Alfred Davy came to Chelmsford from London around 1909, married and had four children. Having joined in the army he landed in France in November 1915. After three years’ service he was killed in action in September 1918. His widow lived in Regina Road.

Alfred was born in Edmonton, London in 1883, the son of Charles Thomas Davy. His father had been born c1840 in London. His mother died by 1891.

Alfred’s siblings included Frederick Davy (born c1879 in St. Pancras, London), Eliza Davy (born c1881 in St. Pancras) and Henry Davy (born c1885 in Edmonton).

In 1891 the census found eight year-old Alfred living with his widowed father and three siblings at 8 Granville Avenue in Edmonton. His father was a blacksmith. A decade later the 1901 census recorded 17 year-old Alfred boarding at 5a Lays Road in Tottenham, London. He was a carman.

Aged 26, Alfred married Grace Clarke on 25th September 1909 at St. Mary’s Church, Chelmsford. At the time Alfred was a drayman living at Blackhorse Lane in Walthamstow. His bride was the daughter of Walter Henry Clarke, a coachman, lived at 14 Regina Road, Chelmsford, and had been born on 16th January 1888 in Thorney in Cambridgeshire.

Alfred and Grace went on to have four children; Albert Edward Davy (born on 12th April 1910 in Chelmsford, died 1998), Ivy Lilian Davy (born in 1911, died aged 3 in 1915), Doris May Davy (born in 1912, died on 16th July 1940), and Frederick Charles Davy (born in 1913, died in 1970).

Alfred has yet to be found in the 1911 census, though his wife Grace and 11 month-old son Albert were listed living with Grace’s parents and family at 14 Regina Road.

Alfred enlisted at Tottenham, Middlesex (where his father lived) and landed in France on 17th November 1915.  He was killed in action on 29th September 1918 while serving as Driver 86007 Davy in the 212th (Tottenham) Field Company, Royal Engineers. He was 35 years old and was buried at the Fins New British Cemetery, Sorel-Le-Grand, Somme, France (Grave reference: VI. E. 14.).

On 18th October 1918 the Essex County Chronicle reported:

“Dvr. A. Davy, R.E. of 14 Regina Road, Chelmsford, was killed in action on Sept. 29. after three years’ service in France. Deceased, who was 36 years of age, only returned from leave on Sept. 17. He left the Hoffmann Works to join Kitchener’s Army. Mrs. Davy received the official news yesterday. His father, who lives at Tottenham, is a Naval pensioner, and two other brothers are serving, while Mrs. Davy has three brothers serving. Deceased leaves a widow and three young children, His commanding officer writes to the widow: ‘All the officers and men join with me in sending our deepest sympathy to you. He was a great favourite with all, and we shall miss him and his cheeriness very much.’”

The same day’s Essex Weekly News carried the following report:

“Dvr. A. Davy, of a Field Company, R.E., whose widow resides at 26 [sic Regina-rd., Chelmsford, was killed on Sept. 29. His Lieutenant writes that deceased was killed instantly and suffered no pain whatsoever, and adds: ‘He was a great favourite with all and we shall miss him and his cheeriness very much. You have the deep sympathy of all the officers and men.”

Alfred is commemorated on the Civic Centre Memorial, Chelmsford and by the Chelmsford Parish Great War Memorial in Chelmsford Cathedral. He was entitled to the Victory, British War War and 1915 Star medals.

The 1918 register of electors listed an absent Alfred, and his widow at 14 Regina Road, Chelmsford, a property that has since been demolished.

Alfred’s widow married Christopher Mansfield Digby at Chelmsford Cathedral on 9th June 1919. She died in 1974,

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