Arthur George Davies

Private Arthur George Davies – Army Service Corps

Early Life

Arthur George Davies was born in 1900, the youngest son of John Davies and Harriet Jones, who had married in October 1891 at St. James’ Church, Swansea.

1901 Census 

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family lived at 25 Park Street, Swansea. John, aged 35, was employed as a Corn Carter, while Harriet was 31. Their children were Albert, 8; William, 6; Alfred, 5; Ernie, 3; and Arthur, aged 1.

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to 10 Princess Street. John, now 45, worked as a Grocer’s Haulier, while Harriet was 41. Their children at home were Albert John, 18, a Laundry Porter; William Thomas, 16, a Clerk; Alfred, 15, an Errand Boy; Annie May, 13; Arthur George, 11; Henry Ernest, 9; Margaret Evelyn, 7; Harriet Winifred, 4; Leslie Jones, 3; and Edith Grace, 1. The couple also noted two children who had already died, Ivor and Sidney.

Military Service – The Brothers in Uniform

Arthur enlisted with the Army Service Corps, a vital unit responsible for supplying the British Army with food, transport, and equipment. Though barely out of school, Arthur followed the example of his older brothers in stepping forward to serve during the First World War.

His eldest brother, Albert John Davies, enlisted earlier in the war and was sent to France. Albert served on the Western Front, where he endured the gruelling conditions of trench warfare. In July 1916, during the height of the Battle of the Somme, Albert fell ill with severe wounds and sickness. He was evacuated to St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen, a site that became the resting place of thousands of men who died in the base hospitals behind the front. Albert died on 13^th July 1916, aged 23, and was buried there with full military rites.

Death and Burial

Arthur George Davies
Danygraig Cemetery
credit: findagrave

Less than a year later, the war’s toll struck the Davies family again. Arthur George Davies died at Woolwich on 19^th June 1917, aged only 18 years. His body was returned home to Swansea, where he was laid to rest at Danygraig Cemetery.

The funeral drew a large gathering of mourners, including family, neighbours, and members of the community who came to honour the youngest Davies son. His coffin, carried in procession, was draped in the Union Jack, a sign of his service. At the graveside, the service was conducted with solemn dignity, prayers spoken for one so young whose life had ended before it had truly begun.

The South Wales Daily Post carried notice of his death and funeral, reflecting the sense of loss felt locally. Though Arthur had not seen long service, his enlistment with the Army Service Corps showed a readiness to contribute, and his early death was a reminder that wartime sacrifice was not confined to the battlefield.

Arthur’s burial at Danygraig linked him forever with Albert, whose grave lay far away in France. To keep their memory together, Albert’s name is commemorated on his parents’ grave at Danygraig, alongside Arthur’s.

Family Losses and Legacy

Albert John Davies 
St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen
credit - findagrave

The Davies family endured the heartbreak of losing two sons within the space of a year. Albert, the eldest, died in France during the Somme campaign, while Arthur, the youngest, died in Britain at just 18. Their stories, preserved in both local cemeteries and overseas memorials, highlight the breadth of Swansea’s sacrifice in the First World War—from the far-flung battlefields of Europe to the quiet resting places at home.

The brothers' shared sacrifice is emblematic of the war’s devastation to families across Swansea. Their names, side by side on the family grave, ensure that even though they died in different places, they are remembered together in the city they once called home.