This is one of a series of posts to mark the international Rugby players who served in, and survived, The Great War. If anyone has further information on the men concerned, I’d be most grateful if it could be added to the thread. Gareth Davies, David Bailey MC played for Wales Internationals: 1 : 1907 E+ David Davies was born on 3 December 1884, in Llanwenog Played as a Fullback for: St David’s College School Lampeter, St David’s College, Oxford University (Blue 1905-1907), Llanelli, London Welsh Profession: Schoolmaster/minister War service: 2nd Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, 3rd (Guards) Brigade, Guards Division; He joined the Welsh Guards from an Officer Cadet Battalion in 1917, and served with the BEF from 12 December 1917 to 12 March 1918. His MC was awarded for action in 1918: For conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty at Flesquières on September 27 1918. He volunteered to take out a party to deal with the enemy machine-guns in Orival Wood, which were enfilading his company. He succeeded under intense fire in killing six of the enemy and capturing the guns. His example was inspiring to all ranks. He was promoted to Lieutenant on 1 December 1919. Remarks: Son of a farmer. He was ordained as a Minister in 1926. He died on 24 April 1968, in Hendon
David "Bailey" Davies (3 December 1884 – 24 August 1968) was a Welsh rugby union fullback who played club rugby for Llanelli and London Welsh and international rugby for Wales. In his personal life he was a schoolmaster, clergyman and soldier. Davies was born in Llanwenog, Cardiganshire in Wales in 1884. He was educated at St. Davids College School in Lampeter, before he was accepted into St. Davids College. From Lampeter he marticulated into Jesus College, Oxford. After leaving University in 1908, he was accepted for an assistant mastership at Llandovery College for a single term. The following year he moved to England becoming assistant master at Merchant Taylors' School, Crosby where he served in the Officer Training Corps. Before the outbreak of World War I, Davies was a commissioned captain in the Territorial Force, and with the decleration of war joined the British Army rising to the rank of Second Lieutenant in the Welsh Guards. With the end of the War he rejoined Merchant Taylors, and in 1926 he was ordained becoming Rector of Sutton, Bedfordshire. In 1946 he left Merchant Taylors when he became Vicar at Eyeworth in Bedforshire, a duty he fulfilled until 1957. A memorial tablet was laid at the church he served in Eyeworth, remembering Davies and his wife Elsie Mary Davies first played rugby while at St. David's College, and while at Oxford he represented Oxford University, winning three sporting "Blues" in 1905 through to 1907. He played for the Wales on one occasion, as fullback against England on 12 January, in the opening game of the 1907 Home Nations Championship. http://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/A2A/records.aspx?cat=004-p123&cid=-1&Gsm=2008-06-18#-1
