Hi
I am also searching for information on Alfred Davies - and his wife, Elizabeth ROLLO, on behalf of myself and my cousin in Canada, Walter G.
Elizabeth was my great aunt.
I have been in contact with Brian Owens at the museum.
I had actually ordered a copy of their marriage certificate when I came across this thread.
I had also applied to the Army Personnel Centre in Glasgow with the 4718 service number - on spec - but with little luck. I had used the wrong form! And they didn't recognize the service number.
I will try to attach the one photo I have of Alfred and Beth. Brian Owens has identified the uniform as a NCO's uniform of the RWF as the sash is over the right shoulder.
I have located birth details of 2 of Alfred and Elizabeth's children - both born in India.
My cousin thought Elizabeth was a missionary in China when they met. Given she was Scottish, this may be correct given the era. Strange that neither occupation is listed on the marriage certificate.
Hope to hear more.
I'm not surprised the Army Personnel Centre could not find him, Bob. They deal with post-1920 records exclusively. The National Archives in Kew would be the place to look, in fact I did so online just now, and there is no trace of Alfred Davies 4718 (if he is indeed the Alfred Davies you are looking for) in either the service records or the pension records. No Medal Index Card either.
Great photo Bob.
Alfred and Elizabeth had three children, as far as I'm aware they were all born in India. Their second son, Ian Llewellyn was my grandfather and their daughter Muriel Jean was Walter's mother.
The GRO has no record of an Alfred Davies, born between 1 April - 30 Sept 1876, whose father was Charles, so I have now instructed a search for the name Davis instead. Will let you know how I get on.
Hi John
The APC was a long shot based on the only service number I knew - would have only worked if Alfred had continued to serve after 1920. 4718 was from the Peking medal roll. Based on this forum he was out of the RWF by 1910. So would Kew have his records with discharge from RWF? Who would have records of service in Assam..Rifles?
cheers
Bob
Brenda, looking for Davis might be an idea. But there is no Davis on either the China or South Africa Medal Roll, and the photo you posted says "Davies", so I would not hold my breath.
Bob, the pre-1920 service and pension records are held at the National Archives, Kew. They can be consulted online through Ancestry.co.uk. But I looked, and there is no trace of a 4718 Davies. Many records were destroyed in the Blitz, either by the Luftwaffe or the London Fire Brigade, so it's not really surprising.
As for the Assam Bengal Volunteer Rifles records, I really have no idea. Sorry. You could perhaps try the Indian Army (http://www.armedforces.nic.in/ or http://www.indian-military.org/). They might be able to point you in the right direction, but once again I wouldn't hold my breath.
It is possible (I hope) that his birth was registered as Davis, but that he enlisted as Davies. We'll see if GRO comes back with anything in the next couple of weeks.
He won 2 cups that I know of during his time with the Volunteer Rifles: Norman has one, the Kellner Cup, I have Googled it but didn't get any results; I am in the process of tracking down the other cup, I know it does (or did) exist, but I haven't seen it yet.
Alfred fathered another child, Hugh Alexander Davies, in 1918ish. I don't know where Hugh was born, but he lived in Coventry latterly. I should search for Hugh's birth certificate, but I'm doubtful that Alfred's name would be on it.
Hi All, I have written to Kellner wine merchants in India regarding the cup. Still waiting for a reply. I'm in the the process of planning a trip to Kew, but reading John's comment, it may be a waste of time. John would Caernarfon Castle be a better bet? Brenda I'll also try and find Hugh Alexander. Great photo Bob. We'll have to get in touch.
Norman
Best to begin with the Museum, Norman. If you send a request for information to the Curator (rwfusiliers@callnetuk.com) he'll pass it on to the three volunteer researchers who work in the archives at Kings Mill, Wrexham. They are very experienced (I know them) and will also be able to access the National Archives information to give you a very good idea of the success to be expected from an expedition to Kew.
As far as I know, Bob (Rivers52) has already been in touch with the Museum, so do not expect sudden new floods of information. If it ain't there, it ain't there. And do bear in mind that the 4718 identification is by no means certain. The only thing we can be sure of is that 4718's name was A Davies. There was probably at least one other A Davies in the 2nd Bn who arrived too late in China to qualify for the gong and get his name on the Medal Roll.
Hi,
I have a post on rootschat looking for more information on the elusive Alfred. Their first suggestion was Pte 4718, then I was advised to check out service numbers 6045, 2090, and 5309 who served in South Africa. Do you think that any of those three are likely to be our Alfred?
Norman, do you think Hugh was born in Wales? There was a Hugh A Davies born in Bala, Merionethshire, registered in Sept 1817 Vol 11b Pg 532.
I do not think much of the rootschat suggestions, I'm afraid. Davies 2090 had no initial that I know of, could have been A, could have been anything . Davies 5309 was W(illiam?}. Davis 6046 was indeed A Davies but served on the Tugela (as did 5309) and could not well have been in two places at the same time.
Another reason: the drafts from South Africa, available because of the end of hostilities there, only began to join 2 RWF in India, long after the Bn had left China.
Davies 2090 could not have joined later than 1888. He is not on the SA Medal Roll but is in a list of Mentions in Despatches for the Boer War. We know nothing else about him.
W Davies 5309 would have joined c.1897.
A Davies 6046 would have joined 1899.
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