Pte 21889 Albert Thomas Davies

• Age: 21
• From: Liverpool
• Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
• K.I.A Monday 9th April 1917
• Commemorated at: Arras Memorial
  Panel Ref: Bay 3

Albert Thomas was born in Liverpool on 11th August 1895, the son of Albert Edward Davies and his wife Annie (nee Scott) who were married in 1890 at St Peter's Church, Liverpool, his father was a warehouseman. He was baptised on 04th September 1895 at St Bendict’s Church,  Everton. Albert was the third of their seven children, one of whom died in infancy (Florence Gertrude born 20/12/1896).

He was an old boy of St.Cuthbert's, Everton, and prior to enlisting he had been employed by Elder, Dempster and Co. 

On the 1901 Census the family are living at 82 Vienna Street, Everton. His father Albert E. is aged 31, a railway booking clerk, and his wife Annie is 32. They have five children in teh household; Walter 9, George 6, Albert 5, Mabel 2 and Frances 1. The family were all born in Liverpool. They lived at this address until 1909.

On the 1911 Census the family are living at 24 Burleigh Road South in Everton. His father, Albert Edward, is aged 40, a railway goods checker, mother Annie is 42 years of age. There are six children at home; Walter Edward 19 a railway porter, George William 16 a vanman for J. Lyons caterers, Albert Thomas is 15 a messenger for the GPO, Mabel Elizabeth 12 at school, Frances Clara 11 at school
and Charles Leonard 7, at school.

The service Record for Albert Thomas shows that he enlisted 07th November 1914 in Liverpool, joining the 18th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment as Private 21889. He gave his age as 19 years and 90 days, and his occupation as a clerk. He was described as being; 5’6” tall weighed 136lbs with a 36” chest and black hair.  He stated his religion as Church of England.  He and his brother George enlisted together, they were given consecutive service numbers; Albert as Private 21889 and George as Private 21890. Albert gave as next of kin his father at 34 Dyson Street.

Albert was billeted at Hooton Park Race Course and remained there until 03^rd December 1914 when they moved into 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. 

The brothers shipped to France together, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

10/09/1916 to Field Ambulance (dentures), returned to duty the next day

13/10/1916 wounded in action (his name appeared in the casualty list in the local newspaper on 23rd November 1916)

He soon returned to duty and was attached to the 202nd Field Co. Royal Engineers.

07/11/1916 awarded Good Conduct Badge

Albert was reported wounded in the Liverpool Daily Post on 23rd November 1916:

WOUNDED

King's (Liverpools) - Davies, 21889, A.T.;

01/12/1916 admitted 96 F.A. I.C.T. face

05/12/1916 admitted 98 F.A. impetigo

17/12/1916 returned to duty

07/01/1917 resumed duty with Bn from 202nd R.E.

He was serving in the 18^th Battalion, The King’s Liverpool Regiment as Private No 21889 when he was killed in action on the 9^th April 1917, aged 21, during the Battle of Arras.

Arras 09^th April 1917

Details of the circumstances the18^th Battalion had to contend with are illustrated below:

The battalion formed the left assaulting battalion of the brigade, the 2^nd Wiltshire Regiment being on the right, the 19^th Manchester Regiment being in support and 2^nd Battalion Yorkshire Regiment furnishing “moppers -up”  for the two assaulting battalions. The brigade advance was timed to begin at ---- hour after “Zero”, suited to conform with the movements of 56^th Division and other divisions on our left further north (near Arras). This battalion’s objective was the front-line system Lion Lane on the left (exclusive) to Panther Lane on right (exclusive). This sector included the strongpoint known as “The Egg”.

The brigade advanced at prearranged time, i.e., 11.38 a.m, from position of assembly trenches south of Neuville Vitasse to German front line. This necessitated an advance across the open of at least 2,000 yards. This area up to Neuville Vitasse- Henin road was crossed in artillery formation; after this, owing to machine-gun fire and considerable resistance from German posts forward in the sunken roads, it was found necessary to deploy. During the whole movement across the open the advancing columns had been under considerable artillery fire from guns of all calibres. On gaining the position immediately in front of German line it was found that the wire was practically uncut; this wire formed two strong belts in front of German trenches. Two small gaps were eventually discovered and Second-Lieut H.F.Merry gallantly led a bombing party through them, but his three remaining men were killed as they reached the German trenches.

