Captain William Davies, a native of Aberdare, was a Medical Student at St. Bartholomew's Hospital pre-War, having previously studied at Cardiff University and Llandovery College. Enlisting in the 21st (Public School) Battalion of the Royal Fusiliers on the outbreak of hostilities, he landed in France in November 1915 and witnessed a considerable amount of fighting prior to being commissioned into the South Wales Borderers in September 1916. Posted to the 2nd Battalion at Guillemont in the following month, he went on to see further action in the attack on Sentier Farm in mid-August 1917, among other front line activity. By early 1918 he had been appointed a Company Commander but sadly, on 11.4.1918, he was killed in action while leading a gallant stand at Le Ferme Prince, near Les Haies Basses. Aged 29 years, Davies is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial.