William James Davy
Memorial: Doynton - Holy Trinity Church
Regiment: Somerset Light Infantry
Medals: 1914–15 Star, British War Medal, Next of Kin Memorial Plaque 1914 - 1921, Victory Medal
Rank and number: 2nd Lieutenant
Parents: William and Eliza (Nee Fenton) Davy
Marital status: Single
Home address: Tracey Park Estate, Bath Road, Wick (Doynton)
Pre-war occupation: Managing Tracey Park Estate
Date of birth: 1887
Place of birth: Doynton
Date of death: 18/08/1916
Buried/Commemorated at: No Known Grave – Commemorated Thiepval Memorial, France
Age: 29
Further information:
On the 1891 census, the family address was given as Tracey Park, Toghill Lane, Doynton, William’s father was then a Barrister and Justice of the Peace.
On the 1901 Census, William was attending the Pembroke Lodge Boys School, Bournemouth. His parents remained in Tracey Park. He then attended Wellington College, Crowthorne Berkshire from 1903 to 1906, and then studied at Trinity Hall, Cambridge. After his degree, he spent time in the USA and Ceylon before returning to manage the Tracey Park estate.
The Davy family owned the Tracey Park estate from 1820 until 1926.
William enlisted as a private in the Ceylon Planters Rifle Corps in 1914 (Service No. 2196) and saw action in Gallipoli before moving to France. He was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in August 1917. He was killed in action leading his platoon into action. He served with the 6th Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Listed as "casualty reported: wounded and missing" on the Casualty Lists issued by the War Office from 9th and 10th September 1916.
William is also commemorated on the Pembroke Lodge Memorial (St Katherines Church, Southbourne, Bournemouth) and the Wellington College Roll of Honour.
By kind permission, this information is based on the following source(s):
Commonwealth War Graves Commission, Findmypast (Soldiers Died during the Great War, 1901 & 1911 Census etc), Researcher John Davis.