From the moment the battalion was “held up” in front of German wire Capt. R. W. Jones, the senior company commander on the spot, at once began the work of consolidating in front of German wire. The battalion held on in this position for the remainder of the day, until relieved by the 16^th Manchester Regiment about 3 a.m. on the 10^th of April, all the time under intense machine-gun and rifle fire.

Between 9th-10th April, 1917, the 18th King's lost 2 officers 2nd Lt. F. Ashcroft and 2nd Lt. H.G. Ewing and 59 other ranks killed. 8 other officers were wounded. 

His death was reported in the Liverpool Evening Express on 27th April 1917;

"Private Albert Thos.Davies, K.L.R., reported killed on April 9th, would have been 22 years of age on 11th August. He was one of the first to join the Pals Brigade in 1914, being employed by Elder, Dempster and Co. He was an old boy of St.Cuthbert's, Everton, and resided at 34 Dyson-street, Walton". 

He was reported killed in the Liverpool Daily Post 16th May 1917

KILLED

King's Liverpool Regt. - Davies, 21889, A.T.;

His father died just before his son's death on the 30th January 1917, aged 47.

His father's death was reported in the  Liverpool Echo on 02nd February 1917:

DAVIES - January 30 at 34 Dyson Street, Walton, aged 47 years, Albert Edward, the beloved husband of Annie Davies. Interment at Kirkdale Cemetery on Monday next at 3:30 p.m. (Friends please accept this -the only- intimation).

Albert's body was not recovered from the battlefiled or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial in France.

The ARRAS MEMORIAL commemorates almost 35,000 servicemen from the United Kingdom, South Africa and New Zealand who died in the Arras sector between the spring of 1916 and 7 August 1918, the eve of the Advance to Victory, and have no known grave. The most conspicuous events of this period were the Arras offensive of April-May 1917, and the German attack in the spring of 1918. Canadian and Australian servicemen killed in these operations are commemorated by memorials at Vimy and Villers-Bretonneux. A separate memorial remembers those killed in the Battle of Cambrai in 1917. Both cemetery and memorial were designed by Sir Edwin Lutyens, with sculpture by Sir William Reid Dick. The memorial was unveiled by Lord Trenchard, Marshal of the Royal Air Force on the 31 July 1932 (originally it had been scheduled for 15 May, but due to the sudden death of French President Doumer, as a mark of respect, the ceremony was postponed until July).

He earned his three medals.

His outstanding Army pay and a War Gratuity of £11 went to his mother, at 34 Dyson Street, who was awarded a pension of 5 shillings a week, increased to 12/6d.

In 1919 his mother still lived at 34 Dyson Street with George 25, Mabel 21, Frances 19, and Charles 15. Walter, 28, lived in Anderson Street, Everton. Walter emigrated to the USA and settled in Detroit, Michigan, where he died aged 44 in 1935.

The pension card shows a later address for his mother in Detroit, c/o W. E. Davies Esq. (his brother Walter). Annie is found on outgoing transatlantic passenger lists in 1921 and 1927.

George transferred to the 1st Bn K.L.R., then returned to the 18th Bn. He was later posted (possibly after being wounded) to the 3rd Garrison Bn. Royal Welsh Fusiliers in the U.K. and discharged on 04th March 1918 with a Silver War Badge and a 50% disability pension (epilepsy). George lived to the age of 74 and died in 1968.

Walter served in the 1st Bn. K.L.R. and was captured unwounded at Cambrai on 30th November 1917. He was reported Missing in the casualty list of 18th January 1918. He was held at Dulmen POW camp, 260 miles from Cambrai. A pension card exists in the name of his widow Annie, of 61 Anderson Street, but was cancelled with the entry, "Man Alive" dated 25/08/1920.

His mother Annie died in 1943 aged 75.

Albert is also commemorated on the following Memorials:

Roll of Honour at St Luke’s the Evangelist, Walton on the Hill

Hall of Remembrance, Liverpool Town Hall Panel 5 

He is also remembered on the family headstone in Kirkdale Cemetery. The headstone reads:

Also PTE ALBERT THOMAS K.L.R

SON OF THE ABOVE WHO WAS KILLED IN ACTION IN FRANCE APRIL 9th 1917 AGED 21 YEARS

HE GAVE HIS LIFE AT DUTY'S CALL

Grateful thanks are extended to Debbie Barr for permission to use the wonderful photograph of Albert Thomas Davies now shown on the site.

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