Isandlwana Casualty - John William Jones Davies

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Hello all,

I recently came across the following West Wales War Memorials Project page which includes a photograph of a memorial plaque within the church in Llandefeilog, Carmarthenshire:

https://ww1.wales/pre-ww1-war-memorials/anglo-zulu-war

The plaque reads:

TO THE MEMORY OF
JOHN WILLIAM JONES
ELDEST SON OF EDWARD MORRIS AND
MARIA THOMAS DAVIES, OF UPLAND
IN THIS PARISH
KILLED IN THE BATTLE OF ISANDWHLANA
JANUARY 22 1879
AGED 31 YEARS

The website owner (who I have been in contact with) states that this is likely to be Pte 743 John Davies 2nd Btn 24th, and although this is perfectly feasible I think this could do with looking into a little further as most rolls seem to have 743 down as John James Davies.

The use of 'Jones' is perhaps a little confusing, but this was apparently his mother's maiden name and so therefore I'm assuming that this was given to him as a second middle name. It's perfectly possible then that 'James' was a mis-transcription of 'Jones' and that the individual on the plaque is indeed 743.

I can't find any other casualties by the name of J Davies so if anyone has any further information on the individual which may help to confirm his identity I'd be interested to hear.

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hi Tim

You are correct about the third Christian name, he was baptised on 30 Jan 1850 as John William Jones son of Edward and Maria Thomas Davies at Llandfeilog. His initials appear as J W J in the 1851 census age 1. Jones was the maiden name of his mother who married Edward on 13 December 1848. Difficult to make a conclusive link to the rolls however, 743 appears as just "Davies J J" on the medal roll at Kew, but he does seem the most likely contender.

Steve

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Hello Steve,

Many thanks for the information, 743 is listed in Julian Whybra's 'England's Sons' as John James (as well as a couple of other rolls I think), so I agree that although not conclusive proof that this is the subject of the memorial, it's a reasonably educated guess.

Also, at the bottom of the plaque it states that the memorial was erected by his brother Arthur; I understand that 743's effects were claimed by a brother so this may be a further indication that it could be the same person (I don't know if there is any way of finding out the names of claimees?)

Another option of course is that John William Jones Davies joined the army under an assumed name, which would complicate things still further!

Regards,

Tim

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Hi Tim
I don't think the names of claimees are preserved. Just out of interest this is said to be a photo of brother Arthur who had the memorial erected. Their father was a gentleman farmer from Carmarthen; Arthur left £21,000 in his will in 1920, a tidy sum in those days. Yet John, the eldest brother, joins up as a private soldier, and another brother Edward died in the workhouse in 1927.
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Steve

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Hello Steve,

Thanks for the photo, cracking work!

I'll try to find out a little bit more about John Davies, if anyone does have any knowledge of Isandlwana casualty effects being claimed and which records may help, I'd be interested to hear.

Regards,

Tim

Subject: John William Jones Davies Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:05 am

Hi Tim & Steve
Not much to add sorry to say , but as you are probably aware the following is from ' The Noble 24th ' by Norman Holme
Davies , John James . 25B / 743 Private
Attested at Brecon 2/2/76 ; age 24 . Served in D Co . Effects claimed by a brother ( which means to me he had more than one ? ) , South Africa Medal with Clasp 1877-78-79 .

D Co wasn't at Isandlwana , so is it possible he was a member of the Mtd Inf . or was seconded to another of the companies due to illness or shortcomings in another companies ranks ?
90th

Subject: John William Jones Davies Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:07 am

Forgot to mention , I don't know of any records identifying those who picked up their kins private effects , possibly Bill Cainan may know ? .
90th Shocked

90th,

You can discount the Mounted Infantry, 2nd/24th supplied to 2nd Squadron, who served in Pearson's No. 1 Column.

I imagine that every 2nd/24th company out with Chelmsford had personnel who remained at Isandlwana responsible for their respective company's kit and baggage, so I think you can put to secondment idea to bed as well.

JY

Subject: John William Jones Davies Mon Apr 11, 2016 12:59 am

Thanks JY , I forgot they left their own company personal in camp to look after their companies effects etc etc . Salute

90th

Subject: John William Jones Davies Mon Apr 11, 2016 1:02 am

Hi JY
Bit late mate after 1am ! , you not working tomorrow ? Shocked

90th

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

I've had some indirect contact with a family descendant and he absolutely refutes the idea that the individual on the plaque is 743 Pte J. Davies, although he is unable to give any further indication as to who JWJ Davies actually was - hopefully further information will come to light in the future.

Posts : 615 Join date : 2013-05-07 Location : Brecon

Tim

This is an interesting one. I assume he served under an alias (?). Age - born 1849? Assume he joined the army aged 18 years (in 1867) but 24th Foot Depot did not come to Brecon until 1873 but could have joined 1/24th in Ireland. However could have served in Royal Artillery.

The closest I can guest is:

25B/109 John William Evans 1/24th

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Taking a step back somewhat, in reality there is nothing to say he was with the 24th is there ? - and the memorial plaque inside the church does seem quite grand for a private soldier. Very intriguing!

Steve

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

There is apparently a record of a JWJ Davies at Pembroke College, Cambridge from 1869 so this may shed a little more light on him given some further enquiries; I'll try to contact the archivist there....

Regards,
Tim

Posts : 2871 Join date : 2010-06-02

Tim

J W J Davies at Pembroke (Cambridge) is your man. He is listed as the eldest son of Edward Morris Davies, Carmarthen. Admitted Jan 29 1869, nothing more on record.

In the 1861 census he was living with the family at 15 Milner Square, St Marylebone, London.

There are two family trees on Ancestry that both list him as killed at Isandhlwana, but neither gives any source for that information (other than the memorial) or any military details.

Steve

Posts : 310 Join date : 2011-10-18 Location : Cornwall

Thanks Steve,

There is apparently a family plot in Highgate cemetery, London where the other sibling Edward Warlow Davies is buried - it's possible that there may be a mention of JWJ Davies there with further details, however the cemetery office charges a small fortune to look up graves.

Regards,

Tim

John William Jones Davies was born in Upland, Llandefeilog 1849, the son of the wealthy landowner Edward Morris Davies and Maria Thomas Davies (née Jones). (He is possibly the man who served with the 2nd Battalion, 24th Foot as a Private, with the army number 743.) John was thirty one years old when he was killed at Isandlwana on 22 January 1879 and is among the casualties buried in scattered mass graves on the battlefield. There is a memorial in his memory within St. Maelog’s Church at Llandefeilog.

My feeling is that this is not 743 Davies or Davis in some rolls (though it might). It may well be the real name of someone using a pseudonym. That's one of the problems with Jones/Davies.

Last edited by ADMIN on Sun Apr 15, 2018 7:18 pm; edited 1 time in total

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Change of opinion. The date of birth and age is right for 1879 so it may well be 743 John William Jones Davies. There were 12 D coy members at Isandhlwana camp.

Message received from forum member Vaughan.

'John Davies 25B/743 was NOT John William Jones Davies. J.W.J.D. was probably killed by Zulus on, or around the 22nd January 1879. whilst on "undercover" operations for Her Majesty's Government.
Vaughan Williams"

» Pte John William Jones Davies
» Richard Davies born 25 January 1926; died 8 October 2015. Played Pte Jones in Zulu 1964.
» John O'Connel John Powers James Jones George Hersee / Hersey 2/4th Regiment theft of apples