Trevor Arthur Manning Davies, born on 6th April 1893, was admitted to King Edward’s School in September 1908 as a Foundation Scholar. His father, Arthur, was a mineral merchant and the family lived at 103, Hamstead Road, Handsworth (and later at Aragon House, Sutton Coldfield). Trevor stayed at KES for only one year, moving to Clifton College, Bristol, as a boarder. From there, he proceeded to Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was Senior Classical Scholar.
On the outbreak of war, Trevor was immediately gazetted as a Second Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, leaving for France in February 1915, when he was promoted to Lieutenant. He was killed on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, during the attack on Gommecourt. He was acting as artillery liaison to the advancing infantry and, as with so many Forward Observation Officers, was killed while attempting to relay information back to his guns. His final letter home was sent that morning: “I am starting in 20 minutes. Thank you so much for all you have done for me, and all you have had to put up [with] from me; I am sorry. My love to you all. Trevor.”
There is some confusion about Trevor’s memorial as he is recorded as being commemorated on both the Arras and Thiepval Memorials. The School Service Record even states that he was killed at Ypres. He left his estate of £187 to his father.