DAVIES, David Stanley

"CEFN POLICE SERGEANT'S SON - KILLED ON FIRST DAY OF BATTLE OF LOOS"

Private David Stanley Davies, 17738, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.

Commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France (panel 50-52) & the Cefn Coed War Memorial

Prior to the war, David was a wheelwright & joined the colours in November 1914, travelling overseas with his Battalion on 17th May 1915.

Reported as Missing in Action on 25th September 1915 (first day of the Battle of Loos), assumed killed on 7th October 1915, age 19.

Taken from the 1st Btn RWF war diary:

"The First Battle of Loos - Battalion marched across country from VERMELLES to 'place d'amiens' at CLERK'S POST. The attack was launched between 5 - 6am, after an intense bombardment and gas attack, the 1st battalion RWF was in support to the South Staffordshire and 2nd Royal Warwickshire Regt and penetrated right through the German lines to CITE, St ELIE but were unsupported.

After the first trenches had been won, the resisitence of the enemy was very much lessened.

Officers Killed - 3

Officers Wounded - 14

Other Rates Killed - 43

Other Rates Wounded - 246

Other Rates Missing - 135 (David was one of these)

Gassed - 2"

Son of Police Sgt David Davies & Sarah Davies, 3 Station Road (and also 12 Lower Vaynor Road), Cefn Coed.