Early years

Samuel Davies was born in Langley, Worcestershire in 1875 . the son of George Davies. On 29th November 1902 he married Alice Maud Mary Bond at St Matthias Church, Malvern Link.  The couple had four surviving children and lived at 2 Hartland Cottages, Lower Howsell Road, Malvern Link.  These cottages stood next to the Carpenters Arms on the corner of Lower Howsell Road and Worcester Road.

Great War

Samuel’s occupation was a groom and cab driver.  During the Great War he served with the Army Service Corps.  Unfortunately while his address is shown on pension records, which confirms that he was discharged from the army on 17th February 1919, his regimental number is not legible.  This has made tracking down his war service difficult.

However what is known, is that Samuel died in April 1919 and was buried at St Matthias graveyard on 7th April 1919.  His pension records do not show a claim for his death, and it appears that his death was not officially recorded as attributable to war service.  However his family clearly felt that the exertions of war contributed to his death and when the war memorial was erected in the church, added his name.  Some of his children were cared for in the Royal Albert Orphanage in Worcester for a time.

Second World War

A tragic postscript is that one of his sons, Alfred, died in the Second World War while serving with 51 Field Regiment, Royal Artillery.  He was killed in action in North Africa in 1941, aged 32.  

1911 Census
St Matthias Burial Register
Soldiers Pension Records