Capt Arthur de Bells Adam (MC)
1885 - 1916

CPL David Wallace Crawford
1887 - 1916

Lce-Corpl John Joseph Nickle
1894 - 1916

Pte 17911 Morton Neill
1897 - 1916

Lieut Edward Stanley Ashcroft
1883 - 1918

Pte 56659 William Spencer Davies

Age: 29
From: Prescot, Lancs
Regiment: The King's (Liverpool Regiment) 18th Btn
K.I.A Thursday 26th April 1917
Commemorated at: Cherisy Rd East Cem, Heninel
Panel Ref: 10

William Spencer Davies was born in April 1888 at 179 Prescot Road, Prescot to West Derby born blacksmith Hector Davies and his Caernarfon born wife Annie (nee Rowlands). They married on Christmas Day, 25^th December 1866, at St John's Church, Liverpool. They had 13 children and William was their final child.

The April 1891 Census shows the family still iving at at 179 Prescot Road. William is aged 2 and lives with his parents and seven siblings. His siblings are listed as Thomas, Hector, Mary, Agnes, Annie, Henry and May.

His mother Annie, sadly died in the December quarter of 1900, aged 53. William is 11 years old at this time.

The April 1901 Census shows that the family have moved and are now living at 15 Liverpool Road, Huyton with Roby. William is aged 12 and is living with his widowed father, seven siblings and his nephew and neice. His father is now 56 years of age and is still a blacksmith. His siblings included his older sister Margaret Brathwaite, she is a widow aged 29, and has her two children living in the household, they are Norman H. aged 3 and Nellie aged 1. Also recorded in the household are his siblings; Hector a 28 year old blacksmith, Mary A.H. 23, James 21 also a blacksmith, Annie 19, Henry 16 ia an architect's apprentice, May 14,

On the 03rd January 1908, his father, Hector, died aged 63.

The April 1911 Census finds the family are still living at Liverpool Road, Huyton. William is aged 22 and is living with his elder brothers; Thomas a 42 year old blacksmith and Henry a 26 year old draughtsman. Thomas is the head of the household, he has been married for 10 years to Mary E. and they have four children; Hector 9, Annie E. 7, Freda 5 and Mary 1. William is shown on this Cenus as a clerk in a coal colliery merchants office. It is stated that William had been there for 7 years since he was 15. This was Mr Hallas Coal Merchant in Huyton.

In the December quarter of 1911, William married in Prescot to 23 year old Kate Large. They had two children:

Henry Spencer Davies born on 23rd May 1912

Constance May Davies born on 06th November 1914

William enlisted at Prescot in November 1916 as Private 56659 and was serving with the 18^th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment.

On 21st March 1917 he arrived in France with his Battalion. He was then 28 years of age.

On the 26th April 1917, just after his 29^th birthday, he was killed in action.

William now rests at Cherisy Road East Cemetery, Heninel, France in a shared plot with a fellow Pal of the18^th Battalion; Private 56701 William Webster both killed in action on the same day.

The village of Heninel was captured in a snowstorm on 12 April 1917 by the 56th (London) and 21st Division. The 50th (Northumbrian) Division, advancing from Heninel on the two following days, captured Wancourt Tower. Cherisy Road East Cemetery was made by the 30th and 33rd Division Burial Officers in April 1917. The cemetery contains 82 First World War burials, 19 of which are unidentified.

He was one of 8 Pals of the 18th Battalion killed in action that day, although the 18th Battalion diary does not mention any casualties on that date. In addition the 17th battalion lost two men, and the 20th Battalion one man. One Pal of the 19^th Battalion died from his wounds the following day.

On 22 May 1917 the Liverpool Echo printed an article headed:-

A HUYTON MAN

Mrs Davies, of Hale Lane, Huyton Quarry, received news that her husband, Private William Spencer Davies, was killed in action in France. He enlisted in November last and was attached to the King's (Liverpool) Regiment, with whom he went to France on March 21. Private Davies in pre-war times for over 13 years in the employ of Mr Hallas, coal proprietor, Huyton. He was 29 years of age and leaves a widow and two young children.

His soldiers pay of £2:1s:10d was paid to his widow Kate on 29th August 1917, followed by a War Gratuity of £3 on 01st December 1919. She and her children were awarded a dependents pension also to their address at 20 Hall Lane, Huyton Quarry.

William is commemorated on the following Memorials:

Huyton with Roby

St Michael's Church Triptych, Huyton.

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

Grateful thanks are extended to Stephen Nulty for permission to use the photograph of William on this site. Please visit Stephen's excellent website:

www.prescot-rollofhonour.info

Killed On This Day.

(109 Years this day)
Sunday 22nd April 1917.
Pte 52865 Hyman Barnett Gadansky
28 years old

(108 Years this day)
Monday 22nd April 1918.
Pte 136181 Edwin Williams
19 years old