Dedicated to the memory of all the men and women of the South Staffordshire area who died during the two World Wars.
The memorial at St Paul's Church, Coven, commemorates a Bert Davis who died 23rd September, 1917. No one of that name is recorded as dying on that date by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission or in Soldiers Died In the Great War.
The memorial almost certainly refers to Bertie Edward Davi(e)s, the son of Henry and Alice Davi(e)s of Shaw Hall Lane, Coven Heath. Bertie was born on 10th July, 1894 and baptised at St Paul's on 5th August, 1894. Henry was a labourer working on farms and (in 1911) for the Great Western Railway. In 1911 Bertie was working as a farm labourer but (by the time of his enrollment in the Durham Light Infantry in March, 1916) he was working as a store keeper.
Bertie joined the 12th Battalion of the Durham Light Infantry in France on 2nd July, 1917. Although the records of his death give his rank as Private, his service record shows that he had been promoted Lance Corporal and, later, Acting Corporal. Bertie died of injuries caused by a bomb on 20th September, 1917, on which day his unit was involved in the Battle of the Menin Road Ridge (a phase of the Third Battles of Ypres). He is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Private Bertie Edward Davies was awarded the Victory and British War Medals.
This memorial has mostly been compiled from official sources. It would be good to be able to expand it with more personal material - memories, stories, photos, etc. If you have any suitable material or any corrections please contact Greg.