These x-ray plates belonged to 11450 Sgt Edward Davies of the South Wales Borderers, who was wounded during a German attack at St Quentin on September 27th 1918. He was shot in the right elbow, causing an injury which meant loss of use of the arm and discharge from the army in 1919.
Edward Davies was working as a coal miner when he joined the South Wales Borderers on January 8th, 1914. He was 21 years old when he travelled to France on November 23rd with the 1st Battalion, and saw action at Givenchy, Festubert and Neuve Chappelle in early 1915. He was promoted to Lance Corporal and took part in the attack against the Germans at Rue du Bois, near Ypres, in May 1915.
Davies fought in the Battle of Loos, (September 25th – October 13th 1915), where he was set to work as a scout behind enemy lines. He was mentioned in Dispatches on 5th February 1916 for “Good scouting at Loos” and was also awarded the Military Medal for his “reconnaissance of German front line trenches and bravery during the Battle of Loos”, London Gazette, 14th September 1916.
After the battle, Edward was appointed Sergeant in Charge of Brigade Scouts and Observers, under the Brigade Intelligence officer. His detachment was made up of hand-picked men from four different regiments – the South Wales Borderers, Welsh Regiment, Gloucester Regiment and the Munster Fusiliers.
He was awarded a bar to his Military Medal for “reconnaissance under great risk during the Battle of Passchendaele (Ypres sector)”, London Gazette 23rd February 1918.
Edward remained in charge of the scouting detachment until he was wounded on the morning of 27th September 1918 at St Quentin. He was sent home to the UK and was admitted for treatment at Nell Lane Military Hospital in Manchester. In April 1919 he was discharged as “permanently disabled”.
Accession Number
BRCRM 2011-66-ii
