Pte 32652 George Harold Davies

The following dedication and biography was kindly sent by Graham Seaman a relative of George Harold Davies. It is reproduced below and shows just how much George Harold still means to his family over a century later. Grateful thanks are extended to both George Seaman and Christine Haywood. Additional information has been kindly donated by Linda Woodfine Michelini.

George Harold Davies was born in Liverpool, on the 01st July 1892, the son of Walter Davies and his wife Martha Elizabeth (nee Seaman) who were married on the 26th August 1888 at Christ Church, Kensington, Liverpool. Walter was a 42-year old widower, a bookbinder of Empire Street, father Walter deceased, whilst Martha was aged 24 of Farnworth Street, father Joseph. 

Walter’s first marriage was to Mary Ford in 1868 and on the 1881 census they were living at 37 Lime Grove, Toxteth with 11 year old daughter Charlotte Ann. 

George was baptised in St Clements Church, Liverpool on the 10th August 1892.

George's family were found on the 1901 Census living at 54 Webb Street, Edge Hill, Liverpool. George was eight years old at this time. George's father, aged 56, was employed as a bookbinder, his mother was 36 years of age. George was living at the property with both of his parents, his younger brother Joseph and a boarder in the property - Charles Peters.

His father, died in 1903, aged 58, and his mother married Charles Philip Peters in 1904 (he was the boarder from ten years previously).

By 1911, George was living with his family at 56 Ponsonby Street, Toxteth, Liverpool. He was 18 years old and at that time he was working as an apprentice pawnbroker. Mother Martha Elizabeth is aged 45, and step-father Charles Philip Peters aged 45 is a stevedore at the docks. His brother Joseph was also in residence and was working as an apprentice joiner at the time.

The amount of the War Gratuity suggests that he enlisted in about October 1915, and had not long been at the front when he was killed in action.

He was serving as a Private in the 17th Battalion of The Kings Liverpool Regiment. He was now 24 years old. His regiment number was 32652. Following his time in the armed forces George was awarded the Victory and British was medals for his service to the country.

 

Unfortunately, like so many others, George was killed fighting in the Somme, France on 30th July 1916. His official cause of death was marked as being 'killed in action'.

17th Battalion Diary 30th July 1916

The Battalion was in support to 19 & 20 Battalions K.L.R. 2 Coys. behind 19th & 2 Coys. behind 20th. Very thick mist. The attack was pushed home to the objective in places but in the main was held up by machine gun fire from hidden machine guns.

Fighting continued all day swaying backwards and forwards until by 6pm about 300 yards in depth had been gained & consolidated all along our front.

Casualties in the 17th Battalion were 15 Officers and 281 Other Ranks

Further details are reported in more detailed by Everard Wyrall in his book The History of the King’s Regiment (Liverpool) 1914-1919 Volume II 1916-1917

The 17th King’s had advanced (two companies each behind the 19th and 20th Battalions) in small columns. They too suffered heavily from machine-gun fire and were quickly absorbed into the waves that preceded them. They also shared the gains and losses of that terrible day.

When darkness fell on the battlefield the 30th Division held a line from the railway on the eastern side of Trones Wood , southwards and including Arrow Head Copse, to east of Maltz Horn Farm. On this line the division was relieved by the 55th Division during the early hours of the 31st July. 

The events of 30th July 1916 were regarded at the time as Liverpool’s blackest day. There follows an extract from The History of the 89th Brigade written by Brigadier General Ferdinand Stanley which gives an indication of the events of the day.

Guillemont

Well the hour to advance came, and of all bad luck in the world it was a thick fog; so thick that you couldn’t see more than about ten yards. It was next to impossible to delay the attack – it was much too big an operation- so forward they had to go. It will give some idea when I say that on one flank we had to go 1,750 yards over big rolling country. Everyone knows what it is like to cross enclosed country which you know really well in a fog and how easy it is to lose your way. Therefore, imagine these rolling hills, with no landmarks and absolutely unknown to anyone. Is it surprising that people lost their way and lost touch with those next to them? As a matter of fact, it was wonderful the way in which many men found their way right to the place we wanted to get to. But as a connected attack it was impossible.

The fog was intense it was practically impossible to keep direction and parties got split up. Owing to the heavy shelling all the Bosches had left their main trenches and were lying out in the open with snipers and machine guns in shell holes, so of course our fellows were the most easy prey.

