santier aged 30, born 1861 in Switzerland is employed as a Governess, Hannah Coates also aged 30, born 1861 in Richmond, Yorkshire is a housemaid waitress, Maggie Grant aged 26, born 1865 in Oban, Scotland is employed as a cook, domestic servant and Priscilla Bagfield aged 18, born 1873 in Darfield, Yorkshire is employed as a under housemaid. 

His father, James William Davis, J.P. of Chevinedge, Mayor of Halifax, was born on the 15th April 1846 and died on the 21st July 1893.

An obituary to James was published in the Cornishmen on Thursday July 27 1893: 

Alderman James William Davis,. of Halifax, who died on Friday at the early age of 47, was a geologist of some standing, the author of, Wet Yorkshireand numerous scientific works. Mainly through his means the Yorkshire Geological and polytechnic society was revived some years ago. He was acting as secretary till the time of his death.

His death was also reported in the Halifax Evening Courier on Saturday 22 July 1893; 

DEATH OF THE MAYOR OF HALIFAX. 

It is with deep regret that we announce the death of the Mayor of Halifax (ALDERMAN J. W. DAVIS), which took place at Bridlington shortly after three o'clock yesterday morning. Much sympathy has been expressed with the Mayor in his long affliction, which was known to be largely due to his persistent and untiring devotion to duty. But few, we think, expected until the last day or two an unfavourable result. His Worship derived benefit amid the scenes so congenial to him about Grassington, from which retirement he emerged for a brief space to take part in the stone-laying of the Halifax Technical College. From Grassington he went to Bridlington, a favourite resort with him, and there his progress continued until he unadvisedly came to Halifax last week on various business matters, public and private, returning to Bridlington after his visit. A severe relapse followed, and this week it became apparent that his case was hopeless, death coming indeed as a relief to his severe sufferings. Thus two Mayors of Halifax have died during their term of office, the other case being that of a greatly esteemed townsman, MR. MATTHEW SMITH, whose death occurred on the 31st of March, 1880. 

There is no doubt that the cause of ALDERMAN DAVIS's death, at the early age of 47 years, is over-work. He had a strong constitution, and never spared himself in any cause in which he was deeply interested. The position of Mayor throw upon an already busy man great additional responsibilities, and as there were some of the Corporation under-takings in which he felt a deep personal interest, the amount of business devolving upon him was too heavy. The literary work in which he was also engaged had thus to be done at an hour when most people are in bed. The pace at which many people live in these busy times produces too great a strain on the constitution. Public men, who have the additional responsibility of large business under-takings requiring close personal attention, are often tempted into overwork, which sooner or later saps the springs of life. 

The public work of our late MAYOR is fully referred to in the copious memoir which appears on another page, and in the appreciative communication we print from a gentleman who, himself diligent in many good works, has been closely associated with the Mayor in social and philanthropic institutions. His chief interest centred in education. In his early years he was a zealous promoter of the Mechanics' Institute at West Vale, and thus it came to pass that that hamlet was far ahead of most of its neighbours in the character of its institution and in the excellent provision for giving instruction intended to supplement that of the day schools. This work brought him into association with the Yorkshire Union of Mechanics' Institutes, and, in later years, with the Yorkshire College. In that early time, too, he was intensely interested in geology, and wrote, in conjunction with Mr. F. A. LEES, the "Geology of West Yorkshire," a copious work in two volumes. His brochures on the same subject, chiefly contributed to the Yorkshire Geological Society, of which he energetic secretary, were very numerous. Halifax his name is most honourably connected with the establishment of the Free Libraries and the acquirement for the town on extremely liberal terms of the stately mansions of Bank Field and Belle Vue. In the promotion of technical instruction he was most persevering striving successfully to overcome serious difficulties. The full fruition of his work will be seen in the splendid Technical College now rising on the west side of the People's Park, a visit to which was one of his latest public acts. As MAYOR of the town the boundaries of which he was the principal means of extending, MR. DAVIS will long be held in great respect. It is a marked tribute to his worth and abilities that he was one of the few men who have been invited for a third year to fill that high position. He presided over the Council with tact and prudence. Though a staunch partisan himself, and strongly interested in schemes some of which greatly divided opinion, he took a course of such moderation, good temper, and judgment, that his counsels usually prevailed. He guided the Council, too, in exciting debates with skill and courtesy that commanded respect for the rulings of the chair. These and other high qualifications received eloquent testimony at the MAYOR'S re-election in November, when, in his reply, he dis-played a comprehensive grasp of the business of the Council and of the needs of the borough. He put in the very forefront the Technical College, advocated branches of the Free Library in the out-lying parts of the borough, referred to needed street improvements, such as the widening of parts of King Cross-street and Northgate, which will be deemed indispensable as the borough extends. The MAYOR on that occasion expressed a hope, which has now a pathetic interest, that they might all enjoy good health throughout the year, so as to be able to perform their duties successfully and with satisfaction to their fellow-men. This, alas! was not to be. Little more than half the year has sped, and the town now mourns deeply its respected CHIEF MAGISTRATE. There are others, too, who are not forgotten. He has been worthily supported in his high position by the MAYORESS, and sympathy will now go out unsparingly in this sad affliction to the stricken widow and the fatherless children. 

