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David William Davies a.k.a. Dai Rees, Kaffrarian Rifles - suicide on 17.5.1901 4 years 7 months ago #65498

  • BereniceUK
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SUICIDE IN SWANSEA.

A YOUNG MAN SEVERS HIS ARTERIES.
.
Dd. Wm. Davies, popularly known as "Dai Rees," aged 29, the adopted son of Mrs. Sarah Ann Rees, 4, Dynevor-place, Swansea, committed suicide on Wednesday evening. He was well-known and much respected. Some years ago he worked at the G.W.R. office, but went to South Africa. He joined the Kaffrarian Rifles, and went through several engagements, but was invalided home in September. At the subsequent inquest, Dr. Couch said he saw deceased on Monday. He had slight delirium tremens then, and swore he would take no more drink. Deceased called to see him on Tuesday to report progress. He was quite calm, there being no symptoms of trouble. On Wednesday morning deceased called at nine o'clock, informing him he had peculiar hallucinations during the night. He said he tried to sleep, but as soon as he put out the light he would hear people talking. He then said he lit a candle and placed it in a bottle. The voices would then disappear. Witness saw the deceased about two o'clock the same day and again at six o'clock. He asked witness if he was mad, and added that he could still hear people talking. He was suffering from hallucinations, otherwise he was perfectly composed and natural. There was nothing to certify he was mad. Witness said he could not interfere with the deceased's liberty in the slightest. He did not threaten suicide, nor use any violence. There was nothing to lead him to believe he was insane. He called at eleven o'clock on Thursday night and found Rees in bed just taking his last gasp. The bed was covered with blood. Witness added he examined him and found a long wound in the upper part of the right thigh dividing the superficial veins and small arteries. Witness noticed his left arm (covered by his vest and shirt) was covered with blood. The spot on the upper arm was the place where a man would be bled. He no doubt had seen men bled in South Africa. He probably cut himself on the arm, and seeing that he did not die quick enough must have caught hold of a razor and ripped himself at the top of the right thigh. Both wounds were done with the right hand.

By the Jury: He did not suffer from depression of spirits. He was a bright, jolly boy. There was always a frightful depression after having the "D.T.'s" but no half measures can be taken.

The jury returned a verdict of suicide during temporary insanity, and expressed sympathy with the family of the deceased.

The Cambrian, Friday 19th May 1901
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David William Davies a.k.a. Dai Rees, Kaffrarian Rifles - suicide on 17.5.1901 4 years 7 months ago #65501

  • Frank Kelley
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How awful, one certainly does wonder just how many former Atkins were affected by PTSD or similar, there was certainly an 1166 Corporal D Rees, interestingly, his medal appears to have been returned in 1909,

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David William Davies a.k.a. Dai Rees, Kaffrarian Rifles - suicide on 17.5.1901 4 years 7 months ago #65502

  • BereniceUK
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There's no Swansea birth registration for David William Davies around 1870-72, but there is one for a David William Rees - birth registered in the second quarter of 1871, with his mother's maiden name being Davies. Adopted at birth?

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