Captain, 5th (Cumberland) Battalion (Territorial), Border Regiment. Killed in action 9 April 1917. Aged 25. Son of Mr. and Mrs. Shirley Davis; husband of Irene Percy Davis (nee Moody), of "Oakholme," Avenue Rd., Duffield, Derby. Native of Duffield. Buried in BUCQUOY ROAD CEMETERY, FICHEUX, Pas de Calais, France. Plot VI. Row P. Grave 20.

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Volume 4, page 43-44:

DAVIS, BERNARD SAMUEL, 2nd Lieut., 5th (Territorial) Battn. The Border Regt., attd. 17th (Service) Battn. The King's (Liverpool Regt.), 2nd s. of Shirley Davis, of Duffield, Derby, Organizing Secretary Hut Week Department, Y.M.C.A., by his wife, Ellen Maria, dau. of Samuel Latham, of Handsworth, Birmingham; b. Duffield, 16 May, 1892 ; educ. the Grammar School, Belper, and the City of Leeds Training College; subsequently held an appointment at the Edge Lane School, Liverpool; joined the Inns of Court O.T.C. 5 Nov. 1915; obtained a 2nd Lieutenancy in the Border Regt. 12 Aug. 1916 ; served with the Expeditionary Force in France from 14 Oct. following, and was killed in action at the Battle of Arras 9 April, 1917. Buried at Boiry-Becquerelli. He was gazetted Capt. 18 June, 1917, having been in command of a company for three months prior to his death. He was mentioned in Despatches [London Gazette, 22 May, 1917] by F.M. Sir Douglas Haig, for gallant and distinguished service in the field. He was a keen athlete, being captain of the cricket and football teams at school, and while at Leeds represented his house in Rugger, Socker (sic), hockey, tennis, walking and running; also took part in boxing competitions, and won the Heavy Weight Championship for boxing during his training with the Inns of Court O.T.C. He m. at New Brighton, co. Chester, 7 Oct, 1916. Irene Percy (Oakholme, Duffield, Derby), dau. of the late Edward Moody, of co. Kent.

Lieutenant, Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regiment) attached to 2nd Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. Died of wounds 22 April 1917. Baptised 6 April 1893, in Derby, son of Unwin and Calara Maria Sowter, resident Cromford, Derbyshire. In the 1901 census he was aged 8, born Derby, Derbyshire, son of Unwin Sowter (a widower), resident Highfield, Duffield Road, Derby, Derbyshire. In the 1911 census he was aged 18, born Derbyshire, an Engineering Student, brother of Una MArgaret Sowter and Dorothy Ragnall Sowter, resident White Cottage, Town Street, Duffield, Derbyshire. No known grave. Commemorated on BASRA MEMORIAL, Iraq. Panel 27.

Extract from De Ruvigny's Roll of Honour 1914-1918, Volume 5, page 156:

SOWTER, UNWIN HENRY ETCHES, Lieut., 2nd Battn. (95th Foot) The Sherwood Foresters (Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire Regt.), attd. 2nd Battn. (17th Foot) The Leicestershire Regt., yst. s. of the late Unwin Sowter, of Derby, J.P., by his wife, Clara, dau. of the late Henry Smart, Musician and Composer ; and brother to the late Capt. G. S. Sowter (q.v.); b. Derby, 6 Dec. 1892; educ. The Glebe House, Hunstanton, and Marlborough College; gazetted 2nd Lieut. Sherwood Foresters (Special Reserve) Jan. 1914 ; served with the Expeditionary Force in France and Flanders from the following Oct., where he was attached to the 1st Cheshire Regt., and saw much fighting, taking part in the First Battle of Ypres In Nov. of the same year, and in many other engagements; was invalided home in Jan. 1915; on recovery, returned to France, and was transferred to the 2nd Sherwood Foresters, his own battalion; was severely wounded at Armentiéres In June, and sent to hospital; after 18 months with his reserve battalion at Sunderland, proceeded to Mesopotamia In 1917, being attached to the 2nd Leicestershire Regt., and died at Istabulat, Mesopotamia, 23 Aril, 1917, of wounds received in action the previous day. Buried at Istabulat; unm.

Lieutenant (Machine Gun Officer), 1st Battalion, Coldstream Guards. Killed in action near Gheluvelt during the first Battle of Ypres 29 October 1914. Son of the late Col. Granville Smith and Lady Blanche Smith; husband of Lady Kathleen Smith (nee Clements)(now Lady Kathleen Studd, of 66, Great Cumberland Place, London), married in the January to March Quarter 1910 at St. George Hanover Square Registration District, London. Educated Eton College, left 1903. In the 1911 census he was aged 25, born Kensington, London, a Lieutenant (1st battalion, Coldstream Guards), married, visting The Rectory, Maresfield, Uckfield, Sussex. No known grave. Commemorated on YPRES (MENIN GATE) MEMORIAL, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 11.

