Obituary notices for Arthur Llewelyn Davies

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The funeral took place while the four youngest of us were still at Ramsgate.

From the published obituary notices preserved by Margaret Ll.D. I expect the following, for what they are worth:

The Times:

“A promising career has been cut short by the death, which occurred at Egerton House, Berkhamsted, on Friday, of Mr Arthur Llewelyn Davies, barrister-at-law. He was the son of the Rev. Jack Llewelyn Davies, vicar of Kirby Lonsdale, and brother of Mr. Theodore Davies, of the Treasury, whose sad death by drowning, in the course of last year, is well remembered. Mr Arthur Davies, after leaving Cambridge, studied for the Bar with the present Mr Justice Walton, quickly made for himself a reputation as a sound and learned lawyer, and was well thought of in the Court of Appeal, especially in connexion with the business of the late School Board for London. He was also for a time one of the local lecturers in the Inner Temple. About nine months ago it was discovered that he was suffering from a dangerous illness, and, though an apparently successful operation was performed, the malady returned, and has now had a fatal termination. Mr Davies, whose many friends loved and admired him for the strength and simplicity of his character and for the courage with which he bore his sufferings, married Miss Sylvia du Maurier, daughter of the distinguished artist, and leaves a family of five sons. The deepest sympathy is felt with Mrs Davies and her children, and with the other members of her husband’s family. The funeral service will be held at Golder’s Green Crematorium, Finchley Road, tomorrow afternoon at 2.30.”

The Layman and The British Weekly (edited then I think by Robertson Nicoll, J.M.B.’s literary impresario) printed slightly more personal, but not more informative notices, which I do not think worth preserving here.* A longer notice in a local Berkhamsted paper, largely copied from those already mentioned, includes the following paragraphs:

“… A keen and thoughtful liberal in politics, he took a very practical interest in the general election at the beginning of last year. He was a telling though quiet speaker, and several of the speeches he made in support of Mr Micklam’s candidature will be remembered for some time as patterns of neatly-turned sentences and winning persuasiveness. His early death is a severe blow to the political life of the town and district. Mr J.M.Barrie, the well-known novelist, who had been on terms of the closest friendship with the deceased gentleman, has been indefatigable in his efforts and unremitting in his attention. During the past six months he has spent quite half his time in Berkhamsted, and he was with him to the last …
“Mr Arthur Davies was educated at Marlborough, and at his funeral on Tuesday at Golder’s Green Crematorium, Finchley Road, one of the mourners was Canon Bell, ex-headmaster of Marlborough. Another mourner was Professor Oliver Elton, Professor of English Literature at University College, Liverpool. Among the other mourners were the Rev. Jack Llewelyn Davies (father), Messrs. Crompton Llewelyn Davies and H. Llewelyn Davies (brothers), Miss Llewelyn Davies (sister), Mr Millar (brother-in-law of Boxmoor), Messrs. J.M. Barrie, Anthony Hope, A.E.W. Mason, M.P. for Coventry, Mr N. Micklem, J.C., M.P., Mr R. Lee Campbell, and Mr C.H. Boucher. About 50 barristers also attended the service in the chapel, which was conducted by the Rev. T.C. Fry, D.D., Head Master of Berkhamsted School, who had journeyed up from Devonshire that morning, Messrs. H. and Jack Matthews carrying out the local arrangements.”

Perhaps these notices are neither better nor worse than the usual run of things. The list of mourners makes no pretence of being complete. A full list would have been interesting. I suppose Sylvia was not there, but do not know. George may have been, but I don’t think that either.

[AB: * All 4 obituaries are in the database]