Davies, James

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James Davies

16596, Private, 9th Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Killed in action, 25 September 1915, aged 31
No known grave (Loos Memorial, France)

CWGC registered (no family details)

James Davies, the son of William and Mary Davies, was born in Llangystennin in 1884. The Census of Wales for 1891 records the family living at “Tai Isaf”, Bryn Pydew; William Davies was a general labourer and James (6) was recorded with an elder sister Maria (8). In 1901, the family still lived at Bryn Pydew, William Davies being employed at a limestone quarry and Mary Davies keeping a green grocer’s stall at Llandudno market. James was recorded as attending the market are working in a garden. In 1905, James married Cissy Sarah Lingwood Hughes. The 1911 Census records Cissy (as Sarah) residing with her aunt in Llanrhos with her three children: Olwen (4), Glyn (1) and Thomas Noel (3 months). James was at the home of his widowed mother at “Baronhill Cottage”, Bryn Pydew; he was described as Labourer (Tramway). (The Great Orme Tramway had opened in 1902, the Llandudno-Colwyn Bay Electric Railway in 1907).

At the outbreak of war, James Davies volunteered to join the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and enlisted at Llandudno. He joined the 9th (Service) Battalion, the second of the regiment’s New Army battalions that had formed at Wrexham in September 1914. James’ regimental number was 16596. The battalion moved to Tidworth on Salisbury Plain but by December 1914 it was in billets at Basingstoke. It returned to Tidworth in March 1915 and landed at Boulogne on 19 July 1915.

On the evening of 24 September 1915, the battalion was in trenches near Festubert. The next day the battalion was part of offensive that attacked the German lines in what became known as the Battle of Loos. James Davies’ fate is unknown and his body was never identified. For administrative purposes, his date of death is given as 25 September 1915.

Cissy Davies married John William Prydderch in 1918. She died in 1975.

Known memorials:

  • Loos Memorial, France
  • Llandudno Roll of Honour
  • Llandudno War Memorial
  • Memorial Chapel, Holy Trinity Church, Llandudno

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