James Llewellyn Davies
Corporal, 13th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers
- Register No.
- 307 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Corporal all Corporals →
- Unit
- 13th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers (register: Royal Welsh Fusiliers) all Royal Welsh Fusiliers VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 6th September, 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 16th March 1886 at Nantymoel, Glamorganshire, Wales
- Died
- 31st July 1917 at Polygon Wood, Pilkem, Belgium. (died
- Award
- Posthumous all posthumous VCs →
- Memorial / grave
- at Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Digest of citation
On 31st July 1917 at Polygon Wood, Pilkem, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy line, Corporal Davies, single-handed, attacked a machine-gun emplacement after several men had been killed in attempting to take it. He bayoneted one of the gun crew and brought in another, together with a captured gun. Then although wounded, he led a bombing party to the assault of a defended house and killed a sniper who was harassing his platoon. He died of wounds the same day
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
DAVIES, James Llewellyn. (reg No. 307).
Corporal. 13th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers.
London Gazetted on 6th September, 1917.
Born on 16th March 1886 at Nantymoel, Glamorganshire, Wales.
Died on 31st July 1917 at Polygon Wood, Pilkem, Belgium. (died of wounds).
Memorial on grave at Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
Digest of Citation reads: On 31st July 1917 at Polygon Wood, Pilkem, Belgium, during an attack on the enemy line, Corporal Davies, single-handed, attacked a machine-gun emplacement after several men had been killed in attempting to take it. He bayoneted one of the gun crew and brought in another, together with a captured gun. Then although wounded, he led a bombing party to the assault of a defended house and killed a sniper who was harassing his platoon. He died of wounds the same day.
of wounds).
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: at Canada Farm Cemetery, Belgium
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
Research this recipient further
Would you like to honour James Llewellyn Davies by sponsoring this page from £1 a month — in memory of someone, in your own name or for your company? Sponsor this page.