Robert Davies

The son of a stock exchange member, Robert Davies was educated at Marlborough College and, after his schooling, joined the crack shooting corps, the 1st Middlesex VRC. He served in the South African War of 1899 when he was attached to the King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Like his father, Robert later joined the stock exchange but, away from the floor, he soon gained a reputation for being an excellent shot, and won the King’s Prize at Bisley in 1906, with a record score 324. It was one of four occasions he reached the final stages. He represented England in 1910 and 1911 and was then chosen for the Great Britain shooting team at the 1912 Olympics. An all-round sportsman he was a fine cricketer and occasionally played for the MCC.

Having retired from the Army, he was recalled with the 9th London Regiment at the outbreak of the Great War, and after two years serving at home, was posted to France in 1916. A few months later he was killed in action, in an attack which also claimed the life of Charles Dickens’ grandson, Major Cedric Dickens.