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, Harold Joseph played for Wales and the British Isles Wales Internationals: 1: 1924 S- British Isles Internationals: 1: 1924 SA- Harold Davies was born on 5 December 1899. Played as a Wing/Centre for: Newport St Julians High School, Newport Profession: Butcher Remarks: Replacement on 1924 British Isles tour of South Africa. War service: 15th (County of London) Battalion, (Prince of Wales’s Own Civil Service Rifles) London Regiment, 4th (London) Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. He died on 29 March 1976.
Davies played club rugby for Newport and captained the team in the 1925/26 season. Davies was first chosen to represent Wales in the 1922 Five Nations Championship game against France, but was replaced shortly before kick off, along with Swansea's Frank Palmer, by Cliff Richards and Islwyn Evans Davies was selected on one occasion in 1924 to represent Wales in an infamous game against Scotland at Inverleith. Wales were completely outclassed letting in eight tries. Although Davies was never selected to play for Wales again he was chosen to represent the British Lions in their 1924 tour of South Africa. The 1924 tour was notorious for the amount of injuries suffered by the tourists, and Davies was called out at the late in the tour as a replacement. He played in just one game against South Africa, in the second test. Clubs - Newport Education - St Julian's High School, Newport (Wales) Honours - Harold Joseph Davies won 1 Welsh cap vs Scotland 1924. British Lion South Africa 1924 where he played 2 games at fullback. Captained Newport RFC in 1925/6. Newport RFC record : 1920/1-1926/7 : 219 apps / 78t / 5c.
Medal card of Davies, Harold J 15th London Regiment 534882 Private Date 1914-1920 This is from Paul Nixons excellent site ! The 15th (County of London) Battalion, The London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles), had its origins in the 12th Middlesex (Civil Service) Volunteer Rifles Corps. Its headquarters was at Somerset House, Westminster. You never know ... Harold could be on one of these pictures !!!!!! http://armyservicenumbers.blogspot.com/2009/07/215th-london-regiment-illustrated-war.html Here are some army service numbers and corresponding joining dates for the 15th Londons - 473 joined on 2nd April 1908 1068 joined on 24th March 1909 1185 joined on 23rd February 1910 1286 joined on 22nd February 1911 1387 joined on 19th February 1912 1536 joined on 27th January 1913 1760 joined on 19th January 1914 1983 joined on 4th August 1914 2465 joined on 1st September 1914 3138 joined on 7th October 1914 3179 joined on 7th December 1914 3227 joined on 4th January 1915 3287 joined on 5th February 1915 3349 joined on 4th March 1915 3447 joined on 6th April 1915 3632 joined on 3rd May 1915 3922 joined on 7th June 1915 4247 joined on 13th July 1915 4344 joined on 4th August 1915 4414 joined on 6th September 1915 4481 joined on 6th October 1915 4584 joined on 8th November 1915 5080 joined on 6th December 1915 5515 joined on 24th January 1916 5721 joined on 1st February 1916 6019 joined on 1st March 1916 6445 joined on 5th April 1916 6607 joined on 1st May 1916 6885 joined on 31st July 1916 6904 joined on 4th August 1916 7297 joined on 11th September 1916 7462 joined on 4th October 1916 7681 joined on 17th November 1916 7742 joined on 4th December 1916 7786 joined on 8th January 1917 In January 1917, the 15th London Regiment commenced numbering with the new six figure Territorial Force numbers. It did so within the range 530001 - 550000.
There is a story that the Welsh players who lost 1924 international to Scotland 10-35at Inverleith were taken on a bus tour of the area the next day. When they reached the Forth Bridge, the team manager told them "Have a good look boys, because this is the last time that you'll see it at the expense of the Welsh Rugby Union". Gareth
