Offered is a Most Distinguished Order of St Michael and St George (C.M.G) neck badge; Distinguished Service Order (D.S.O) GVR; Queens South Africa Medal (1899 – 1902) with 5 clasps CAPE COLONY, PAARDEBERG, DREIFONTEIN, JOHANNESBURG, DIAMOND HILL , period engraved Capt: & Adjt: W.P.L. DAVIES. R.F.A.; Kings South Africa (1901 – 02) with 2 clasps, SOUTH AFRICA 1901, SOUTH AFRICA 1902, period engraved Cpt. W.P.L. DAVIES. I.Y.; 1914 Star & clasp, impressed named MAJOR W.P.L DAVIES R.A.; British War and Victory Medals, impressed named BRIG. GEN. W.P.L. DAVIES; General Service Medal (1908) with 2 clasps, AFGHANISTAN, IRAQ, impressed named BRIG. GEN. W.P.L. DAVIES.; Special Constabulary Long Service & Good Conduct Medal, impressed named WALTER P.L. DAVIES; French Croix de Guerre (3rd Republic) reverse dated 1914 – 16 with bronze palm. Court mounted for wear by Spink & Sons, London. Comes with copy M.I.C, medal rolls, M.I.D. cards, numerous London Gazettes, Officers lists, newspaper articles, obituary and research.
C.M.G. London Gazette 15/2/1917. For services rendered in connection with military operations in the field. (Mesopotamia)
D.S.O. London Gazette 14/1/1916. For distinguished service in the field. (Mesopotamia)
Croix de Guerre 1917 (Mesopotamia)
13 times Mentioned in Despatches.
Brigadier General Walter Percy Lionel Davies was born on 14/1/ 1871, the second son of the Reverend W. P. Davies of Kirton, Ipswich. Commissioned Second Lieutenant in the Royal Artillery in 1893 and saw his first active served during the Boer War with Royal Horse Artillery - O Battery.
He took part in the expedition to Koodosberg Drift, Kimberley, and in the subsequent advances to Bloemfontein and Pretoria. On the left at Diamond Hill, where they had a prominent part in heavy fighting. 2nd section commanded by Lt Davies, was with a squadron of the Scots Greys and the Lincolns in the disaster at Nitral's or Uitval Nek, 11th July 1900 where he, his men and guns were lost to the Boers.
Further reading on the battle of Uitval Nek, 11th July 1900 is recommended for the big picture. The part played by the guns: “Detached to hold the Nek with the two guns of 2nd Section 'O' Battery under Lt W P L Davis. The guns lacked the time and opportunity to engage the enemy. The increasing rifle fire prevented service of the guns as anyone visible above the sangar was shot down. They managed to fire shrapnel, with the fuse set at 1, and then all their case, about eight rounds in total, against the Boers creeping through the bush in front of them and over the shoulder of the mountain to the north-east. Even digging under the trails failed to provide sufficient elevation to deal with the plunging fire of the Boers, now on the eastern heights which dominated the gun sangars.
At this stage the action developed into a struggle for the guns; the gunners could not leave the shelter of the sangar despite covering fire from the kopje against an enemy almost invisible amongst the vegetation and boulders. The siting of the guns by the Scots Greys and the Royal Horse Artillery was such that they had a very poor field of fire due to bush having been cut back by only 200 yards. Thus targets were limited both horizontally by the vegetation, and vertically by the adjacent high ground. However; the terrain was so rugged that it would have been impossible to get the guns to a better position.
Taken prisoner at Uitvals Nek, 11 July 1900. The whole of 2nd Section of 'O' Battery was taken prisoner, including Lt Davies. The prisoners were sent to Nooitgedacht and spent a miserable six weeks there. They were released by General French on 3 September”. Source: South African Field Force Casualty Roll and newspaper articles.
On being released was Staff Officer to Officer Commanding, Troops at Harrismith. He thence served as Adjutant of the 6th Brigade from December 1900-September 1901 and also with the Imperial Yeomanry, being mentioned for his service (London Gazette 10 September 1901, refers). Promoted to Captain 21/5/1900.
Entering the Staff College in 1905 he did two tours of staff duty in India (1907-10 and 1912-14) having been advanced Major in early 1910. G.S.O.2, India, 1913-14. 1914-15 G.S.O.1, Meerut Division, B.E.F. (Landing October 1914) and Mesopotamia, 1915-16; B.G.R.A., 13th Division, Mesopotamia, 1916-19; , Temporary Brigadier-General from Deceber 1916 and 'mentioned' no less than on four occasions (London Gazette 1 January & 19 October 1916, 15 August 1917 and 27 August 1918, refers). Advanced Colonel in August 1920 and Temporary Colonel Commandant, October 1921, he earned a final mention for his service in Mesopotamia (London Gazette 9 September 1921, refers). Davies retired in 1924 and in later life resided at Brownheath, Droitwich, Worcestershire.
During WW2 he was the Worcester Divisional leader of Special Constables.
He died in November 1952.
