Rosalind Davies' Family History
© Rosalind Davies 2001
Permission granted to reprint research for non-profit use only

Tom served mainly with the British Artillery during World War 1 as a driver or looking after the horses that pulled the large guns. His service was with the 10th Battery, Royal Field Artillery; # 662 DVR and the Royal Artillery #662DVR. He was stationed in Belgium and France and was slightly gassed whilst in the trenches. He remained in France after the armistice was declared. It wasn't until after February of 1919 that the army demobilised any soldiers as they were still on standby in case the armistice agreement broke down. The men were used to dismantle arms dumps, generally clearing up rubbish and taking up the trade education programs to give them skills to look for a job when they eventually got home. Virtually every unit from the smallest to the largest had a football team, a tug-o-war team and a cross-country team. Large units at the battalion level also had cricket, rugby and many other teams. There were lots of individual competitions ranging from chess to boxing. Men were selected or volunteered and were given time off to train and play. iv

	Tom's World War 1 service medals- front and back
		From the left reads: "The Great War for Civilisation 1914-1919" ;silver reads "Territprial Force Efficiency Medal: second from right reads " 1914-1918; right reads "#682 Dvr. J.T. Davies RFA"	This photo on the left shows Tom holding an officer's horse in a very cold French town.

When Tom was finally demobbed from the army, he returned to his parents' home in Greaves Road, Scotforth. His parents, John and Sarah Davies had been minding the baby Wilfred.

In 1920, Tommy married Jenny's widowed sister Lilian. He continued to play football. This time the Scotforth soccer team won the North Lancashire & District Football League.

After the birth of a daughter Margery, they decided to emigrate to Australia because the work opportunities seemed better. They were nominated by Lilian's brother, Jack and left England from Tilbury Docks in London on 18th October 1923 on the SS Borda (P & O Line) via the Cape of Good Hope, Fremantle then Port Adelaide in Australia. Baby Margery was very sick on the voyage. Tommy's passport describes him as 5 feet 5 inches with grey eyes.

The family settled in Murray Bridge, South Australia, because other family members had preceded them. They lived for a few weeks with Lilian's brother Jack and his wife Maggie before moving into a three roomed galvanised iron house. Jack gave Tommy work servicing his hire boats but then Tommy worked for the railways as a fettler laying the railway sleepers. He was away for a fortnight at a time.

Tom and Lil had been renting 38 John Street, Granville for some time but in September 1949 they were able to buy the property from Mrs. Clarissa Jane Austin.			They were the best of grandparents and can be seen here with myself (right) my sister Janette (left) and Marge's eldest son Jimmy in the middle. This was taken about 1951.

Lil died in March 1953. Their daughter Margery and her husband Fred Brown and family had come to live at 38 John Street to care for Lil some time before then stayed on to look after Tom.

Tom died in 1971 from cerebral arteriosclerosis (hardening of the arteries) which he'd suffered from for several years and cerebral thrombosis (blood clot in the brain) which he'd suffered from for 7 days. He was 82. He was cremated at Rookwood Cemetery in Sydney. There is no plaque. I remember my grandfather as a kindly, gentle man, slow to anger and loving.