John Morgan Davies, Private, 27361, Welsh Regiment. John was born at Caio, and resided at Llanwrda prior to the war. He enlisted at Neath into the Army, and joined the 8th Battalion (Pioneers), Welsh Regiment, which was part of 40 Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. John had fought at Gallipoli with the Division, before it moved to take part in a drive across Mesopotamia. John was reported as missing after a battle against the Turks on the 27th April, 1918. His parents received the news in the form of a letter from the Army Office at Shrewsbury, but sadly John was never found. He is recorded as being killed in action on the 27th April, 1918. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Basra Memorial. Many thanks to Martin Davies for the photograph.

Oswyn St. Leger Davies, Lieutenant-Colonel, Manchester Regiment. Oswyn was the Son of John Morgan Davies, D.L., J.P., and Jane Elizabeth Davies, of Froodvale, Llanwrda, and he resided near Llansawel. He was in Command of the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, but transferred to be the CO of the 8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 125th Brigade, 42nd Division. The Division had fought in Gallipoli and in Egypt, and on the 27th February, 1917 landed at Marseilles en route to the Western Front. The Division entered the line at Epehy then moved to Havrincourt where they remained until the 8th July, facing the Hindenburg Line positions in front of Cambrai. July and August saw the Division training at Albert, and in September, 1917 moved to Ypres to take part in the Battle of Third Ypres. After a series of unsuccessful attacks the Division moved to the Flanders Coast, and in November moved to Givenchy. When the German Spring Offensive of March 1918 was launched, Oswyn and his Battalion faced the onslaught at the Battle of Bapaume, and the First Battle of Arras. Oswyn was Killed in Action during the latter Battle, on the 5th April, 1918. He was 44 years old, and is buried at Bienvillers Military Cemetery.

David Dicks, Private, 50967, Lancashire Fusiliers. David was the Son of David and Gwen Dicks, of Maescastell, Caio, and had enlisted at Cardiff into the Army, joining the 11th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, attached to 74 Brigade, 25th Division. The division moved to France during September, 1915 and fought at Messines and Third Ypres, before being caught up in the German offensive on the Lys. The battered division then moved south to rebuild, but were unfortunately hit here again during a fresh German Offensive on the Aisne. David was killed in action here on the 27th May, 1915 aged just 18. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.

Daniel Evans, Private, 37321, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Daniel was the Son of Daniel and Mary Evans, of Maesglas, Caio. He enlisted at Llandovery into the Army, and was posted to the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, attached to 76 Brigade, 3rd Division. The division had been one of the first in France, and the 10th RWF joined it at the end of 1915. They were then moved south to the Somme, where they were to take part in the great Battle of the Somme, and fought there at the Battle of Albert, and at the Battle of Bazentin, where they captured Longueval. Daniel was killed around this time, on the 19th August, 1916. He was twenty-two years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Daniel Lewis Evans, Acting Bombardier, 28575, Royal Field Artillery. Daniel was born at Caio, and enlisted at Mardy into the Royal Field Artillery, joining 'B' Battery, 91st Brigade, attached to the 20th (Light) Division. On the 26th July 1915 the Division completed concentration in the Saint-Omer area, all units having crossed to France during the preceding few days. Early trench familiarisation and training took place in the Fleurbaix area. When the Battle of Loos was launched on the 25th September, 1915 the Division fought a diversionary attack towards Fromelles. Later that year they moved north, and fought at the Battle of Mount Sorrel alongside the Canadian Corps. Over the winter of 1915/16, the Division remained in positions south of Ypres, and fought at the Battle of Mount Sorrel in June, alongside the Canadian Corps. They then fought through the Somme Offensive, at the Battles of Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy, which is where Daniel was killed on the 2nd October 1916. He is buried at Guards Cemetery, Lesbouefs, France.

