W.B. Davies

DAVIES, William B.
Private 22470
South Wales Borderers

Born - Gelligaer
Died - 15th November 1920 - as a result of military service in The Great War

From the information below we can see that William Davies survived the horrors of the War, but it’s impact on his health only allowed him two years of peacetime life.

William Benjamin Davies was the second child born to David Samuel Davies and Mary (nee Morgan).
1901 census shows that at the time he was living at Powell’s Pit Cottages, Nelson along with his mother, who was shown as a widow. A quick calculation will work out that David Davies would have died around 1900.

The head of the household was Mary Ann Morgan, b. about 1852 in Gelligaer. She was shown as a widow at the age of 49yrs, and mother to Mary Davies
Mary Ann Morgan had two more of her children living with her, namely, Philip Morgan, b 1876 and Elizabeth, b. 1882.

William Benjamin Davies, born about 1898, had a brother and a sister, namely:
Edward Henry Davies, born about 1894 and
Doris Mary Davies, born about 1900.

By 1911, Philip is shown as head of the house and still shares the home with his sister Mary Davies and her three children. The address is shown as Powell’s Works, Nelson.

27th November 1920

With deep regret we record the death of one of our returned soldier heroes. Mr William B Davies, son of Mrs Mary Davies and the late Mr David Davies, Powell’s Cottages, Nelson.
The deceased lad, who was only 22 years of age, joined the South Wales Borderers during the war and saw over two years services in France, being badly wounded on one occasion and gassed on another. On his return to civil life he resumed work at the Penallta Colliery where he was held in high esteem by his fellow workmen.
As a result of his war service, his health, however, was poor and a sharp attack of double pneumonia resulted in his death on Monday week after only four days illness.

[Source: Merthyr Express]

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