Fred's Story.
Trooper Fred Davies of 22nd (Mid-Cheshire) Company, 2nd Bn. Imperial Yeomanry [also known as the Northwich Company] regimental number 1716, died of disease on 15th June 1900 at Draghoender, South Africa. He was 28 years old.
What do we know about Fred?
Frederick William Davies was born on 19 Oct 1871 at Tal-Y-Cafn Farm, Eglwysfach, Denbighshire, Wales. He was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Davies, who owned a fifty acre farm, and ran a hotel at Tal-Y-Cafn. Fred was brother to Jane, Susanna (known as "Doodie"), Matilda, Fanny, Jessie, Rupert and George.
In April 1881, ten-year-old Fred was still at school and living on the farm in Wales. On 23rd August 1889, aged 17, he was working as a railway clerk in Chester, and in April 1891 was living at Laburnham Villa, Upton Park, Cheshire, with his brother-in-law Alfred Williams, also a railway clerk. (Alfred had married Fred's eldest sister Jane, and they had a son William Llewelyn Williams, born 1883.)
By 1891, his parents had moved to Llandudno where they ran the Snowdon pub at 11 Tudno Street. Meanwhile, several members of his family had moved to Cheshire. Fred's sister Fanny married George Henry Brock in 1895, and his sister Jessie later married George's brother Frederick William Brock (1863 - 1916). The two brothers came from Northwich, where they ran a family business (builder's merchant, and an alkali manufacturing company.)
Fred had a family link with South Africa before the start of the Boer War, because in 1895, in Chester, his sister Matilda (1864 - 1935) had married Frederick Woodley Chantrey (1866 - 1945), and their two children (Fred's niece and nephew) were born in Cape Town in 1896 and 1899. Fred Chantry was a hardware merchant. He died in Cape Town in 1945.
On 10th January 1900, at Chester, Fred Davies enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry, regimental number 1716. His occupation was listed as book-keeper.
Five months later, on 15th June 1900, Fred died of disease, enteric fever (typhoid). He was 28 years old.
He is buried in the military cemetery, at Draghoender, Marydale, South Africa.
In August 1901, the townspeople of Northwich presented Fred with a tribute medal, given posthumously to his sister Fanny Brock nee Davies. It was inscribed with his name. (Location of that medal is not known)
"1716 Private Fred DAVIES, c/o Mrs Brock, Lyndhurst, Northwich (died, Draghoender, 15/06/1900 - medal presented to his family)"
Compiled by S. Lewington 2025
Frederick William Davies was born on 19 Oct 1871 at Tal-Y-Cafn Farm, Eglwysfach, Denbighshire, Wales. He was the eldest son of William and Elizabeth Davies, who owned a fifty acre farm, and ran a hotel at Tal-Y-Cafn. Fred was brother to Jane, Susanna (known as "Doodie"), Matilda, Fanny, Jessie, Rupert and George.
In April 1881, ten-year-old Fred was still at school and living on the farm in Wales. On 23rd August 1889, aged 17, he was working as a railway clerk in Chester, and in April 1891 was living at Laburnham Villa, Upton Park, Cheshire, with his brother-in-law Alfred Williams, also a railway clerk. (Alfred had married Fred's eldest sister Jane, and they had a son William Llewelyn Williams, born 1883.)
By 1891, his parents had moved to Llandudno where they ran the Snowdon pub at 11 Tudno Street. Meanwhile, several members of his family had moved to Cheshire. Fred's sister Fanny married George Henry Brock in 1895, and his sister Jessie later married George's brother Frederick William Brock (1863 - 1916). The two brothers came from Northwich, where they ran a family business (builder's merchant, and an alkali manufacturing company.)
Fred had a family link with South Africa before the start of the Boer War, because in 1895, in Chester, his sister Matilda (1864 - 1935) had married Frederick Woodley Chantrey (1866 - 1945), and their two children (Fred's niece and nephew) were born in Cape Town in 1896 and 1899. Fred Chantry was a hardware merchant. He died in Cape Town in 1945.
On 10th January 1900, at Chester, Fred Davies enlisted with the Imperial Yeomanry, regimental number 1716. His occupation was listed as book-keeper.
Five months later, on 15th June 1900, Fred died of disease, enteric fever (typhoid). He was 28 years old.
He is buried in the military cemetery, at Draghoender, Marydale, South Africa.
In August 1901, the townspeople of Northwich presented Fred with a tribute medal, given posthumously to his sister Fanny Brock nee Davies. It was inscribed with his name. (Location of that medal is not known)
"1716 Private Fred DAVIES, c/o Mrs Brock, Lyndhurst, Northwich (died, Draghoender, 15/06/1900 - medal presented to his family)"
Compiled by S. Lewington 2025