James-Davies, John Vincent

John Vincent James-Davies was born in April 1895 to parents Ebenezer and Ada James-Davies in London, England. In 1907, he immigrated to Canada with his parents and siblings Maurice, Gwyneth and Frank. Gwyneth and Frank passed away when they were just young children. The family lived in Raymond, Alberta where Ebenezer owned a millenary shop. As a young man, John James-Davies found employment as a teacher in Cereal, Alberta. On November 3, 1915, John James-Davies traveled home to Lethbridge to enlist with the 39th Battery 10th Brigade Canadian Field Artillery. Less than a month later, Gunner John James-Davies reported having reoccurring abdominal pain. He was diagnosed with appendicitis and advised that he would need his appendix removed before proceeding overseas. On Monday December 13, 1915, Gunner James-Davies underwent surgery at the Galt Hospital. During the operation, he suffered complications from which he would never recover. The otherwise healthy young man who stood 6’1” and weighed 225 lbs would never leave Lethbridge again. On Friday, December 18, 1915, Gunner John Vincent James-Davies passed away in the Galt Hospital in Lethbridge, Alberta. He was laid to rest with full military honors, with Reverend Canon J.E. Murrel-Wright officiating. Many officers were in attendance including his commanding officer Major A.B. Stafford, who would later lose his life in France. His mother, Ada received the Memorial Cross and death plaque in honour of her son