Idris Davies
Idris Davies - 7th Batallion Cheshire Regiment
GARTH - Mr Idris Davies, youngest son of Mr and Mrs D Davies, Garth Mill, has joined the R.A.M.C.
(Brecon County Times 4 November 1915)
Pte. Idris Davies home on leave for Christmas and New Year
(Brecon County Times 6 January 1916)
GARTH. MILITARY
Pte. Idris Davies, R.A,M.C. (Garth Mill) has been promoted lance- corporal.
(Brecon County Times 10 February 1916)
GARTH.
Mr Idris Davies Gets a Commission.-Mr Idris Davies, son of Mr and Mrs Davies, Garth Mill, has just received a commission in the Army. He joined the R.A.M.C. about two years ago, but on being transferred to the infantry he was given the chance of qualifying for a lieutenancy.
(Brecon County Times 21 March 1918)
GARTH
On Leave.-Lieut. Idris Davies. son of and Mrs. Davies, Garth Mill, has been home on draft leave. looking well and in the best of spirits.
(Brecon County Times 25 April 1918)
Lieut. I. P. Davies Killed in Action:
Official information has been received by Mr and Mrs Davies, Garth Mill, of the death in action in France on the 23rd August of their youngest son, Second-Lieut. Idris Powell Davies, King's Shropshire Light Infantry.
On the 6th inst. a message was received from the lieut.-colonel commanding the battalion and the other officers "offering their deepest sympathy in the loss of Second-Lieut. I. P.Davies, who gave his life for his King and country, 23rd August, 1918."
A brother officer, writing to Mr and Mrs Davies, says :-"He was one of my colleagues and I happened to be in charge of the company at the time, owing to the company commander being wounded. His death was a great blow to me, as he had been doing some splendid work during the advance and had just helped to capture a. very strong German position, when he was hit in the head with a machine-gun bullet. I saw him a few minutes afterwards and his servant and stretcher-bearer were then attending to him, but at the time he was quite unconscious, and he did not recover consciousness before he died, about half-an-hour later. Although your son had not been with the battalion very long, he was greatly liked and respected amongst both officers and men and during the advance he set a splendid example of coolness and daring under fire. It is, therefore, needless to say how much he is missed, although I know our loss is as nothing compared to yours. I hope it is some consolation to you to know that his memory will always inspire anyone who knew him in the good work that we have still to carry on. His body was taken to the rear later in the day, and has been laid at rest in a British cemetery near a little French village well behind the lines." Letters from the commanding officer and the chaplain bear similar testimony to deceased's worth.
Lieut. Idris Davies was born at Llwynhowel, a farm within a mile of Beulah, on the 24th of June, 1896. He attended Beulah school until the age of 15, and was a quick and good pupil. His parents and all the family have been faithful adherents of the Congregational cause at Beulah, and here he attended the services and Sunday school regularly. He was an example of what a boy should be-always cheerful, truthful and straightforward. Every where he was a leading boy and a favourite. He was an excellent soprano, a good reader of music, and won prizes at many local com- petitions.
At the age of 16, he left Beulah to join his brother Llewellyn, who is a grocer in business at Tredegar. There he again made himself useful in the Sunday school and in his Church, and took the opportunity to improve, as much as possible, his education. It was from Tredegar that he joined the R.A.M.C., nearly three years ago. From this corps he was transferred to the infantry and joined the Cheshires. After six months' training in a Cadet school, he was given his commission on the 17th May. On the 14tli of June he went to France, and was there transferred from the Cheshires to the King's Shropshire Light Infantry. The whole district feels the great- est sympathy for the bereaved family, who are so well known and respected here.
(Brecon County Times 19 September 1918)
Idris died 21st August 1918, aged 22
Commonwealth War Graves Commisssion Memorial