Private Robert Walter Davies

Robert Walter Davies was the son of Charles, and Matilda (nee Bennett). His parents had married in Kennington on 1 December 1861 and by the time Robert was born they already had three children.

ROBERT Walter was born on 23 August 1874 and baptised at St Marys Church, Newington in Southwark on 17th January 1875. His father worked as a Potter and the family lived at 6 Peacock Street in Southwark. Two further children followed: Frank in 1878 and Flora in 1880.

By 1881 Robert aged 6 was living with parents and five siblings at 22 Wickham Street, Newington. Elizabeth 16, Charles 14, John 9, Frank 3 and Flora aged one. Albert followed in 1883 and Beatrice in 1885.

In 1890 Robert’s eldest sister Elizabeth married Thomas Braithwaite at Trinity Church in Marylebone.

By 1891 Robert now aged 16 and his parents and siblings had moved to 35 Wickham Street, in Kennington. Robert, his father and brothers’ Charles and John were all working as Potters. Towards the end of 1891, youngest sister Beatrice dies aged six. Her death was registered in Lambeth.

In 1892 Robert’s eldest brother Charles married Louisa Alice Stroud and in 1897 his brother John Married Elizabeth Lock.

By 1901 Robert was working as a Potter and living with his mother and 4 unmarried siblings at 66 Courtnay Street, Lambeth. Also sharing the property was his brother John and his wife Elizabeth and their two children Florence and Nellie. Roberts father was listed as a boarder living in Kepple Street, Bloomsbury. He died in 1905.

By 1911 Robert’s mother Matilda is working as an Ironer and living at 66 Courtnay Street, with her son Albert aged 27. Matilda listed eleven children had been born to her and that four had died. Also sharing the property was her son John and his wife Elizabeth and their five children. Meanwhile Robert aged 36 is still single and working as an Ostler at a Public House. He is living with his sister Elizabeth and her husband Thomas Brathwaite and family at Prospect Cottage, London Road, Sutton.

Robert was aged 39 when war broke out. He enlisted in March 1916 when conscription came into force for all men aged 18-41. (Robert would have been aged 42 in the August of 1916.) He firstly joined the Royal East Kent Yeomanry and then transferred to the Labour Corps.

Early the following year he married Martha Elizabeth Cooper in Kingston.

Robert died 15 February 1919 whilst on demob leave and is buried at Wimbledon Gap Road cemetery. At the time of his death he and his wife Martha were living at 8 Tennyson Road, Wimbledon.