The Davies family

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Birmingham, Birmingham Police Force, David Davies, Evan Davies, France, Germany, Henry Davies, India, John Davies, Lowe Street, Mesopotamia, Midland Counties Express, Police, prisoner of war, Rifle Brigade, Royal Army Medical Corps, Royal Field Artillery, South Staffordshire Regiment, St John's Ambulance Association, Thomas Davies, Wales, Whitmore Reans

The Midland Counties Express dated 11 September 1915 talks of a “fine example of patriotism” as five sons of Mr and Mrs Davies of 65 Lowe Street, Whitmore Reans, were serving with the Army:

• David (right), aged 22, a Lance-Corporal in the Royal Army Medical Corps, who joined in Wolverhampton at the outbreak of war, and had previously been a member of the St John Ambulance Association.
• Thomas (middle), aged 24, was a Bombardier in the 14th Battery Royal Field Artillery. He had served for 6 years in the Army, four years in India and then in France.
• Evan (left), aged 27, was an acting Corporal in the 15th Battalion Rifle Brigade. He had formerly been a constable in the Birmingham Police Force. He had enlisted three months earlier and was serving in France.
• Jack (bottom), aged 20, was a private in the 1st Battalion of the South Staffordshire Regiment. He had been in the Army for 3 years, serving in South Africa, but had been a prisoner of war in Germany since October.
• Harry (top), aged 18, was a gunner in the 4th Staffordshire Battery of the Royal Field Artillery, and was currently in training at home.

These were the children of Daniel and Rosamond Davies, living at 112 Lowe Street in 1901 – the children are listed as Evan, Thomas, David, John, Henry and Elizabeth. They were all born in Carmarthenshire, in Wales. The family were living at 65 Lowe Street in 1911, and the children still at home were David, John, Henry, Elizabeth Ann, Joseph and Benjamin Disraeli. David was an Issuer and John was a Messenger, both working for the railway.

David was born in around 1893, but I have not been able to confirm further details about his life or military service.

Thomas was born in about 1890. He enlisted in the 66th Battery of the Royal Field Artillery (number 58684) in Birmingham on 2 September 1909, when his trade was given as engine cleaner. He became a Serjeant. He was wounded in action on 23 April 1916, receiving a bullet wound to the head. He recovered but was wounded in action again on 4 February 1917, receiving a gun shot wound to the shoulder, and was invalided to India. Again he recovered, but was killed in action in Mesopotamia on 5 November 1917. He is commemorated on the Basra Memorial.

Evan was born in around 1889. He enlisted in the Rifle Brigade (number 10652 or 3) on 6 May 1915, when his address was given as Kenyon Street Police Station, Birmingham. He served in France, rising to the rank of Lance Corporal. He was listed as missing on or since 21 March 1918, and it was later accepted that he had died on that date. He is commemorated at the Chauny Communal Cemetery British Extension.

John (known as “Jack”) was born in around 1895. I have not been able to confirm further details of his military service, or find his prisoner of war records.

Henry (otherwise “Harry”), was born in around 1898. He enlisted as a Gunner in the “B” Battery, 186th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (number 687002) at Wolverhampton, but was killed in action in France on 13 October 1918. He is commemorated at the Naves Communal Cemetery Extension.

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Richard William Kent

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Mitre Fold, Police, police force, Richard Kent, St Peter's Church, Staffordshire, Wolverhampton Borough Police Force, Worcestershire Regiment

Richard was born in Brierley Hill, Staffordshire in around 1883. In 1901 he was living with his parents, William and Elizabeth, at 65 Delph, Brierley HIll, alongside siblings Samuel, Thomas, Nancy, Elizabeth, Mary and Margaret.

He became a police officer and joined the Wolverhampton Borough Police Force on 1 January 1907. In 1908 he married Mary Jane Summerfield in Wolverhampton. By 1911, he was living at 13 Mitre Fold, Wolverhampton, together with his wife Mary Jane, daughters Annie Elizabeth and Nellie, and his sister, Mary Emma. They later had a son, Richard William, who was born in 1912.

On the outbreak of war, he joined the 3rd Battalion of the Worcestershire Regiment (number 7424) and became a Lance Corporal. Richard was killed in action on 7 November 1914 at Ploegsteert. This was noted in the Chief Constable’s Report Book on 21 December 1914. He is commemorated at the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, as well as in the Lady Chapel of St Peter’s Church in Wolverhampton.

George Woodward

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Army Service Corps, George Woodward, Mitre Fold, Police, police force, Salonica, Worcestershire

George was born in around 1883 in Worcestershire. On 28 April 1902 he married Emily Robinson at Amblecote, Worcestershire. By 1911 he was living at 8 Mitre Fold, Wolverhampton, together with his wife, Emily Maria, son George Frederick (born 30 September 1902) and daughter Gladys Irene (born 2 October 1906). George was a police constable with Wolverhampton Borough Police Force. They had another two sons, Albert, born on 16 March 1915, and Frank, born in 1921.

George joined the Army Service Corps on 21 April 1915, and this was noted in the Chief Constable’s Report Book on 3 May. He served in Salonica and survived the war, being discharged on 21 December 1918.

Alfred Thomas Kyte

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Army Service Corps, Barker Street, Bilston, Cheshire Regiment, India, Miner Street, Police, police force, Wolverhampton Borough Police Force, Wolverhampton Registry Office

Alfred was born in Wolverhampton in 1890, the son of George and Alice Kyte. In 1891 they were living at 16 Miner Street, Wolverhampton, with Alfred’s sisters Sarah Ann and Rebecca. By 1901 they were at 7 Barker Street, and Alfred had an additional three siblings – Alice Mary, Jane and Edward. On 16 May 1910, he married Elizabeth Witts at Wolverhampton Registry Office, and they had two children – Violet May (born 5 January 1911) and Alfred Gilbert (born 10 September 1913). At some point, Alfred became a police officer and worked with Wolverhampton Borough Police Force.

On 22 April 1915 he rejoined the Army Service Corps (number 089645), when his address was given as 26 Portland Place, Wolverhampton. He was quickly transferred to the 2nd Battalion of the Cheshire Regiment (number 64584). Over the course of his military service he was appointed Lance Corporal, reverted to being a Private on completion of duties, was posted to India, and was appointed Lance Corporal again. However, he survived the war. Alfred died in Bilston in 1959.

Henry George Kidd

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Grenadier Guards, Henry Kidd, Norfolk, Police, police force, Wolverhampton Borough Police Force

Henry was born in Norfolk in 1889, the son of William Elijah and Louisa Jane Kidd. In 1901, he appeared with his parents at West Wretham, Norfolk, along with sisters Louisa, Mary Elizabeth and Florence Kate, and brother William Victor. By 1911, he was in the 1st Battalion of the Grenadier Guards.

Henry became a police officer and joined Wolverhampton Borough Police Force on 3 October 1911. He married Ethel Mary Callaway in Wolverhampton in 1913.

On the outbreak of War, P.C. Kidd was called upon to rejoin his Regiment (number 13920), and he enlisted at Bury St. Edmunds. He died of wounds on 16 September 1916. An entry in the Chief Constable’s Report Book incorrectly states that he was killed in action on 17 September 1916. He is buried at the Le Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie.

Henry’s wife, Ethel, had a baby, Eric, in 1917, so unfortunately Henry never met his son.

James Philip D. Church

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Bridgend, Harrow Street, James Church, Police, police force, Royal Garrison Artillery, Shropshire, Wolverhampton Borough Police Force

James was born in around 1867 in Bridgend, Glamorgan, the son of William and Emma Church. He married Mary Ellen Sarah Wade in Wolverhampton on 6 April 1893, and they had one son, James Robert, in Wolverhampton on 28 December 1904. James joined the police force, becoming a Sergeant by 1901 and a Police Inspector by 1911 with Wolverhampton Police Force. Throughout that period the family were living at 76 Harrow Street, Wolverhampton.

Despite his age, there is a note in the Chief Constable’s Report Book for 19 October 1914 listing Inspector Church as one of the men who had applied to rejoin his regiment. In James’s case, this was the Royal Garrison Artillery (service number 2420). Unfortunately, according to an entry in the Report Book for 7 December 1914,

he was discharged after 3 weeks as medically unfit & has been on the sick list since rejoining.

His pension records confirm that he was discharged on 23 November 1914 with chronic sciatica. James’s wife, Mary, died in Atcham, Shropshire, in 1924, and James remarried to a Sarah Anne Colley on 7 July 1925. He himself died on 22 March 1949.

 

Levi Jeffries

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Chief Constable, France, Levi Jeffries, Owen Road, Police, police force, Royal Garrison Artillery, South Africa, Staffordshire, Warwickshire, Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery, Wolverhampton Borough Police Force

Today we remember Levi Jeffries, who died 100 years ago today.

Levi was born in Long Compton, Warwickshire in 1873, the son of Frederick and Maria Jeffries. In 1891 they were living in Ingestre, Staffordshire, together with Levi’s brothers Albert, George and Charles A., and Levi was a servant at Ingestre Hall. He married Louisa Mary Bulmer in St George’s Hannover Square in 1899.

By 1911 he was a Detective Sergeant with Wolverhampton Borough Police. He was living at 109 Owen Road, Wolverhampton, together with his wife Louisa, sons Charles and Claude, daughter Sheila, and his sister-in-law Kate Bulmer.

An entry in the Chief Constable’s Report Book on 19 October 1914 lists Sergeant Jeffreys [sic] as one of the police officers who have applied to rejoin their regiments. In the case of Levi, this was the 185th Heavy Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery (number 2419 and later 277419). He had previously served in the South African Campaign. He first served in France from 7 July 1915. Levi died at home in Wolverhampton on 23 October 1916, and is buried in the Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery. A brief entry in the Report Book for 4 December 1916 states that “D.S. Jeffries died in Hospital Here on 23rd Oct 1916 & was accorded full Military & Police honours.”

Wolverhampton Archives has the report from the Coroner’s inquest that was done following Levi’s death. This states the following:

That on the Twenty-third Day of October in the Year aforesaid, at the General Hospital in the said Borough, the said Levi Jeffries died of misadventure under an anaesthetic properly and carefully administered for a proper operation for a sebaceous cyst which arose from an accident in the trenches, the heart being injuring by gassing at the front.

A small newspaper clipping contained in the coroner’s file gives more details about the incident in the trenches:

During the course of an attack he was flung back in the trench where he was engaged, and subsequently complained of an injury to his back, being allowed special leave to return home.

The article also stated that Levi had received medals from three monarchs – Queen Victoria, King Edward and King George, as he had received medals for both military campaigns but also a medal for bravery during his work with the police.

John Wise

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Birmingham, Chief Constable, John Wise, Mitre Fold, Police, police force, Wolverhampton Police Force

Originally from Birmingham, John Wise was born in 1879, the son of Samuel and Mary A. Wise. In 1906 he married Clara Adams, and they went on to have six children – Francis, John, Samuel, Clara, William and Hilda. John became a Police Constable and at some point moved to Wolverhampton Police Force. In 1911, he appeared with his wife and two of his children at 9 Mitre Fold, Wolverhampton.

A note in the Chief Constable’s Report Book on 19 October 1914 states that PC Wise (among others) has applied to rejoin his former regiment and left on that date. I have been unable to confirm further details of John’s regiment, but as his last daughter was born in 1920, he clearly survived the War.

George Reynolds (1889)

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Bushbury, Express & Star, Fordhouse Road, George Reynolds, HMS Hampshire, Lord Kitchener, Police, Royal Navy, Tipton

George Reynolds was born in Wolverhampton on 13 December 1889, the son of John G. and Elizabeth Reynolds. In 1901 they were living at 6 Fordhouse Road, Bushbury, along with George’s brothers, Tom, John and William, and sister Nellie. George became a police constable, and by 1911, he was living in Police accommodation in Tipton.

On 12 July 1913, he enlisted in the Royal Navy as a Stoker 2nd Class (number K19786). He served on 4 different boats, including the HMS Hampshire. On 5 June 1916, the Hampshire was destroyed by a German submarine, with the loss of most of her crew. As well as Lord Kitchener, who was on board at the time, amongst those killed was George Reynolds. He appeared in an article in the Express & Star on 14 June 1916, alongside two other Wolverhampton men who lost their lives on the Hampshire, George William Bowen and William C. Squire. George is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, as well as the memorial in St Mary’s Church, Bushbury, and he may possibly appear on other memorials within the area.

Police Constable H. Holmes

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Battle of Mons, Express & Star, H. Holmes, Police, trenches, Wolverhampton Police Force

On the 3 October 1914, the Express & Star reported on a letter received by Superintendent Lewis of the Wolverhampton Borough Police Force. This letter was written by one of his serving Police Constables, PC H. Holmes, of his experiences at the Battle of Mons.

They arrived in Mons on the Saturday and set up a few outposts, making an empty house their headquarters. The next morning, he describes how “we did not know we were anywhere near the enemy until they came upon us in droves.” Holmes saw some troops marching towards them and when they got closer could see they were the Brigade of Guards. He scanned the faces to see if any fellow police officers where amongst the troops, and spotted two of his colleagues, Brewin and Spencer.

Once the brigade had passed, they hurriedly made trenches and the fighting started. Meanwhile, “the civilian population of the village were hurrying past us with bundles of clothes and dragging children after them.” Once the shrapnel started showering down among them, the soldiers took to the trenches. Holmes didn’t “think much of [the enemy’s] rifle fire”, as their casualties were quite small compared to the German losses, “for they came up like so many savages in savage warfare to be mown down by our artillery and rifle fire.”

Holmes’s troops kept fighting and retiring for a number of days. He lost his regiment and joined with the heavy battery Royal Garrison Artillery, who only had three wounded. After a week, Holmes picked up his own regiment again and started forcing the enemy back. The German horses were “strewn all along the road dead from exhaustion”. The enemy blew the bridge over the river up, so the troops had to cross the river in single file, one at a time, over a plank about a foot wide. Holmes’s brigade crossed at night as they were under fire during the day. Under heavy fire, they held their position in the trenches for eight days and nights, and “inflicted enormous losses.” Finally on the eight night they were relieved by another division and were able to march back to a rest camp.

Without further details about P.C. Holmes, including his first name or even his regiment, I have been unable to verify his background, so if anybody can provide further information on this man, please get in touch!