Pte 23927 Alfred George Davies

The April 1901 Census finds Alfred aged 8, he and the family are at 162 Upper Warwick Street Toxteth. His father is 51 years of age, whilst his mother is 45. His siblings, recorded as resident are listed as: Jessie Dorsman aged 24, Richard aged 21 and a house joiner, Peter aged 19 and a marine engineer, Mary Ellen aged 16 and a dress maker, Florence 14, Albert 12, Harold Dorsman 9, Walter 6 and Leonora Elsie 4.   

On the 29th September 1901 his mother, Jessie died aged 45.

On the 20th November 1909 his father, David James, died aged 59.

 

The April 1911 Census finds that Alfred is living with his eldest unmarried sister Jessie and his five siblings at 26 Gwenfron Road, Kensington, Liverpool. He is now aged 17 and is recorded as a spice miller's office boy. His sister Jessie is head of the household, she is 32 years of age and described as a housekeeper. His other siblings are recorded as: Mary Ellen 26 and a dressmaker, Albert 22 a tramway car cleaner, Harold Dorsman 19 and an education clerk, Walter is 16 and working for contractors, Leonora Elsie is 14 and at school.

 

Alfred enlisted in Liverpool as Private 23927 joining the 20th (Pals) Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment. 

Formed in November 1914 the 20^th Battalion were originally billeted at Tournament Hall, Knotty Ash before on 29^th January 1915 they moved to the hutted accommodation purposely built at Lord Derby’s estate at Knowsley Hall. On 30th April 1915 the 20th Battalion alongside the other three Pals battalions left Liverpool via Prescot Station for further training at Belton Park, Grantham. They remained here until September 1915 when they reached Larkhill Camp on Salisbury Plain. He arrived in France on 7^th November 1915.

He was transferred to the 17th Battalion of The King's Liverpool Regiment, probably following the disbandment of the 20th Battalion K.L.R. in February 1918.  

 

During an attack near Ypres, Belgium on 29 April 1918, aged 24, he is reported Missing.  

 

A year later on 29 April 1919 his siblings place an advert in the Liverpool Echo reporting him as still Missing and requesting information as to his whereabouts:

DAVIES - Missing since April 29 1918 PRIVATE ALFRED GEORGE DAVIES 23927 17th King's Liverpool Regiment (Pals) - Any information gratefully received by his loving sisters and brothers, 26 Gwenfron Road, Kensington, Liverpool (Fondly remembered)  

 

On the 13th December 1919 the Army finally declare him dead and his death being assumed on the last day he was seen on 29 April 1918.

The 17th Battalion's action on the 29^th April 1918 during the German Spring Offensive were recorded in the battalion diary:

By the 25^th April the battalion had taken up positions of readiness in the Voormezeele sector. According to the battalion War Diary, on the night of the 27^th, at 8.30 p.m. they moved to the line to relieve 4^th Bn, relief completed about 1 a.m.

28^th – At about 1 p.m. a company of composite battalion gave way on the left of our line and the Bosche penetrated from the Canal Bank to the left of my battalion front, which position he maintained despite 5 hours fighting. My reserve company was ordered to counter-attack and restore the position at 7.45 p.m. but enemy laid down a barrage at 7.43 a.m. and the counter attack was unable to proceed. The enemy bombardment lasted until 10.30 p.m. and I then organised a defensive flank.

29^th – At 3.30 a.m. heavy enemy bombardment opened, followed later (9.00 a.m.) by enemy attack and our line was forced back to G.H.Q.1 where I organised and held on to the position. The enemy got through on both flanks practically surrounding 2 of my companies. ‘A’ company was actually surrounded and after severe fighting were captured.

Alfred's body was not recovered or was subsequently lost as he has no known grave and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial in Belgium.

Those United Kingdom and New Zealand servicemen who died after August 16th 1917 are named on the Tyne Cot Memorial, a site which marks the furthest point reached by Commonwealth forces in Belgium until nearly the end of the war.

The Tyne Cot Memorial now bears the names of almost 35,000 officers and men whose graves are not known. The memorial, designed by Sir Herbert Baker with sculpture by Joseph Armitage and F.V. Blundstone, was unveiled by Sir Gilbert Dyett on 20 June 1927.

The memorial forms the north-eastern boundary of Tyne Cot Cemetery, which was established around a captured German blockhouse or pill-box used as an advanced dressing station.

His soldiers pay arrears is shared out equally amongst all  of his siblings. The sum of £2:12s:4d is kept back for his brother Richard who was in an Asylum. 

 

On 29 April 1920 his siblings placed a Memoriam notice in the Liverpool Echo: 

DAVIES - In ever loving memory of our dear brother Alf (Private Alfred George Davies), Pals, killed in action April 29th 1918 - Ever remembered by his loving sisters and brothers 26 Gwenfron Road.