Commemorated: | |||
| 1. Memorial: | Thiepval Memorial, Picardie | ||
| 2. Book: | The (1921) Masonic Roll of Honour 1914-1918 | Pg.120 | |
| 3. Memorial: | The (1940) Scroll - WW1 Roll of Honour | 14B GQS | |
Awards & Titles: | |||
Family :
Robert was the son of Frederick Herbert Davies, a member of the Stock Exchange. He was born in 1877.Education & Career :
He was educated at Marlborough College (C2).
He became a member of the Stock Exchange in 1898, following his father.
Service Life:
Campaigns:
- The First World War 1914-1918, World-wide.
| Unit / Ship / Est.: 9th London Regiment (Queen Victoria's Rifles) |
1/9th (County of London) Battalion (Queen Victoria's Rifles) August 1914 : at 56 Davies Street. Part of 3rd London Brigade, 1st London Division. Moved on mobilisation to Bullswater, going on in September to Crowborough. 5 November 1914 : left Division and landed at Le Havre. 27 November 1914 : came under command of 13th Brigade in 5th Division. 10 February 1916 : transferred to 169th Brigade in 56th (London) Division. 1 February 1918 : transferred to 175th Brigade in 58th (2/1st London) Division, absorbed the disbanded 2/9th Bn and renamed 9th Bn. |
| Action : The Battles of the Somme 1916 |
The Battle of the Somme 1st July - 18th November 1916 is inevitably characterised by the appalling casualties (60,000) on the first day, July 1st 1916. Having failed to break through the German lines in force, and also failed to maximise opportunities where success was achieved, the battle became a series of attritional assaults on well defended defence in depth. The battle continued officially until 18th November 1916 costing almost 500,000 British casualties. German casualties were about the same, and French about 200,000. The Somme could not be counted a success in terms of ground gained or the cost, but it had a strategic impact as it marked the start of the decline of the German Army. Never again would it be as effective whilst the British Army, learning from its experience eventually grew stronger to become a war winning army. The German High Command recognised that it could never again fight another Somme, a view that advanced the decision to invoke unrestricted submarine warfare in an attempt to starve Britain of food and material, and in doing so accelerated the United States declaration of war thus guaranteeing the eventual outcome. 287 Brethren were killed on the Somme in 1916.
He was awarded the South African medal with four clasps.
Though he had already given great proof of his skill as a rifle shot, his victory in the King's Prize at Bisley in 1906 was a surprise to everyone except his friends. From that time onward he was recognized as one of the finest and most enthusiastic marksmen in the country. He did much to keep alive interest in rifle shooting before the opening of Lord Roberts' campaign, and he helped greatly to make the Bisley meeting an enjoyable social event. He reached the final stages of the King's Prize on four occasions, shot for England in 1910 and 1911 at Bisley and represented his country at the Olympic games at Stockholm in 1912.
Major Davies had retired with an Honorary Captaincy in the regular army in 1908, but he rejoined at the outbreak of war, served for two years in England and went to the Front in 1916.
Detail :
He was killed at the head of his men on 9 September of that year.
No known grave. Commemorated on THIEPVAL Memorial, Somme, France. Pier and Face 9 C
Masonic :
| Type | Lodge Name and No. | Province/District : |
|---|---|---|
| Mother : | Victoria Rifles No. 822 E.C. | London |
Initiated | Passed | Raised |
30th October 1901 | 27th November 1901 | 26th February 1902 |
Past Master
Discrepancies (Require checks, clarity or further research) :
His middle name is sometimes given without the first small 'f'.
Source :
The project globally acknowledges the following as sources of information for research across the whole database:
- The Commonwealth War Graves Commission
- The (UK) National Archives
- Ancestry.co.uk - Genealogy, Family Trees & Family History online
- ugle.org.uk - The records of the United Grand Lodge of England including the Library and Museum of Freemasonry
Additional Source:
- Founder Researchers : Paul Masters & Mike McCarthy
- Researcher : Bruce Littley