James Davies was born in Toxteth Park, Liverpool, in the second quarter of 1888 the son of John Davies and his wife Elizabeth (née Roberts), who were both born in Denbighshire. They had at least six children: John, Sarah A. and Ellen were born in Wales; the family moved to Liverpool between 1880 and 1884, where Martha, James, and Blodwen were born.

 

At the time of the 1891 Census the family are living at 34 Haliburton Street, Toxteth Park, with six children, three lodgers and a visitor. His father, is 44 years of age and is a warehouse porter, born in Llanarmon, Denbighshire, his mother is 43 years of age and was born in Llanfair,Denbighshire. John, is aged 15 is a warehouse lad, Sarah A., is aged 13, and a scholar, Ellen, is aged 11 and a scholar, Martha, is aged 6 and also a scholar, James, is aged 3 and Blodwen is a newborn. There are three lodgers in the houshold and one visitor.   

 

His mother died in late 1899, aged 51.

 

In 1901 James, with his father and younger sister, are still at 34 Haliburton Street. His father, 54, is a sampler in a tobacco warehouse, James is 13, and Blodwen 10. It is not known when his father died. 

 

1911 James is living with his married sister Sarah Roberts, her husband and three children, at 62 Underley Street.  James is 23, single, employed as a cotton porter.

 

James enlisted in Liverpool on 04th September 1914, as Private 17569, 19th Bn King’s Liverpool Regiment, giving his age as 26 years and 180 days, and his occupation as clerk.  He was described as being 5’ 7 and a quarter inches tall, weighing 156 lbs, with a 38” chest, a sallow complexion, blue eyes and dark brown hair. He states his religion as Church of England and his next of kin as his sister Mrs. Sarah Roberts, at 6A Garrick Street, Smithdown Road, Liverpool. 

Formed on 07^th September 1914 the 19^th Battalion trained locally at Sefton Park and remained living at home or in rented accommodation until November 1914. They then moved to the hutted accommodation at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 19th 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. On 03/10/1915 whilst at Larkhill, James was absent without leave for 24 hours; he forfeited two days’ pay and was confined to barracks for seven days.

 

James shipped to France with his battalion, disembarking at Boulogne on 07th November 1915.

 

04/9/1916 granted Good Conduct Badge on completion of two years’ service.

 

07/10/1916 to Lewis Gun course.

 

15/10/1916 rejoined unit.

 

James was appointed unpaid Lance Corporal on 30/12/1916. He served in no.2 Company.

 

03/02/1917 granted leave to U.K.

 

20/02/1917 rejoined from leave 

 

James was wounded in action on 09th April 1917, the opening day of the Battle of Arras.  He was admitted to No.20 Casualty Clearing Station with gunshot wounds to his right arm, right leg, and back. James died of his wounds at No.11 Stationary Hospital, Rouen on 14th April 1917, aged 29.

He now rests at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen in France.

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. 

The telegram sent from 11 Stationary Hospital, to Infantry Records, Preston, informing them of his death, states GSW R arm, R chest, R hip.

 

His name appeared in the list of K.L.R. Died of Wounds published in the Liverpool Daily Post on 10th May 1917.

 

James earned his three medals, which were sent to his only brother John.  The pension card in the name of his brother Mr. John Davies, 4 Evans Street, off Blenheim Street, Scotland Road, Liverpool, appears to show that a pension was initially refused, then later awarded.

 

His Army effects, Army Pay of £11 8s 8d went to his siblings John, Mary Roberts, Elizabeth Davies, Sarah A. Roberts, Ellen Carridge, and nephews Norman, Eric, and Isaac Longrigg. The War Gratuity of £12 was shared between his siblings as well as nephew Isaac. 

 

In 1920 his brother John, 45, provided information on James’ living relatives:  his four sisters were all married;  Mary, Elizabeth, and Sarah were living in Liverpool, and Ellen was “somewhere in Staffordshire”.