George's Story.
EARLY LIFE
George Davies was born as George St Ledger in Macclesfield in 1884, the son of Caroline St Ledger.
In 1891, seven-year-old George (surname Hales) was living at 7 Buxton Road, Macclesfield with his mother Caroline and George Hales, and newborn baby brother George Henry Hales, who was known as Harry; baby Harry died later that year. Although Caroline was using the surname Hales she was listed in the census as an unmarried boarder and did not marry George Hales until June 1893.
Next door at 9 Buxton Road lived Eliza Davies and her family.
George's sister, Jane, was born in 1892 and another brother, William, was born in 1895. Sadly, George's mother Caroline died in 1897.
George enlisted with the East Lancashire Regiment on 15 October 1900, stating that he was 18 years and 3 months old (overstating his age by about 2 years), worked as a silk dyer and his next of kin was his father, George Hales, of 52 Sunderland St, Macclesfield. He was described as 5ft 3½in tall, with brown eyes and hair. George was allocated service number 6454 and served in the South African campaign from 22 February 1901. He was discharged in Dublin on 9 September 1903 as medically unfit for further duty. His conduct during service was rated as fair.
By 1901 the rest of the family had split up. George's widowed father was living at 51 Sunderland Street, Macclesfield with his parents and his younger son William, then aged six, while eight-year-old Jane was living at 50 Fence Street, Macclesfield, as the adopted daughter of Jane and William Hodkinson and their family. William Hodkinson was probably a close friend of the family, having been a witness at the wedding of Caroline and George Hales.
George attempted to join the Cheshire Militia in July 1904, stating that he worked as a waggoner and his father lived at 10 Statham St, Macclesfield, but he was discharged in October due to misconduct.
George's father died in 1906. After his death, George's younger brother William lived with his uncle Frank Hales, moving with him and his family to 26 Fielden St, Burnley by the time of the 1911 census. He became known as William George Hales to differentiate him from Frank's own son William, who was five years younger.
Some time between 1904 and 1911 George re-enlisted into the Army using the name George Davies - perhaps taking the surname of his childhood neighbours in Buxton Road - probably changing his name because he had previously been discharged due to misconduct. In 1911, he was a Private with the 1st Battalion South Staffordshire Regiment at South Barracks, Gibraltar.
MILITARY SERVICE
At the start of the war, George was immediately recalled to the South Staffordshire Regiment as a reservist and was drafted out to France on 12 August 1914. In December of that year he returned to England to be treated for frostbite, some time later returning to the front. That may have been the reason for his transfer to the Sherwood Foresters (Notts and Derbyshire Regiment) with service number 29984.
George became ill and was again repatriated to England, being treated first at Netley Hospital, Southampton and later at the Military Hospital, Maghull, Liverpool, where he died of influenza on 14 February 1917. His effects were left to his sister, Jane Hales.
George’s death was reported in the Macclesfield Times on 23 February 1917:
OLD SOLDIER’S DEATH – CAMPAIGNER IN MANY LANDS – PRIVATE G DAVIES
Pte George Davies, of the Staffordshire Regiment, whose home was in Fountain Street, Macclesfield, died in hospital at Liverpool on Wednesday week from general paralysis. The illness was brought on by frostbitten feet, sustained while fighting in France. The deceased soldier was 32 years of age and was a native of Macclesfield. He was educated at St Paul’s school and at the age of fifteen enlisted in the Staffordshire Regt. On the outbreak of the Boer War Pte Davies was drafted out to South Africa, and he held the Queen’s Medal for that campaign. At the conclusion of the war he returned to England, and was present at the funeral of Queen Victoria. Subsequently [he] was drafted to India, where he served five years. At the time of the commencement of the present war, Pte Davies was a reservist, being mobilised in August, 1914. He was drafted out to France… The following December he was invalided home suffering from frostbitten feet, and upon recovering was sent out to Egypt eighteen months ago. A short while back Pte Davies became ill, and… underwent treatment at Netley Hospital, Southampton. From there he was taken to a Liverpool hospital… His brother, Private William, of the Lancashire Fusiliers [sic], was killed in the landing at Suvla Bay.
COMMEMORATION
Private George Davies is buried in grave ref. X. 19798A in Macclesfield Cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission holds casualty details for Private George Davies.
In Macclesfield, Private George Davies is commemorated on the Park Green, Town Hall and St Michael’s Church war memorials.
NOTES
Brother of Private William George Hales, who served as Private 1941 with the 1st/5th East Lancashire Regiment and was killed at Gallipoli on 5 June 1915. His death was reported in the Burnley Express on 3 July 1915, and he is named on the Burnley Roll of Honour website.
SOURCES
GRO (England & Wales) Index: Births
Cheshire Parish Baptism Registers (Find My Past): St Michael’s Church, Macclesfield
Census (England & Wales): 1881, 1891, 1901, 1911
WWI British Army Service Records 1914-1920
British Army Medal Index Cards (Ancestry)
WWI Service Medal and Award Rolls (Ancestry)
Soldiers Died in the Great War (Find My Past)
WWI British Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects (Ancestry)
Commonwealth War Graves Commission website
Macclesfield Times: 23 February 1917; 23 September 1921 (photo supplement)
Research by Rosie Rowley, Congleton