Source: Michael Doyle Their Name Liveth For Evermore: The Great War Roll of Honour for Leicestershire and Rutland.
He was the son of Joseph Davis, a coal miner, born 1844 in Earl Shilton, Leics., and his wife Hannah Davis (nee Wardle, married 1865), born 1846 in Coalville, Leics. Fred was born in 1888 in Donington le Heath, Leics., his siblings were, John, a coal miner, born 1871 in Coalville, Leics., Thomas, a coal miner, born 1874, Isaac, a coal miner, born 1875, Clara, a schoolgirl, born 1880, Catherine, a schoolgirl, born 1882, Frank, a schoolboy, born 1883 and James, a schoolboy, born 1886, the latter six siblings were all born in Donington le Heath, Leics., in April 1891 the family home was at Belvoir Road, Hugglescote and Donington le Heath, Leics. In March 1901 Fred was residing in the family home at 95, Belvoir Road, Coalville, together with his widowed mother, and siblings, Isaac, a coal miner, Frank, a coal mine pony boy and James a coal miner. In April 1911 Fred was employed as a coal miner and was residing as a boarder at Coronation Cottages, Hough Hill, Swannington, Leics., this being the home of his married sister, Clara Dennis, and her husband Albert Dennis, a bricklayer, born 1879 in Measham, Leics., together with their children, Elsie May, born 1909 and Bruce, born 1910.
On Friday April 16th 1915 The Melton Mowbray Times & Vale of Belvoir Gazette published the following article under the heading. “HEAVY LEICESTERSHIRE CASUALTIES.” – MEN WHO FELL AT NEUVE CHAPPELLE. – OFFICIAL LISTS. – The official lists of casualties published during the past week contain the names of numerous representatives of the Leicestershire Regiment, several of whom will be recognised as belonging to Melton Mowbray and district. Reported from the base, 24th March.
KILLED.
Ball (11054), Private A., Barker (10872), Private A., Bates (12314), Private W., Betteridge (9239), Lance Corporal T., Bishop (11078), Private J. H., Bosher (9534), Private H., Bradley (6131), Lance Corporal A., Bradley (11776), Corporal G. J., Branson (9838), Private F., Brooks (12142), Private B., Brown (11185), Private H., Brown (8631), Private S. W., Carter (11125), Private W., Congreve (8282), Private F., Conway (5393), Private A., Cooke (9898), Private E. A., Corby (8485), Private W. H., Cornish (10358), Sergeant J., Cousins (6007), Private C. E., Cox (8829), Lance Corporal F. J., Croucher (8854), Private L., Cunnington (12090), Private H., Davis (9923), Private F., Elson (7096), Lance Corporal F. A., Emery (8269), Private W., Ferguson (9277), Private R. E., Garton (9939), Private E., Green (11801), Private G., Hall (12041), Private E., Hallam (6473), Private O., Hayes (8740), Drummer D., Helsdon (6021), Lance Corporal W., Hicks (10718), Private E., Hinckley (9160), Private L. J., Holt (11718), Private C. H., Holt (12093), Private W., Hopkinson (12383), Private J., Hyde (8199), Private J. W., Lake (9242), Private H., Latham (12468), Private W. S., Lee (11330), Private E. H., Lees (5329), Sergeant E., Littlejohn (8708), Private T., Locks (8961), Private L., McHugh (12700), Private A., Mansfield (9034), Private H., Morgan (8412), Private A., Morre (5661), Private F., Neat (5342), Sergeant J., Needham (6400), Private H. S., Peacock (11043), Private G., Potterton (8959), Private W., Poyser (12070), Private J. G., Randle (6164), Private L., Reynolds (10162), Private J. S., Robinson (8732), Private P., Rowley (9863), Private W., Sanders (9225), Private U., Sheffield (12078), Corporal J. D., Shipsides (6396), Private E., Skelcey (8825), Private R., Soden (11262). Private W. A., Tansley (7898), Lance Corporal W. J., Taylor (12412), Private F. W., Towndrow (5708), Lance Corporal E., Twigg (7466), Sergeant J., Vine (10426), Private W., Ward (10951), Private W. R., Wardle (6399), Private W., Wareham (12045), Private H., Warner (9285), Private A. H., Warner (9864), Private O., Watson (11669), Private J., White (9522), Private A., Woodford (9045), Private A. F.
The War Diary for the 12th March records. The enemy artillery shelled PORT ARTHUR. On the 12th March at 5.15am the Germans counter attacked and A Coy at D. was called up but this counter attack broke down on the right at 100yards from our trenches. On the left they occupied the trench vacated by the 2nd/2nd GURKHAS and advanced from there direct on the 2nd/3rd GURKHAS. They were received with frontal fire from the GURKHAS and enfiladed by B Coy and one Machine Gun under Capt McINTYRE and few returned to their trench. At 9.00am a white flag was seen in this trench and at 9.30am a Coy of the 1st/4th GURKHAS advanced as there was no further movement by the enemy a party under 2nd Lt McINTYRE under fire from enemy behind white flags rushed to the trench and assisted the GURKHAS in clearing it of the enemy, many of whom were killed or wounded, the remainder surrendering to the 1st HIGHLAND LIGHT INFANTRY further north. Information received at 11.00am the SIRHIND Bde supported by JULLUNDER Bde was going to attack in easterly direction, but no attack took place although troops were formed up behind front line, owing to open nature of ground and lack of cover they suffered somewhat heavily. At 3.37pm received information that GARWHAL Bde would remain in possession of line. At 6.00pm FEROZEPORE Bde came up but by 11.00pm it was decided that attack would not take place. Heavy artillery shelled PORT ARTHUR from 1.00pm to 2.15pm. Battn HQ’s and ½ D Coy moved to D. at 3.00pm. JULLUNDER and FEROZEPORE Bde withdrawn about 11.30pm. The War Diary for the 13th March records. Heavy shelling in neighbourhood of D. and NEUVE CHAPELLE during the morning. Snipers very active. At 12.30pm it was reported by a Gunner observing officer that the enemy were collecting on the line of LAYES river S.5.b to M.36.c. Orders were issued by Bde at 5.15pm for relief of line by SIRHIND Bde (Appendix E). Operational orders issued at 6.30pm (Appendix F). At 5.30pm information was received that appearances were in favour of the enemy attacking. Relief completed at midnight 13th/14th March all quiet and Battn marched to L’EPINETTE via F. Bde HQ’s RUE DES BERCEAUX – QUEEN MARY ROAD – LA COUTURE – ZELOBES and LOCON ROAD arriving at billets at 6.00am 14th March.

