Pelsall Heroine - Dorothy Elizabeth Davies
Several people on recent visits to Pelsall History Centre have asked questions regarding the only lady’s name to appear on Pelsall Village’s War Memorial – Dorothy Elizabeth Davies. So we decided to investigate.
After several weeks researching our archives without success, we launched an appeal through this paper and within days three relatives contacted us with details; by using those details and by researching local newspapers we have uncovered much of Dorothy’s story.
Early Life
Dorothy Davies was born in Station Road, Pelsall on 5th May 1905, one of six children to parents Joseph, a mechanic, and Sarah Jane, a housewife.
Relatives tell us that the family was well known and well respected in the village, attending Chapel every week; they remember the children having a happy childhood, playing games on the common. The youngsters attended Chapel Street all age Wesley school.
When Dorothy’s mom became disabled, and her brother and sisters married, Dorothy, now left school aged 12/14, became head of the house and looked after both her parents for many years.
Dorothy’s parents died in quick succession, her mom dying in 1939 and her dad in 1941. Consequently, Dorothy had to leave her house in Station Road and went to live first in Chapel Street then to live with her sister Ethel and husband Archie on the Wolverhampton Road.
She then decided to join the Red Cross, being posted to Little Wyrley Hall, then a military hospital, as a General Service Nurse (Auxiliary Nurse). As the hospital began filling with wounded servicemen from all over Europe, Dorothy was asked if she would consider living in; her acceptance meant that she would be on call twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. Dorothy thrived on this and gained the trust and respect of both staff and patients.
As a man’s health improved, so he was taken out on visits to surrounding towns, cinemas and concerts.
A Tragic Accident
One Wednesday, the 23rd April 1942, Dorothy met with senior staff and it was decided to drive six servicemen by army ambulance to a concert that evening in Kingstanding; Dorothy was to accompany the driver, a Lady Brenda Hickman.
While their ambulance was crossing a road junction close to the Old Horns Public House on the Queslett Road Great Barr, it was in collision with another army truck. The petrol tank on Dorothy’s ambulance exploded and the vehicle burst into flames; civilians and soldiers nearby managed to extricate everyone from the ambulance except Dorothy whose legs were trapped. After several attempts at rescue, the heat became so intense that, sadly, Dorothy could not be saved.
Local Paper
The local newspaper of the day reported that Dorothy Davies, 36 years-old, died in the blaze, while seven patients and colleagues, including Lady Hickman, a County Commandant of the St. John Nursing Division, suffered slight burns and severe shock at losing such a close friend. The servicemen – two members of the Netherlands Army, three Dutchman belonging to the Merchant Navy and one British soldier – suffered burns and severe shock. They all knew Dorothy well and had become close friends.
As the news broke in Pelsall, the whole village was shocked by the loss of Dorothy and began to rally around the Davies family. Dorothy’s sister Ethel, with whom she lived, told the newspaper:
“Dorothy loved her job at the hospital and was very hard working.”
Relatives say that everyone at the hospital and in the village liked and respected Dorothy who, after many years caring for her parents and then losing them, wanted to help others.
Pelsall Funeral
On the day of her funeral the streets of Pelsall were lined with hundreds of villagers paying their respects; the hearse was followed by family and friends, while patients and staff from the hospital were present at the graveside. According to relatives, Dorothy received an unofficial five or seven gun salute at her graveside by soldiers from a nearby barracks, a fact that has been confirmed by other villagers.
Councillor Bill Clayton
In 1976, a local councillor, Bill Clayton, and his wife Edna were visiting Walsall Town Hall when Edna noticed a plaque inscribed with Walsall servicemen’s names from the Second World War. She mentioned to Bill that Pelsall’s Second World War servicemen were not on the village war memorial, so Bill set about getting funding to put matters right. Through the local press, he appealed to any villagers who had relatives who had died in the forces during the Second World War to contact him, as he intended to create a plaque for Pelsall Cenotaph dedicated to those who had given their lives.
Many villagers who had lost loved ones in the war contacted Bill; among them were relatives, friends and villagers who remembered Dorothy’s death thirty-four years earlier and who requested her name be included. Bill agreed stating:
“She was a Pelsall heroine, so why not?”
Remembrance Day 1976
Photo
It was on Remembrance Day in 1976 that the whole village turned out to see unveiled the plaque containing nineteen second World War names, including that of Dorothy Elizabeth Davies.
Pelsall History Centre
Pelsall History Centre is now trying to locate Dorothy’s grave which, with the passage of time, now lies unmarked. When identified, as a mark of respect, the Centre intends to raise funds to reinstate it to its original condition.
(Andrew Weller of Pelsall History Centre would like to thank those who contributed to this story, including Dorothy’s nephew, the late Wilfred Wilkinson and niece Gladys Croxall. Andrew said,
“We are proud of Dorothy; she is a great heroine and a true Pelsallonion”.
This story of Dorothy Elizabeth Davies, the only lady’s name on our village Cenotaph recording those who lost their lives in two world wars, will now live on for future generations.)
Photo of Dorothy