Rees Evans, Private, 37488, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Rees was born at Glanramell Park, and enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, attached to 22 Brigade, 7th Division. The Division was formed during September, 1914 and landed at Zeebrugge on the 6th October, 1914. The City was already falling however, and so the Division was moved to Ypres, where they became the first British Division to hold the city. They fought during the First Battle of Ypres, and helped stop the German advance through Belgium, and in March, 1915 fought at the Battle of Neuve Chappelle. During May they fought at the Battle of Aubers Ridge, and at Festubert, before taking part in the Battle of Loos in September. The Division took part in the initial assault north of the Vermelles-Hulluch road, facing the Quarries and a series of strongpoints. Suffering badly from British cloud gas, which was not moved sufficiently by the gentle breeze, and badly cut up by German machine gun fire and artillery, the Division nonetheless seized the Quarries and only failed to penetrate the third German line due to the relative weakness of the numbers of men that got through. In the summer of 1916, the Division were on the Somme, and took part in the Battle of Albert, where they captured Mametz, one of the few successes of the 1st July 1916. They then fought at the Battle of Bazentin, and the Attacks on High Wood, playing a successful part in the 'dawn attack', and were also the first troops into High Wood. The Division then took part in the Battle of Delville Wood, which is probably where Rees was killed on the 21st August, 1916. He is buried at Lonsdale Cemetery, Authille, France.


Levi Pugh Griffiths, Private, 34025, Royal Army Medical Corps. Levi was born at Caio, and enlisted at Ammanford into the Royal Army Medical Corps. He served with the 32nd Field Ambulance, attached to the 10th (Irish) Division. On the 27th June the Division received orders to prepare for service on Gallipoli, and embarked at Liverpool on the 9th July. By the end of the month most units had assembled on Lemnos and between the 6th and 7th August 1915 landed on Gallipoli at Suvla Bay, less the 29th Brigade, which went to ANZAC Cove Gallipoli. Levi was killed in action here during the Attack from Suvla on the 17th August, 1915. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
Benjamin Harries, Rifleman, 473290, London Regiment. Benjamin was the Son of John and Mary Harries, of Castell, Caio, and had originally enlisted at Marylebone into the 16th Battalion, London Regiment. He then transferred into the 12th Battalion (The Rangers), which was part of 168 Brigade, 56th (London) Division. The Division fought at the diversionary attack on Gommecourt then at Ginchy, Flers and Morval, where they captured Combles. They wintered on the Somme, and followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March, 1917 before fighting in the Battle of Arras. Benjamin was killed here, during the Third Battle of the Scarpe, on the 6th May, 1917. He was thirty-two years old, and is buried at Tank Cemetery, Guemappe, France.

Benjamin Jones, Private, 79941, Canadian Infantry. Benjamin was the Son of Thomas Jones, of Gilfach Wen, Caio. He had emigrated to Canada, and answered the call of his mother country for more men, enlisting at Medicine Hat into the 31st Battalion (Alberta), Canadian Infantry. The battalion moved to the Western Front as part of 6 Brigade, 2nd Canadian Division, which had formed in May 1915. They spent a cold winter around Ploegsteert that year, and moved to the Somme during the summer of 1916, where they took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which is where Benjamin was killed on the 15th September, 1916. He was 29 years old, and is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France.

John Lewis Jones, Second Lieutenant, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of the late Dr. W. L. & Mrs. Jones, of Glyncothi, Nantgaredig, and the Cousin of Mrs. Walters & Miss Davies, Walters Hotel, Lampeter. He had been commissioned into the Welsh Regiment, and had joined the 3rd Battalion for his training, but sadly took ill and died on the 13th August, 1917. John is buried at Llanegwad (St. Egwad) Churchyard, North of the Church tower. Many thanks to Bev Lewis of Swansea for her photo of Johns grave.


Seisyllt Hugh Lloyd, Lieutenant, Royal Naval Air Service. Seissyllt was the Son of Lt. Col. G. W. O. B. Lloyd and Mrs. Lloyd, of Brunant, Pumpsaint, and had been commissioned into the Royal Naval Air Service where he trained as a Pilot. He joined 10 Squadron RNAS in France, but was killed on the 14th August 1917 whilst flying at Ypres. Seisyllt is commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial, France.