Source: Leicestershire War Memorials Project.
Coalville Times article - Friday April 16th, 1915:

TWO COALVILLE COLLIER’S KILLED

In the list of Leicesters killed at the front published in this issue will be found the names of Pte. Ernest Moore and Pte. Fred Davis.

Pte. Moore was a collier lodging with Mr Joseph Brownlow, in Ashby Road, Coalville, and was called up as a reservist on the outbreak of war. He took part in the South African war. A brother of the deceased soldier is Mr J. H. Moore, of No. 5 Marshall’s Row, and a sister, Mrs Measures, resides in Highfields Street, Coalville. His father was one of the victims in the Whitwick colliery disaster.

Pte. Fred Davis was working at the South Leicestershire Colliery when the war broke out and he joined the colours in August. He used to lodge with Mrs Dennis, a sister at Hoo Ash. His brother, Mr Davis, a collier at the Ellistown pit, lives nearly opposite the Halfway House in Belvoir Road, Coalville

Coalville Times article - Friday November 12th, 1915

Coalville Soldier Killed

Writing from Derby Road, Hayton, near Liverpool, on November 8th, Mrs Massey, formerly of 154, Ashby Road, Coalville, states that her brother, Private Fred Davis, No. 9923, of the 2nd Leicestershire Regiment, was killed at Neuve Chapelle between March 10th and 13th inst. He was a single man, 26 years of age and resided with Mrs Massey when she lived in Ashby Road. He formerly worked at the South Leicestershire Colliery, and was among the first to enlist on the outbreak of war. Davis’s name has been added to our Roll of Honour.

Research undertaken and submitted by Andy Murby 10/09/2017