DAVIES, WILLIAM THOMAS FREDERICK,
Major, was born 13 August 1860, at Swansea, South Wales, son of Dr Ebenezer
Davies, of Swansea, and of Mrs E J C Davies (nee Bluett). He was MD, BS,
London, and MRCS, England. He served in the South African War, 1899-1900,
as Surgeon Major, South African Light Horse, which force he had helped to
raise. He took part in operations in Natal in 1899, including actions at
Elandslaagte, Rietfontein and Lombard's Kop. He was in Medical Charge of
the Regiment during the Siege of Ladysmith, when he was present at the
sortie of 7 December 1899, and action of 6 January 1900. He was in Medical
Charge of the Relief Column under Colonel Bryan Mahon, on the march to
Mafeking, and was present at the Relief of Mafeking. He was invalided owing
to an injury to the knee. He took part also in the operations in the
Transvaal, east and west of Pretoria, July to November 1900. He received
the Queen's Medal with five clasps, and was created a Companion of the
Distinguished Service Order [London Gazette, 19 April 1901]: "William Thomas
Frederick Davies, Surgeon Major, Imperial Light Horse. In recognition of
services during the operations in South Africa". The Insignia were
presented by the King 3 June 1901. The receipt of the Warrant and Statutes
was acknowledged by the officer's father, as Major Davies had left for South
Africa. He was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel, Imperial Light
Horse Volunteers; was appointed President of the Transvaal Medical Council,
and Surgeon to the Johannesburg Hospital. When the European War broke out
in 1914 he raised the 2nd Imperial Light Horse, and was given command of it,
serving throughout the German South-West African Campaign. He was in the
action of Gibeon, and was wounded. He served in the Royal Army Medical
Corps as Major, June 1917 to April 1919, and was appointed Surgeon
Specialist to the General Military Hospital, Colchester. He married, in
1886, Florence, daughter of T Dixon.
