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233                234                             

Sergeant John Davies


Royal Engineers, Anti-Gas Est, service no. 279219

Died in Nottingham on November 27th, 1918, aged 34

Buried at Wrexham Cemetery

George was born in Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire in 1882, but the family soon moved to Bromyard, Herefordshire and later to Brecon. In 1889 they are living at Kennels Cottage in The Watton, where his father was huntsman. The family remain in Brecon for over twenty years but later moved to Wiston in Pembrokeshire, his father's birthplace.


In 1901 George is still at home, but by 1911 he and his older brother Thomas are living with their uncle and aunt at Dolgwili, Abergwili, Carmarthenshire and whilst Thomas is working as manager at a local quarry, George is shown as clerk at the same works. Their uncle Thomas Evans is the slate mine quarry owner. George is well known in Abergwili and becomes secretary for the Abergwili show.


George enlists in the Monmouthshire Regiment and is in the 2/1st battalion. Formed in Newport in September 1914 the Battalion became part of the 68th Division of 205 Brigade but remained on home service until disbanded in March 1918. George then joins the 1/1st where they were the Pioneer Battalion for the 46th Division. It is presumed the remaining men of the 2/1 were sent out as   
















































John Davies was born in Wrexham in 1883, where his father was a blacksmith in a local iron foundry. He was schooled in Wrexham and gained a degree in mathematics from Bangor in 1905. Having previously taught in Dorset, he was appointed to teach mathematics at Brecon County Intermediate School for Boys in September 1908, where he was also the sports master. John spent 8 years in Brecon and boarded in Bowen Terrace.


John appeared in the school photographs of 1914 and is credited with introducing advanced mathematics to the curriculum.


He was called up in March 1916 and because of his scientific training he was UK based and attached to the Royal Engineers and employed on the testing of poisonous gas, which aggravated a chest condition from which he suffered.


Following the Armistice, he was struck down by the influenza epidemic (Spanish flu) from which his damaged lungs failed to recover. He died in Nottingham in November 1918 and is buried in Wrexham cemetery.














































Rifleman Robert George Duncan Dempster


Monmouthshire Regiment, 2/1 Battalion, service no. 227181

Died of Wounds on October 10th, 1918 at no. 12 Casualty

Clearing Station in France, aged 36

Buried at Tincourt New British Cemetery