John
Davies (29th September 1895 to 25th October 1955)
John was just
22 years old when he was fighting in World War One as a member of the South
Lancashire Regiment (The Prince of Wales's Volunteers).
On 24th March 1918 near Eppeville in France
his troop was under heavy fire from Germans. They were ordered to withdraw
immediately. They were hemmed, outflanked on both sides and the only route open
to them was through a deep stream choked with barbed wire. To enable his peers
to retreat John mounted the parapet so he was in full view of the enemy and
kept his finger on the trigger on his Lewis gun until the last bullet was discharged.
He caused many enemy casualties but miraculously remained unscathed. All the
while his troops were able to get across the river to safety.
News got back to England that he had died at his gun and his parents
were devastated to be given official news of their son’s death. John was
posthumously awarded a Victoria Cross for his bravery but two months later news
came though that John wasn’t dead in a field or forest but had been taken
prisoner.
On 5th April 1919 at Buckingham Palace King George V pinned
a Victoria Cross on John’s chest.
During World War II he was a captain in the Home Guard. He died at
home in St Helens aged 60 and his buried here at St Helens Cemetery, Windle, Merseyside.
Looking for…
There he is on the far right…