A further obituary to James was published in the Cornishmen on Thursday July 27 1893;  

Alderman James William Davis,. of Halifax, who died on Friday at the early age of 47, was a geologist of some standing, the author of, West Yorkshire and numerous scientific works. Mainly through his means the Yorkshire Geological and polytechnic society was revived some years ago. He was acting as secretary till the time of his death. 

The 1901 Census shows the family living at Chivenedge, Halifax.  His mother, Emily Jane, is a widow aged 50, and is a jeweller. She has five children declared in the household; Helen is aged 25, and has no occupation, Alice is aged 23, Emily Constance is aged 21, William Frederick Wilkinson aged 19 and Elsie Jane aged 14, born 1887 and they have no occupation listed. They also have a servant living with them named Mary Ann Hindler aged 40, born 1861 who was born in Ravensthorpe, Yorkshire.

On the 1911 Census, William is living alone at 11 Westmorland Avenue, Liscard. He is aged 29 and a jewellers shop assistant. His widowed mother Emily, aged 61, is living at Cromwell Cottage, Bridlington with daughters Emily 31, and Elsie 24.

William enlisted in Liverpool around January 1915 joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 25796. He was billeted at the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 18th 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 crossed to France on the 11th November 1915. 

William was serving in the 18th Battalion of The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 25796 attached to 21st Trench Mortar Battery when he was killed in action on the 27^th June 1917, aged 35.

His death was reported in the Northern Whig, on Friday July 6th 1917:

Private. William. F. W. Davis, King's Liverpool Regiment, who was killed in action on the 27th ult., was the son of Mrs. Davis, Lauraville, Balmoral, Belfast, and the late Mr. James. W. Davis, Chevinedge, Halifax. 

The Weekly Telegraph, Saturday 14 July 1917 also reported his death:

Intimation has come to hand that Private. William. F. W. Davis, King's Liverpool Regiment, was killed in action on the 27th ult. He was a son of Mrs. Davis, Lauraville, Balmoral, Belfast, and the late Mr. James. W. Davis, Chevinedge, Halifax. 

His death was also reported in the Halifax Daily Guardian on Tuesday 10 July 1917; 

Trench Mortar Battery, King's Liverpool Regiment, son of the late Ald. J. W. Davis, ex-Mayor of Halifax, killed by a shell in France on June 27th. 

Also in the Liverpool Echo on Tuesday 11 September 1917; 

DAVIS - June 27, killed in action, Private W. F. W. Davis (T.M.B, attached K.L.R.), late of Messrs, Oldfield's, Ltd., and Liscard, younger son of the late Alderman J. W. Davis, Halifax, and Mrs. Davis, Belfast. 

[Oldfield's, Ltd., was a prominent firm of jewellers, silversmiths, and watch and clock manufacturers located in Liscard] 

Probate 1917:- 

DAVIS William Frederick Wilkinson of 11 Westmorland Avenue, Liscard Cheshire private Liverpool Regiment died 30 June 1917 at Ypres, Flanders Administration London 31 August to Emily Jane Davis widow. Effects £960 14s.

He now rests at Dickebusch New Military Cemetery, Belgium where his headstone bears the epitaph:

“DULCE EST PRO PATRIA MORI”

The New Military Cemetery was begun in February 1915 (in succession to the Old Military Cemetery near the Church), and was used until May 1917 by neighbouring fighting units and field ambulances. The 31st (Alberta) Canadian Infantry Battalion erected a memorial in it to 22 of their numbers who fell in April 1916. A few further burials took place in March and April 1918. The Extension was used from May 1917 to January 1918.

The New Military Cemetery contains 624 First World War burials, including 8 unidentified. The Extension contains 547 including 5 unidentified. The two cemeteries are treated, so far as possible, as one. The Cross is placed in the Extension, opposite the entrance, and the War Stone by the roadside in the New Military Cemetery.

The site was designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens.

He earned his three medals. 

His Soldiers Effects, Army Pay of £5 17s 1d was shared by his mother, brother James and sister Helen Collier. A War Gratuity of £11 and pension of 5/- pw went to his mother Emily, latest address 19 Brooklyn, nr Grassington, Yorks.  

His mother, Emily Jane, died aged 85 on Christmas Day, 25th December 1935. 

Probate 1936:- 

DAVIS Emily Jane of 20 Reginald Terrace, Chapeltown Leeds widow died 25 December 1935 Probate Wakefield 24 March to Alice Davis and Emily Constance Davis spinsters and Elsie Jane Ward (wife of Francis Columbo Ward). Effects £5,988 15s 9d. 

He is also commemorated on the family gravestone at All Saints, Salterhebble, Halifax.  

"In loving memory of William Frederick Wilkinson, 18th Kings Liverpool Regt, son of the late Jas. W and Emily Jane, killed in action in France June 27th. 1917. aged 35. Interred at Dikebusch Military Cemetery "Dulcis Est Pro Patria Mori"

William is also remembered on the War Memorial in All Saints Church

His mother, Emily Jane, died on Christmas Day, 25th December 1935.

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