Cameron O'Bryen Harford Methuen, Captain, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Cameron was the Son of the late Col. and Mrs. Methuen, of Llystroyddyn, Pumpsaint, Carmarthenshire. He had first served in the South African Campaign, and by the time of the outbreak of the Great War was a Captain with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Warwickshire, attached to 22 Brigade, 7th Division. The Division was formed during September, 1914 and landed at Zeebrugge on the 6th October, 1914. The City was already falling however, and so the Division was moved to Ypres, where they became the first British Division to hold the city. Cameron was killed during the First Battle of Ypres, on the 20th October, 1914. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

Charles Moneypenny, Private, 18858, South Wales Borderers. Charles was the Son of Charles Moneypenny, of 5, Mitchell St., Old St., London, E.C.2. He must have lived at Caio prior to the war, as he enlisted at Llandovery into the Army, joining the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division moved to Gallipoli via Egypt, landing on the 25th April, 1915, taking part in some of the most terrible fighting on the Peninsula. Charles was wounded here and eventually arrived back in Britain for treatment, but sadly died on the 17th September, 1915. He was twenty-two years old, and is buried at Nunhead (All Saint's) Cemetery, England.
David Morgan, Private, 44408, Welsh Regiment. David was born at Caio, and enlisted at Swansea into the Army, joining the 18th Battalion (2nd Glamorgan), Welsh Regiment, part of 119 Brigade, 40th (Bantam) Division. This Division was formed between September and December 1915, composed of bantam units and others which had a mixture of regulation-height and shorter men. Weeding out of very under-sized or unfit men delayed the training programme, and it was not until late Spring 1916 that the Division was ready to proceed on active service. The Division moved to France between the 1st and 9th June, and moved to the front near Loos. Late in 1916 they moved south to the Somme, and fought at the Battle of the Ancre, and remained in the area over the winter. David was killed on the Somme on the 30th December, 1916. He is buried at Guards Cemetery, Combles.

William Morgan, Private, 33039, Essex Regiment. William was born at Llanycrwys, the Son of David and Charlotte Morgan, later of Monks Cottage, Crick, Rugby. He enlisted at Yelverton, Northants into the Northamptonshire Regiment, and later transferred into the 1st Battalion, Essex Regiment, attached to 88 Brigade, 29th Division. It is unknown whether William served at Gallipoli with the division, but he would have seen action with them on the Somme in 1916 before they moved to Arras, where they saw further action. The division then moved up to Ypres, and saw heavy fighting during the Battle of Third Ypres, or Passchendaele, which is where William was killed on the 9th August, 1917. He was twenty-eight years old, and is buried at New Irish Farm Cemetery, Belgium. Not on Memorial.

Henry Riggs, Warrant Officer. No trace of this man can be found sadly, but the War Memorial shows him as being of Llystroyddyn, Caio.
David Thomas, Private, 18563, South Wales Borderers. David was the Son of Isaac Thomas, of Llwynhelig, Farmers, and enlisted at Ferndale into the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division. Again it is not presently known if David served at Gallipoli, but he was killed in action during the opening assault of the Battle of the Somme, on the 1st July, 1916. David was thirty-four years old, and is buried at Y Ravine Cemetery, Beaumont-Hamel, France.

David Thomas, Private, 44204, Welsh Regiment. David was the Son of Mrs. Thomas of Llwynhelig, Farmers, Llanwrda. He enlisted at Swansea into the 15th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. Raised as part of the Welsh Army Corps, the Carmarthenshire Battalion fought in some of the major actions of the war. The Battalion was first raised in Swansea during October and November, 1914, by the Carmarthenshire County Committee, attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division, and was composed at first of men recruited from Lancashire. Recruiting in Lancashire was stopped at the end of 1914, and all subsequent recruiting was carried out in Carmarthenshire and South Wales. The preliminary training of the battalion was carried out at Rhyl. From 28th April, 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, part of K4. In the summer of 1915 the Battalion moved with the remainder of the Welsh Division to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester, where it completed its training and equipping, and embarked for France from Folkestone on December 5th, 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held nearly every section of the British line from Givenchy on the La Bassée Canal to Laventie, about six miles South of Armentières. At the end of May, 1916, the Battalion moved South with the remainder of the 38th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme, which commenced on July 1st 1916. The 38th Division were tasked with the taking of the infamous Mametz Wood. The first attack on Mametz Wood was on 7th July, when the division lost heavily in 'Death Valley' during the advance on the 'Hammer Head'. The next attack went in on the 10th, and by 14th July the wood was cleared - but at the cost of over 5,000 casualties in the 38th (Welsh) Division. David was Killed in Action on the 11th July 1916 at Mametz, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. He was just 22 years old.

