Alfred Davies 2nd Battalion 1900

[Brenda Kinghorn]

Thanks John,

I have drawn a blank with my searches for a birth certificate for Alfred using Davis or Davies, so have instructed a search for a birth certificate for Hugh Alexander Davies - Alfred's son. Here's hoping Alfred's name is on the certificate!

I thought you'd like to see the following photo, I take absolutely no credit for it, Norman unearthed it from somewhere.

Brenda

V_W_China_2[1].jpg

[Baconwallah]

What a splendid photo, Brenda. I'd never seen it before. Thanks very much.

Please keep us informed of whatever [else] you manage to dig up.

Good hunting!

John

[Norman]

Hi
I found this photo on this web-site. I did ask if anyone had the names to go with it, but got no reply. My colleagues and I think the chap in the middle looks very much like Alfred when you compare photo's. But he is not in uniform! How would we find the names of 'G' company?
Norman

[Baconwallah]

I'm afraid the names of the men in G Coy are lost forever, Norman. And even if we could find them, it would be impossible to say who the men of the tug of war team were, out of a hundred names.

Anyway, I think Alfred was in F Coy guarding the Legation.

John

[Rivers52]

Hi John
Thanks for your help and responses on Alfred. Having had a look at the tug-of-war team and the wedding photo, I would agree with Norman that they are the same individual. If that is correct, then it would seem Alfred was in Peking in 1902 in G company. Do the records you have show an F and G company in Peking in 1902? Both guarding the legation? But do any of these records exist - or were they lost in WW2? ie is there anything at Kew that might show an Alfred Davies in G company?
I have also looked at National Archives under China Records to see if there are diplomatic records available for the period. Even as a civilian, I would think that Elizabeth Rollo would have registered with the Legation when she arrived in Peking. The marriage itself was at the Legation and the marriage certifcate survives from those records. However I can't imagine the Foriegn Office kept records of the army personnel. How nad why she went to Peking is a mystery to be solved!
Thanks
Bob

[Baconwallah]

I re-checked my sources, Bob, and found that B, D, F and G Coys returned to China for guard duties on 14/01/1901. B and D Coys were sent to Tientsin, F and G Coys to Peking as Legation Guard. So you may well be right to identify the man in the photo as Alfred Davies.

There are no records I know of that show the names of the men in each company. It is not impossible that there is some sort of muster roll in the Museum somewhere, but as the archives are largely undocumented it will be a matter of coming across it by chance rather than anything else. I understand from Brian Owen that you have already been in touch. The researchers wlll keep their eyes open, but it will be a matter of incredible luck if anything useful turns up. Muster rolls are not the sort of thing I's expect to find at Kew. but one never knows. It wouldn't hurt to ask the staff if there is a chance to find anything useful.

John

[jungle1810]

Hello Bacon Wallah,
Re the Pekin thread.Some one may strike lucky with photos of the RWF in Pekin by looking at my web site it contains quite a few photos of the Legation and surrounding areas. the site can be found on the following link Bridgend rwf if you do a search on google, my name should appear then click on it and all should be revealed.
Regards Brian

[Baconwallah]

Thanks for that, Don!

John

[ap1]

My main issue with the tug of war picture is that the guy appears to be wearing civilian clothes?

Looking at Dons website, there is a great picture of the 2nd Bn's Sgts Mess taken in India in 1902. I had a look thru but couldn't identify Alfred. The picture is fully zoomable:

http://mdonovan.free.fr/rwf/india_ex...Mahal2Batt.jpg

[Norman]

Hi AP1
Great Picture. Is there a list of names? Alfred was in Pekin on 7th Oct 1902, as this is when he married.Two sergeants were his wittnesses. Cr Sgt H. Yates & Cr Sgt F. Jones both 2/RWF. I think image of the cert was posted on this thread.
Regards Norman