Remembering John Thomas Davies VC: a local hero whose bravery saved lives.
This Remembrance Sunday, I am proud to honour John Thomas Davies, a St Helens local whose extraordinary courage during the First World War earned him the Victoria Cross, our highest award for military bravery.
Born in 1895, John moved to St Helens as a young child, growing up in Sutton, attending Arthur Street School and later working at Ravenhead Brick and Pipe Works. Like many young men from our town, he volunteered at the outbreak of war, joining the famous St Helens ‘Pals’ battalion.
On 24 March 1918, during a major German offensive in France, John’s battalion was forced to withdraw. Knowing his comrades needed time to escape across a dangerous, barbed-wire-lined stream, Corporal Davies positioned himself with his Lewis gun and continued firing under intense enemy fire. His incredible bravery held back the advancing enemy and undoubtedly saved the lives of many of his fellow soldiers.
John was initially believed to have been killed and awarded the Victoria Cross posthumously. In an extraordinary twist, his family later received a postcard revealing that he was alive and being held as a prisoner of war. He is believed to be the only surviving Victoria Cross recipient to have initially received the award posthumously.
After the war, John returned to St Helens, where he was celebrated with a civic reception before receiving his Victoria Cross from King George V at Buckingham Palace.
This Remembrance Sunday, I am honoured to commemorate John by writing his name on a stake in the Speaker’s Garden at Parliament. It is a small gesture to ensure that the story of this remarkable man, his courage and his sacrifice are never forgotten.
We will remember them.
You can read more about him on the brilliant Sutton at War website: https://www.suttonbeauty.org.uk/suttonhistory/suttonwar1/