David Thomas, Lance Corporal, B/23540, Royal Fusiliers. David was the Son of Rees and Ann Thomas, of Gwargorof, Caio, and enlisted at Wood Green into the 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, part of 190 Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Naval Brigades were originally sent to Antwerp and Dunkirk in September and October, 1914 to guard against invasion by the Germans. However Antwerp fell to the Germans soon after, and so many of the RND units were withdrawn to England. After a lengthy period of refit and training the Division moved to Egypt preparatory to the Gallipoli campaign. Landing on the 25th April, 1915 the Division fought throughout the Campaign on Gallipoli. They were transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29th April 1916, and was redesignated the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on the 19th July, 1916. The Division moved to France, arriving at Marseilles between the 12th and 23rd May, 1916 and moved to positions on the Somme, where it took part in the Battle of the Ancre, and the resulting Operations on the Ancre. In April, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Gavrelle. David was killed here on the 23rd April, 1917. He was twenty-seven years old, and is buried at Orchard Dump Cemetery, Arleux-En-Gohelle.

John Ebenezer Thomas, Private, 1071, Welsh Guards. John was from Cilycwm, and lived at Glynborthyn, Caio prior to the war. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, attached to 3 Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The division saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on the 25th September, 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July, 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which is where John was killed on the 10th September 1916. He is buried at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. There is a memorial to John at Cilycwm Parish Church.

Rufus Haydon Thomas, Captain, Royal Army Medical Corps. Rufus was from Dolauganol, Caio, and had been commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps, where he was attached to the 2nd Royal Scots Fusiliers, part of 21 Brigade, 7th Division. The division had fought through most of the major actions of the war, and were on the Somme early in 1918 when they were hit by the German Spring Offensive on the 21st March. Rufus was killed during the hectic withdrawal on the 24th March, 1918. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.

David Williams, Private, 320254, Welsh Regiment. David was the Son of Thomas and Anne Williams, of Ellis Cottage, Pumpsaint, Llandilo, and he resided at Llanwrda prior to the outbreak of war. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, which had formed in Tenby for Home Defence, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade. They arrived in Egypt in March 1916, and on the 2nd February, 1917 were disbanded, joining with the Glamorgan Yeomanry to form the 24th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, as part of 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division first saw action during the Second Battle of Gaza, and took part in the capture of Jerusalem before being sent to the Western Front, due to the terrible casualties that had been inflicted upon the British Army by the German Spring Offensive in March, 1918, and landed at Marseilles on the 7th May, 1918. Here they fought in the Battle of Epehy, where David was Killed in Action on the 21st September, 1918 aged 32. He is remembered on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial.

James Williams, Private, 4350, Pembroke Yeomanry. James was the son of William and Sarah Williams, of Bryn Ranell, Caio. He had been born on the 24th April, 1898, and at the outbreak of the Great War joined the Pembroke Yeomanry. James was posted to the 1/1st Battalion, which was attached to the 1st Mounted Division, and the regiment moved to Norwich early in 1915. It was here that James took ill, and sadly died on the 29th January, 1915 aged 16. He is buried at Norwich Cemetery. His parents grave at Caio has a memorial to James, and also had his bronze memorial plaque affixed, but this has sadly been lost over the last few years.


Timothy Davies Williams, Second Lieutenant, Royal Garrison Artillery. Timothy was the son of Reverend Charles and Harriet Williams, of Bwlchcefnserth, Caio, Carmarthenshire. He had trained as a teacher, gaining his B.A. before taking up a post as History Master at the County School, Barry, and was the Husband of Louisa Davies Williams, of Claremont House, Bridgend, Glam. Timothy was commissioned into the Army, and was posted to 248 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery in France. He was wounded during Kaiserschlacht- the German Spring Offensive, at the Battle of Bapaume, and died of wounds on the 5th April, 1918 aged 34. He is buried at Varennes Military Cemetery, France.


World War Two, 1939-1945
William John George, Trooper, 7937333, Royal Armoured Corps. Very little is known of William, but he was the Son of William and Mary Anne George, of Caio, and the husband of Hannah Nora George, also of Caio. He died on the 27th November, 1942 at home, and is buried at Caio (St. Cynwyl) Church Cemetery. He was thirty-eight years old. Many thanks to Malcolm Ferguson-Thomas for the photograph.