Davies, Richard David
No.4904 – Private Richard David Davies – 53rd Battalion AIF
Richard David Davies was born in Strata-Florada Abbey, Glamorganshire South Wales in 1883 to Joseph and Elizabeth Davies. He was educated locally and later moved with his family to Western Australia, where they took up residence in Fremantle at 3 Attfield Street. (property no longer exists-Fremantle hospital site)
Richard worked as an Engineer and Boilermaker. In August 1905 he married a Jessie Wilson and they lived in Leederville for a short time though his wife soon deserted him and went to live in Victoria. Richard went back to live with his mother in Fremantle for a time and then took up work on a coastal steamer, and at the outbreak of war was working in Sydney.
On the 22nd September 1915 Richard enlisted into the AIF and was passed as fit for service. The medical examiner found Richard to be 5 feet 3 inches in height; 8 stone 8 in weight; 34 -35 inches chest measurement; fresh complexion, brown eyes and dark brown hair. He also had a tattoo of a dancer on the left forearm and an anchor on the left forearm. His religious denomination was Church of England.
After a period in a raining depot, on the 15th February 1916, Richard was assigned to the 15th Reinforcements to the 1st Battalion AIF. A few weeks later on the 8th March 1916, he departed with this group from Sydney Harbour aboard the H.M.A.T. “Star of England”. After arriving in Egypt in April, Richard found himself assigned to the 53rd Battalion which was the ‘daughter’ unit of the 1st Battalion as the 1st Battalion had been split and half the men went to form the new unit. On the 15th May 1916 Richard found himself admitted to the 8th Field Ambulance with alcoholism, though after a day’s rest returned to his unit.
On the 19th June 1916 the 53rd Battalion embarked from Alexandria aboard the “Royal George” and set on the voyage for France. Arriving at Marseilles on the 28th June 1916, the men were disembarked and put onto trains for the voyage to Northern France. Arriving in the Vicinity of Fleurbaix, the 53rd Battalion relieved 4th Division units and only had a short time to become accustomed to trench life when they were thrown into the disastrous Battle of Fromelles.
The 53rd Battalion as part of the 14th Brigade were in the centre of the attack, and while they and the 8th Brigade made the German lines, the 15th Brigade did not get far due to the overwhelming German fire, which meant that the 14th Brigade were unsupported on one flank. It seems that Richard made the German trench as a Private C Angus later stated that they were lying on the edge of the German trenches shooting at the German soldiers when Richard was hit by a bullet in the stomach and it seems he died almost immediately. Private Angus pulled him into a shell hole just in front of the German line and left him there as the battalion had to retire.
Richard’s body was not recovered by Australian troops and he is therefore commemorated on the VC Corner Memorial. It is not known at this stage whether Richard was among those buried at Pheasant Wood.
His mother Elizabeth received a pension of 40/- per fortnight after his death and callously his wife who had deserted him eight years before the war and had re-married tried to claim his effects and a pension from the army. Fortunately his effects and medals went to his mother and it seems his ex-wife did not receive a pension.
His brother J.T. Davies who worked at the Town Hall Building in Midland Junction put in an insertion as did his sisters, Mrs. Frank Richards (Eleanor Jane Davies married 1900); A & E Cole and nieces and nephews W A & D Samuel.
His mother Elizabeth died on the 7th December 1931 and is buried in Fremantle Cemetery.