It is so awfully sad now going about and finding so many splendid fellows gone.  

Newspaper reports show that George was originally declared as Missing. His family appealed for information in the Liverpool Echo on 21st August 1916:

"Private George H. Davies, "Pals". Any information regarding him will be gratefully received by his parents at 36, Carrington Street, Liverpool, S., or his sister, Miss C. Davies, 1, Broadgreen Road, Old Swan, Liverpool."

His name was published in the list of K.L.R. casualties on 14th September 1916 but was eventually confirmed as having been killed in action.

KILLED IN ACTION

DAVIES - Previously reported missing now officially reported killed in action July 30 1916 aged 24 years Private George Harold Davies (our George), K.L.R., (His duty nobly done.) Sadly missed by his sorrowing mother and all at 36 Carrington Street , Princes Park, also his sister Charlotte, 1 Broadgreen Road.

DAVIES - Previously reported missing now officially reported killed in action July 30 1916, Private George Harold Davies, (K.L.R.) (God only knows how I miss him; no one seems to understand. Yes, I loved him dearly. If I could only call him back. Sometime, someday, we shall meet never to part again. Never forgotten by his fiance Flo.) - Dock Road Garston.

George was buried close to where he fell and after the war, when graves were concentrated, his body was removed and reinterred in Guillemont Road Cemetery where he now rests. 

Guillemont was an important point in the German defences at the beginning of the Battle of the Somme in July 1916. It was taken by the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers on 30 July but the battalion was obliged to fall back, and it was again entered for a short time by the 55th (West Lancashire) Division on 8 August. On 18 August, the village was reached by the 2nd Division, and on 3 September (in the Battle of Guillemont) it was captured and cleared by the 20th (Light) and part of the 16th (Irish) Divisions. It was lost in March 1918 during the German advance, but retaken on 29 August by the 18th and 38th (Welsh) Divisions.

The cemetery was begun by fighting units (mainly of the Guards Division) and field ambulances after the Battle of Guillemont, and was closed in March 1917, when it contained 121 burials. It was greatly increased after the Armistice when graves (almost all of July-September 1916) were brought in from the battlefields immediately surrounding the village and certain smaller cemeteries.

Guillemont Road Cemetery now contains 2,263 Commonwealth burials and commemorations of the First World War. 1,523 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to eight casualties known or believed to be buried among them.

The cemetery was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.

George's grave reference is given as IV.F.4. Official documents were obtained which described the headstone which had been placed on the grave of George. The stone would include the prancing horse emblem of the Kings Regiment, together with his name. There would be a cross placed in the middle of the stone, and the final lines:

'Lost to Sight, To Memory Ever Dear'

were then inscribed upon it. The documents are corroborated by the photograph obtained of the actual headstone. 

His mother received his soldiers effects and was awarded a pension of 8/- a week from May 1917.

George was remembered on the first anniversary of his death:

"In loving memory of Private George Davies, K.L.R. (Pals), who was killed in action July 30, 1916. (Never forgotten by his Fiancee Flo, 21, Dock Road, Garston.) (Sweet are the memories you have left, dear, to one who knew your worth.")

Florence Louisa Atkin, a 20-year old tailoress, lived with her family at 21 Dock Road in 1911. She married in 1919.

In 1919, three years after his death, George's family received an official form sent out to relatives of the deceased, informing them of the effects he had with him at the time of death. For George, this amounted to  £1.12.6d which was authorised for payment to his mother, Mary E Peters, on the 30th June 1917. There was also a war gratuity amount of £3.00 given for transfer on 22nd August 1919. It was authorised on 9th October 1919 to George's mother, Martha Elizabeth. This was marked as paid on the official record. Although his remains stayed in France, George's death is commemorated on the family headstone of his grandparents, Joseph and Mary Seaman, back home in Liverpool.

The entry, towards the base of the grave in Toxteth Cemetary, Smithdown Road, is written the following:

'Also grandson of above, Pte George Harold Davies, 17th K.L.R. PALS, killed in action on the Somme 30th July 1916, Aged 24 Years.'

A final dedication reads:

'We'll know why clouds instead of sun, hang over all our cherished plans. Why hopes are crashed and castles fall, up there someday we'll understand.'

Rest In Peace George

Graham (your 1st cousin twice removed) 

 

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