Main CPGW Record
Surname: DAVIS
Forename(s): Thomas William
Place of Birth: Gargrave, Yorkshire
Service No: 41551
Rank: Private
Regiment / Corps / Service: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Battalion / Unit: 17th (Service) Battalion. (2nd Leeds)
Division: 35th Division
Age: 34
Date of Death: 1917-03-07
Awards: ---
CWGC Grave / Memorial Reference: Pier and Face 2 A 2 C and 2 D.
CWGC Cemetery: ---
CWGC Memorial: THIEPVAL MEMORIAL
Non-CWGC Burial: ---
Local War Memorial: BARNOLDSWICK, YORKSHIRE
Local War Memorial: GARGRAVE, YORKSHIRE
Additional Information:
Thomas William Davis (born 23 May 1883) was the son of Mary Hannah Davis. Mary was born at Duffield, Derbyshire, c. 1859.
1891 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: Church Lane - Thomas Wm Davis, aged 7 years, born Gargrave, son of Mary H. and stepson of Richard Black. [Mary had married Richard in 1886.]
1901 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: 4, East Street - Thomas W. Davis, aged 17 years, born Gargrave, son of Mary A. and [stepson of] Richard Black.
1911 Gargrave, Yorkshire Census: South Street - Thomas William Davis, aged 26, born Gargrave, son of Mary Hannah Black, widow.
British Army WW1 Medal Rolls Index Cards: Pte Thomas Davis, 41551, W. York. R. K. in A. 7.3.17.
British Army WW1 Medal and Award Rolls: Pte Thomas Davis, 41551, 17th W. York. R. Killed in Action 7.3.17.
Army Registers of Soldiers' Effects: Pte Thomas Davis, 41551, 17th Bn W. Yorks. Date and Place of Death: 7.3.17. France. To whom Authorised/Amount Authorised: Mother - Mary H. Black. £6 3s. 2d.
UK, WW1 Pension Ledgers and Index Cards, 1914-1923: card(s) exist for Thomas. Name(s) on card(s): Ethel Shaw, (Guardian) [of] illegitimate child. Address: 11, Commercial Street, Skipton.
Ethel Shaw, née Taylor married Tom Shaw in 1911. In the 1911 Census, Ethel, single, her brother, Thomas Lyal Taylor* and her son, Arthur Taylor, aged 4 years, were living at 7, Mount Pleasant, Skipton. Arthur died on the 6 April 1921. * Lance Corporal Thomas Lyal Taylor (11252) (q.v.).
The 15th (Service) Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (1st Leeds), informally known as the Leeds Pals, were amalgamated with the 17th (Service) Bn Prince of Wales's Own (West Yorkshire Regiment) (2nd Leeds) to form the 15th/17th Battalion on the 7 December 1917.
Thomas is commemorated on the Midland Railway War Memorial at Derby.
Short biographies of Thomas are included in:
‘Barnoldswick – A small Town’s part in conflicts 1800 to 2014’ by Peter Ian Thompson (2014).
‘From Mills to Marching and Back Again – A History of Gargrave from 1900 to 1925’ by Sue Lyall and Donavon Slaven with contributions from George Ingle, Ray Jones and Martin Thompson (2019).
Data Source: Craven’s Part in the Great War - original CPGW book entry
View Entry in CPGW BookEntry in West Yorkshire Pioneer Illustrated War Record:
DAVIS, Thomas William, [Gargrave], aged 34, West Yorkshire Regiment, killed in action March 7, 1917.
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Private Thomas William DAVIS
Regiment / Corps / Service Badge: Prince of Wales’s Own (West Yorkshire Regiment)
Divisional Sign / Service Insignia: 35th Division
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View Craven Herald Articles
View Craven Herald Articles
23 March 1917
DAVIS – Killed in action in France, March 7th, 1917, Pte. W. T. Davis, West Yorkshire Regiment, son of Mrs. Davis, 8, Railway Street, Barnoldswick, aged 34 years.
23 March 1917
GARGRAVE SOLDIER KILLED IN DUG-OUT – Private Thomas William Davis
News came to hand on Sunday of the death in France of Pte. Wm. Thos. Davis, West Yorkshire Regiment, who was killed by a shell on the 7th inst. Deceased, who was 34 years of age and unmarried, was for many years employed by the Midland Railway Company as a member of the permanent way staff at Gargrave. He joined the Army about six month ago and had only been in France eight weeks. In a letter announcing the sad event to deceased’s mother (who now resides at 8,Railway Street, Barnoldswick) Second-Lieutenant Jno. Marshall, of the same regiment, writes:– “He was standing at the door of his dug-out during a heavy bombardment by the enemy when a shell dropped on top of the dug-out, killing and burying him in a moment. His death is a distinct loss to my platoon. He formed one of a cheery section of whom I had great hopes, despite the fact that they had only been in France a short time.”
Pte. Rd. Black, 1st Surrey Rifles, a half-brother of the above, who has been twice wounded, is now at Winchester awaiting a return to the Front. Both are on the Gargrave Parish Church Roll of Honour.
08 March 1918
DAVIES – In loving memory of our dear son and brother, Private T. W. Davies, 7th West Yorks. Regiment, killed in action, March 7th, 1917. (Late Gargrave).
Somewhere in France, in a lonely grave,
Beside his comrades he is laid;
A loving son, a brother dear,
None at his grave to shed a tear.
No one who knew him need ever be told
A warmer heart death never made cold:
But an unknown grave is the bitterest blow
None but aching hearts can know.
From his loving Mother and Sisters (Barnoldswick) and brother in Egypt.
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
View West Yorkshire Pioneer Articles
23 March 1917
DAVIS – March 7th, in France, Pte. Thomas W. Davis, of the West Yorks. Regiment, formerly of Gargrave, aged 34.
23 March 1917
GARGRAVE SOLDIER KILLED IN DUG-OUT
News came to hand on Sunday of the death in France of Pte. Thos. Wm. Davis, of the West Yorks. Regiment, who was killed by a shell on the 7th inst. Deceased, who was 34 years of age, and unmarried, was for many years employed by the Midland Railway Company as a member of the permanent way staff at Gargrave. He joined the army about six month ago and had only been in France eight weeks. In a letter announcing the sad event to deceased’s mother (who now resides at 8, Railway Street, Barnoldswick), Sec-Lieut. Jno. Marshall, of the same regiment, writes:– “He was standing at the door of his dug-out during a heavy bombardment by the enemy, when a shell dropped on top of the dug-out, killing and burying him in a moment. His death is a distinct loss to my platoon. He formed one of a cheery section of whom I had great hopes, despite the fact that they had only been in France a short time.”
Pte. Rd. Black, 1st Surrey Rifles, a half-brother of the above, who has been twice wounded, is now at Winchester waiting a return to the front. Both are on the Gargrave Parish Church Roll of Honour.
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