Edward John Davies was born in Nelson in about 1884. I have been unable to find his parents, since the first Census record for him, in 1891, he is shown as living at 33 Shingrig Road, Nelson with his grandparents, Morgan and Ann Davies, along with his brother David and sister Blodwen and their cousins Rachel and Mary Griffiths. I have also been unable to locate, with any certainty, where Edward is on the 1901 Census reports.

In the third quarter of 1907, Edward Davies married a Matilda Davies in Pontypridd. Matilda was one year younger than Edward and she was born in Treharris. I believe her parents were Thomas and Rebecca Davies who, in 1891 were living at 30 Fell Street, Treharris and had moved to 2 Blackbrook Villas, Treharris by 1901.

By 1911 Edward John Davies and Matilda were shown as living at 33 Shingrig Road, Nelson, along with their son Haydn Thomas Davies who had been born in 1909.

Military records show that Edward Davies’ wife Matilda was the sole legatee of his effects.

News:

29^th July 1916

Killed in action

Death has occurred in action of Sgt Eddie Davies, Cardiff City Battalion, Welsh Regiment, of Station Terrace, Nelson.
Mrs Davies was informed on Tuesday when a letter arrived from the deceased’s commanding officer. Sgt Davies was at one time a non-commissioned officer in the Monmouth Engineers (militia) and his training there won him speedy promotion when he rejoined the colours. Deceased was 32 years old and leaves a wife and two young children.

The letter notifying his death reads as follows:

D Coy, 16^th Welsh Regiment
Dear Mrs Davies,
please accept the sincere sympathy of the N.C.O.s of the above company in your very sad bereavement. Your husband suffered no pain. He was leading his platoon in the attack on a wood when he was shot down by a machine gun, his death being instantaneous.
With deepest sympathy, Yours sincerely,
W.H. Simmons, C.P.M.S.

The deceased’s company commander, Captain Eddie Williams, also wrote to Mrs Davies and his letter is as follows:

It is with feelings of deepest regret that I have to inform you of the death of Sgt E Davies. My platoon, which formed the front line of the attack on Mametz Wood, was practically wiped out. The men followed me cheerfully and it was cruel to see them fall before the hail of bullets.
He was a great helper to me and a fine, cool, courageous man.
Yours sincerely,
Eddie Williams, O.C. “D” Coy.

The 8^th Nelson man killed in action during the war.

[Source: Merthyr Express]