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Desperate plea

• Message 1.Β 

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Wednesday, 2nd November 2011

  Having had help from Bashfuljan re. Thomas Davies(my Mother's brother) I firmly believe he is the Boarder at Pontypridd on 1911 Census. He seems to have dropped his first christian name of William for some reason. I have been looking for a long time and with a bit of detective work on the Connor family living in Barry am convinced he is him. His age being 21 on 1911 Census I would think he was eligible for Army (1st World War).
  I know that the Medal Cards do not give much info. and certainly not where born but have found four likely contenders born Glamorgan. Is there any way I can find out if one of them was born Barry, Glamorgan without going to expense of searching through all. I do not have a subscription to any web-site at the moment
  but ready to spend on credits if I can find a likely candidate. Being 78 yrs of age and researching for many years on family I am trying to clear up this mystery.
  Thank you for any guidance you may have for me. Regards, Syljun

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• Message 2

  , in reply to message 1.

  Posted by GrannyB (U2261765) on Wednesday, 2nd November 2011

  I have looked on a subscription website and in the British Army WW1 Service Records 1914-1920 I have found a William Thomas Davies born Barry, Glamorgan, aged 17 in 1914 which means he was born in 1897. You refer to age 21 in 1911 which would be a birth in 1890 so they may not be the same people. On enlistment he was a fitter at the Glamorgan Railway Co. and his address was 80 Queen Street, Barry. His army number might be 136999 as it was partially obscured, he was a gunner, served in France as part of the Expeditionary Force, also Malta. Discharged with shell shock. Mother lived at same Barry address, father's name crossed out but was George Davies.
  
  When putting the name William Thomas Davies into the search boxes I made Barry, Glamorgan the exact place of birth and only four people came up on the list, William Thomas Davies and the other three were Archibald George Davies. Hope this helps.

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• Message 3

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  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Thursday, 3rd November 2011

  Thank you GrannyB. Can I be cheeky and ask if you would be kind enough to check if there is a Thomas Davies b.1890. Leaving his first name William off.From the National Archives list for men from Glamorgan there are three contenders.
  Thomas Davies - Glamorgan Yeomanry - Private No.2118
  Thomas Davies - 1/6th Welsh Reg. - No.1616
  Thomas W.Davies - Glamorgan Yeomanry - No. 1616
  
  There is also a William Thomas Davies - Royal Engineers Glamorgan Field Co. No 1328.
  I'm wondering if he possibly enlisted in Pontypridd.
  If he was still single his next-on-kin would be Mother- Mary Owen. (2nd Marr.) His Father was deceased.
  I hope I'm not asking too much. I am quite desperate to solve this mystery before I become a statistic.
  Thanks again, Syljun

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• Message 4

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  Posted by GrannyB (U2261765) on Thursday, 3rd November 2011

  I've had another look using Thomas Davies, William Thomas Davies as well as Davis but there are literally thousands of results as it's quite a common Welsh name! Using different pieces of information it's gone from 4,070 results down to 3,781 and eventually 44 but still no luck. I've looked through some of the army records of likely ones and some give the mother's name but none came up with Mary Owen or Mary Davies. I haven't been able to find the men you suggested but I shall have another look but I don't hold out much hope.
  
  There are quite a few Thomas Davies' who joined the Canadian or US army which I am unable to check because I don't have access to the worldwide records. I found the Thomas Davies you mentioned on the 1911 census and it said he was a coal hewer so perhaps it was a reserved occupation and he didn't actually join the army, being more useful at home mining the coal. Perhaps that's worth looking into. Sorry I haven't been much help so far.

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• Message 5

  , in reply to message 4.

  Posted by Syljun (U3878472) on Friday, 4th November 2011

  Thank you GrannyB for looking for me for William Thomas Davies. I appreciate you spending your time. I don't hold out much hope but will try to pursue the exemption angle. Regards, Syljun

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