William Gladney Davies 1897-1964- 3 times Army Boxing Champion of the Rhine WW1

[roycymru]

Hello

The above is my grandfather who was a sergeant and M.P. in 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment. I have tried over the years to find more about his Army Records but with no luck and I can't even find him (definitively) in the Medal Rolls Index, it looks like his records were one of those destroyed in the WW2 bombing. I know he was a talented boxer and someone has just sent me his obituary which states he was commissioned in 1917 and 3 times Army Boxing Champion of the Rhine. I am hoping this information might lead to me able to search for other records of him in the army. Any suggestions?

Was known as Gladney or W.G. and hailed from Pontyberem, Gwendraeth Row and 10 Railway Terrace.

See picture attached for possible further clues. the 1914 on the picture must be an incorrect reference

Regards

Any suggestions?

Regards

[jim1]

Which one is your man?
Do you know his Regiment?
Could he have still been serving after 1920? As he was 3 times boxing champion of the Army of occupation indicates he was. If so his records are still with the MOD but are available on request + £30.
The L/Cpl has a medal ribbon & 3 GC chevrons.(thought it was the MC but that was only awarded to Officers) so as yet unidentified. It doesn't look like one of the SA medals.
The Sgt. is possibly Regimental Police.
The medic looks to be RA but hard to tell.

[roycymru]

Sorry, should have said, Gladney is the one in the middle. A few years ago I did write to the Army personnel centre MS Support division  and they sent me what they had, which unfortunately was not a lot. Main info was on an application form for commission in the TA reserve officers for service with ACF in 1942. In his application he says was in the 2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment and was decommissioned in Jan 1919. The rest of the documentation relates to his time in the Army Cadet Force where he got to the rank of Major.

[jim1]

You can imagine how many Davies' there were in the Welsh Regiments.
1 W.G. Davies Sgt. but he was in the 19th. Batt. demobbed Jan. 1919.
A couple of 2/Lt's by the name of G. Davies both missing in action in 1915.
I'll see if I can find their war diary.
Have you found his commission date in the London Gazette?
Edit:
The diary names all Officers being demobbed Jan. - Mar. 1919 & he isn't listed. There is a Lt. G. Davies in the Batt. but he was still with them up to being posted to the 1/6th. Welsh in Mar. 1919.
His commission date might help find him.

[roycymru]

What I have about his commission from the documents supplied is

T.A.R.O Commission

Ref. no. P/290152/1
Davies, William Gladney
Count cadet commitee: Brecknock&Hereford
Commissioned: 2/Lt.w.e.f: 25/11/42
Extract from London Gazette dated: 31/8/43

[jim1]

You said in your original post he was commissioned in 1917.

[roycymru]

Sorry, confusing you and me! The only commissioning reference I have is in relation to the army cadet force in WW2. So you are saying there there should also be some reference to his commissioning in 1917, referred to in his obituary, in the London gazette?

[jim1]

Correct.
Don't take this the wrong way but are you sure he was decommissioned & not just demobbed as an NCO.

[roycymru]

No offence taken at all, and apologies for my lack of understanding on the subject and terminology. Reading again it does say he was demobilised not decommissioned Jan 1919, apologies. Family history says he started officer training but did not not complete because it the end of the war. Although his obituary says "commissioned in 1917", recollections from my late grandfather say he and a bunch of his pals walked to Carmarthen to sign up.