Extract from Bond of Sacrifice: Officers Died in the Great War 1914-1916, Volume 1 Aug - Dec 1914, page 366:

LIEUTENANT GRANVILLE KEITH-FALCONER SMITH, 1st BATTN. COLDSTREAM GUARDS, who was reported as missing in October, and again in November, 1914, has since been unofficially reported to have been killed near Gheluvelt on the 29th October, 1914, during the first Battle of Ypres.

He was the eldest son of Colonel Granville R. F. Smith, C.B., C.V.O., and Lady Blanche Smith, of Daffield (sic), Derbyshire, and a nephew of the Earl of Kintore, and was born on the 26th February, 1886.

He was educated at Eton, and joined the Coldstream Guards in August, 1907, becoming Lieutenant in December, 1909. He was killed while in command of the battalion machine-gun section. He went forward with a party of volunteers, and succeeded in retaking a trench, but was shot through the head, dying at once. Lieutenant Granville Keith-Falconer Smith married, in March, 1910, Lady Kathleen Clements, youngest daughter of the fourth Earl of Leitrim, and left two daughters, age three years and fifteen months respectively.

M.R. Boy, S.S. Stonepool (West Hartlepool), Merchant Navy. His ship was sunk by enemy action and he died on board rescue ship from exposure 11 September 1941. Aged 18. Born 1923 in Duffield, birth registered in Amber Valley (Ripley) Registration office, sundistrict Duffield, Derbyshire. Resident 7, Tamworth Terrace, Duffield. Buried at sea 13 September 1941. Commemorated on TOWER HILL MEMORIAL, London. Panel 102.

Extract from Derby Daily Telegraph 27 October 1938, page 1:

BOY INJURED
IN INFIRMARY AFTER CYCLE
ACCIDENT

Cyril James Bridges (15), of 4, Tamworth-terrace, Duffield was riding his bicycle down Hazelwood-road, Duffield, yesterday, when the front wheel spindle broke and threw him over the handle-bars on to his face.

His front teeth were knocked out, and he suffered concussion, scalpwounds, and cuts on the nose.

Derby St. John ambulance took him to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary, where he was detained. To-day he was stated to be as well as could be expected.

Second Lieutenant 222631, Royal Corps of Signals. Died as a result of an accident 14 June 1942. Aged 21. Born 1921, and resident, Derby. Birth registered at Amber Valley (Ripley) Register office, Duffield Subdistrict, Derbyshire 1921. Buried 18 June 1942 in DUFFIELD CEMETERY, Derbyshire. Section L. Grave 40.

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Extract from Derby Daily Telegraph - Monday 13 April 1942, page 4:

SECOND-LIEUT J. DAVIS WED

Second Lieutenant John P. H. Davis, of the Royal Corps of Signals, son of Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Davis, of The Kirkstyles, Duffield, and Miss Pamela F. S. Sumner, were married at St. Mary the Virgin Church, Dunmow, Essex.

Miss Sumner is the daughter of the late Rev. F. R. Pinfold Sumner, formerly rector of Bitterley, Salop, and of Mrs. Sumner, of Dunmow.

The Bishop of Colchester officiated at the service, assisted by the Rev. Noel Mellish, V.C., vicar of the parish.

The best man was Mr. W. Bruce Davis, younger brother of the bridegroom.

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Extract from Derby Daily Telegraph - Tuesday 16 June 1942, page 4:

ROAD CRASH INJURIES FATAL

Second-Lieutenant John P. W. Davis, of the Royal Corps of Signals, elder son of Mr. and Mrs. Wilfred H. Davis, of The Kirkstyfes, Duffield, has died in the Essex County Hospital, Colchester, from injuries he received in a motor-cycle accident late on Saturday night.

His wife, who was also injured in the accident, is seriously ill in the same hospital.

RETURNING FROM DANCE

They were returning from a dance when their machine was overtaken by a lorry. There was a collision, and Mr. and Mrs. Davis were thrown off. This collision followed another between the lorry and a cyclist who was also fatally injured.

Second-Lieutenant Davis died without regaining consciousness. Both he and his wife received severe head injuries.

Aged 21, Sccond-Lieutenant Davis was educated at Bramcote, Scarborough, and at Winchester, where he played football for his house. He later joined the B.T.H. Co. at Rugby.

He volunteered for the Army, joining the Royal Engineers and later transferring to the Royal Corps of Signals.

A funeral service will be held at Duffield Cemetery Chapel on Thursday p.m.