Pauline Priano has submitted the following:-
William Davis was born 1896 in West Cornforth, County Durham, one of 3 known children, 2 boys and 1 girl, of Edward Davis born 1861, Bilston, Staffordshire and Elizabeth born 1865, a native of County Durham. Edward was a hewer at the colliery as was William when he was older.
William enlisted in Ferryhill and was assigned as Private 4033 1st/5th Battalion Durham Light Infantry. The battalion was made up of volunteers and later renumbered as a Territorial Force he was assigned the new number of Private 6148, 6th Battalion, part of the Northumbrian Division. When the Territorials were given numbers in 1915 he was assigned as Private 251015 6th Battalion. The battalion was sent to the front, landing in Boulogne, April 18th 1915, They became part of the 150th Brigade 50 Northumbrian Division and without any, “nursery” period the Brigades of the Division were sent to the front around the northern part of the Ypres Salient. By June the 1st/6th and 1st/8th merged due to heavy casualties forming the 6th/8th Composite battalion until August when they separated, after the arrival of reinforcements, continuing to fight in the Ypres sector until 1916 when they were deployed during the Battles of the Somme. 1916 they were deployed during the 1st Battle of Scarpe, Capture of Warncourt , 2nd Battle of Scarpe and 2nd Battle of Passchendaele. all part of the Arras Offensive. Private 201015 William Davis Durham Light Infantry died during the Battle of Passchendaele 24/09/1917 and is buried in Bucquoy Road Cemetery, Ficheux, Pas de Calais, France, grave II. F. 4., he was 22 years old and unmarried.
His father commissioned at the cost of 7 shillings and 10 pence the words, “Death Divides But Memory Clings”, which was added to his military gravestone and received a pension and his awards of the British War Medal and Victory Medal, sent to the address of 13 Balaclava Street, West Cornforth, County Durham.
In God’s safe keeping. Rest In Peace.
William is remembered at Chilton on C107.01, C107.04 and C107.12 as William Davies and at Cornforth C115.03 as William Davis
