DAVIES, Arthur MM

Arthur Davies was the son of John and Sarah Davies of 44 Bennetts Hill, Dixons Green, Dudley. He enlisted in the Worcesters and was sent to the 1st Battalion in the 8th Division. They had been on the Western Front since October 1914 and had fought in all the major battles from that date. After recovery from the 1916 Battle of the Somme the Worcesters followed up the German retirement to the Hindenburg Line. It was a fighting withdrawal and on the 4th March a sharp action took place at Bouchasvesnes. German trenches were stormed successfully and among several soldiers commended for their bravery was Corporal Davies who was awarded the Military Medal (London Gazette, 11 May 1917). From August 1917 the Worcesters were in Flanders fighting at the centre of the Third Battle of Ypres and in March 1918 they were still on the Passchendaele front line. They had been warned about the German Spring offensive and as soon as it started on the 21st March the Worcesters were moved quickly to the Somme. At the river crossing at Pargny on the 24th there was some desperate fighting followed by retreat. Among those killed in action was Sergeant Arthur Davies. He was 30 years of age and is commemorated on the Pozi?res, Dudley and Kate's Hill church Memorials.