William Henry Davis
- Family History
- Military History
- Extra Information
- Photographs
William Henry Davis was born in 1892 at Liverpool and was the son of Benjamin Henry a collector for a coal company and Agnes Davis néé Hutchinson of 98 Pear Tree Street, Derby. His father Benjamin Henry was born in 1866 at Liverpoll and his mother Agnes Hutchinson was born at Whitchurch, Shropshire in 1870, they were married in Whitchurch in 1891 and went on to have the following children, William Henry 1892 Liverpool, Percival Stanley b1904 Liverpool, Edith Marie b1904 Whitchurch, James Leslie b1907 Derby and Bernard Harry Davis b1909 Derby In the 1911 census they lived at 98 Pear Street Derby and were shown as Benjamin Henry Davis 45 yrs a collector for a coal company, he is living with his wife Agnes 41 yrs and their children William Henry 19 yrs a house painter, Percival Stanley 11 yrs a scholar, Edith Marie 7 yrs a scholar, James Leslie 4 yrs and Bernard Harry 2 yrs of age. He was the husband of Lucy Jane Davis 23 Portland Street, Newark who later lived at 22 Cherry Holt Lane Newark.
William Henry Davis enlisted in the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derby Regiment) on 30 December 1912 as a Territorial Force soldier. He was mobilised on the outbreak of war in August 1914 and entered theatre, France, on 11 November 1914. His medal index card lists 2nd Battalion and the medal roll only gives 2nd battalion ( MIC or paperwork error). War Diary 31 August 1916 - "Weather fine. At 4.15 am,. We sprung a mine immediately to the left of the Battn Front, the left coy being cleared out of the trenches just before the explosion. We were relieved today by 2nd Northamptonshire Regt., while we went back to take over Support trenches from 1st Worcestershire Regt. Gen., Eden visited parts of the line at different times during the morning" This area of the Loos front was constantly being mined but on the whole the battalion had been lucky. It is likely that William Henry was killed during the change over of battalions, which was always a more dangerous period. He was the only man to die that day. John Morse
Vermelles British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. VI. E. 6; His widow Lucy Jane Davis received a pension of 10 shillings per week. Article published 13th September 1916 in the Newark Advertiser :- Married to Mrs L.J. Davis, second daughter of Mr & Mrs Dring, 23 Portland Street, Newark. Married at Derby, two years and eight months ago. Joined up immediately on the outbreak of war. Serving in the Lewis gun section. A German mine was exploded at 4:30 am on August 31st and a large piece of chalk struck Pte Davis on the head killing him instantly.
