William Thomas Davies, Brynaman, Wales
and Perth, Western Australia
Thomas Davies, 10th Australian Light Horse, 1916
Back of photograph
Army record: DAVIES William Thomas 864 Pte 20 N/R 10 LHR 13-1-15 4R to 16Bn F&B Bootmaker Nth Perth WA RTA 21-6-19 Brynanman Wales
This card was sent to in Brynaman (also spelled Brynamman), a village straddling the border of Carmarthenshire and Glamorgan. Jemimah
was a sister of William Thomas Davies' father.
According to Australian World War 1 personnel records, William Thomas Davies was the son of John Davies, a coal miner, from
Neuadd Terrace, Brynaman, Glamorgan, Wales. John was a widower in the 1901 census (where Willie T. is 6), but his wife Sarah and daughter Mary H. are recorded in Caegurwen
(including Lower Brynaman)in the 1891 census. In 1911 father John Davies had been married to his second wife Hannah (45) for 9 years with no children of
their own. Both John and William were colliery labourers. Mary H (Hannah) was living in the household of relatives John and Hannah Jane Harries as a servant.
Having emigrated to Australia and become a bootmaker by profession, William Thomas Davies enlisted with the 10th Australian Light
Horse at Perth, WA in January 1915, aged
20 years and 11 months. He was described as being 5ft 5ins, weighing 122 pounds, of dark complexion with brown eyes and black hair. He embarked on
April 19 1915. He contracted dysentery at Gallipoli and was sent to the UK.
In July 1916 he was detached for duty with the 16th Battalion of the
Australian Imperial Force and sent to France. In August 1918 he was returned to the UK suffering from appendicitis.
He married Mabel Annie Helena Keeler (born March Q 1898), of 278 Fishpond Road, Bristol (daughter of Albert Ernest Keeler) on
January 13 1919. A Mabel Annie H Davies (b. 17 Feb 1898) died in Bristol March Q 1982.
He returned to Fremantle, Western Australia, on the Koning Louise on August 3 1919 and was discharged on October 2 1919. His documents give an address at 38 Loftus Street, Perth WA.
Any further information on this person would be appreciated.
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