Laugharne War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Arthur Laugharne Allen was the son of William Arthur and Ellen Allen; he was born in 1897 in Seaforth, Lancashire. The family moved to Gosport House, Laugharne, and added Laugharne as their middle name. Arthur’s Brother Cyril served as a Private in the Lancashire Hussars, and won the Military Medal for Bravery in the Field in November 1917 whilst attached to the Kings Liverpool Regiment. Arthur enlisted after 1915, serving as a Private in the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, with the service number 291399. The 15th were the Carmarthenshire (Service) Battalion. The 15th Battalion were raised by the Carmarthenshire County Committee during October 1914. They became part of 114th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division on the 29th April 1915. The brigade landed at Havre during December 1915. They fought through some of the hardest and most famous battles of the Great War-at Mametz during the Battle of the Somme, and at the Pilckem Ridge during the battle of Passchendaele. During March 1918, the 15th Battalion were in reserve at The Laundry, Erquinghem. On the 6th March they relieved the 13th Welsh in support trenches at Houplines. Eight men were wounded by gas on the 9th March, and for the next few days the area was continually shelled and gassed by the Germans. Private Arthur Laugharne-Allen was killed in action aged just 20 years old on the 22nd of March 1918 and is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, in the department of Nord in France.
Geoffrey Fleetwood Andrews was born in 13 Bellots Road, Bath on November 24th 1898. His parents were Albert and Mary Andrews, and the family used to spend every summer in Laugharne, staying with Albert’s sister, Mrs Robert Bowen, in Duncan Street. Geoffrey enlisted into the RGA on the 26th July 1917, and was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Garrison Artillery on the 23rd December 1917, into their 499th Siege Battery. 499th Siege Battery RGA had a very short life span, they went out to Western Front on 23 January 1918 (6 inch guns arriving on 29 January 1918). Joined 5 Army on 4 February 1918, and then became Army Troops. On the 16th September 1918, 2nd Lieutenant Geoffrey Andrews died. The circumstances of his death are unclear, but his Casualty Papers show that he was evacuated to the 5th Casualty Clearing Station, at Proyart, where he is shown as Dead on Admission, and the cause of death as Wounds Received in Action. Geoffrey was buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonniers, in grave IX.B.3. The cemetery was made after the armistice from graves brought in from the surrounding battlefields and there are now over 1860 Commonwealth Burials of the Great War in the cemetery. Not on Memorial.
David Bevan was the son of Wilkin and Jane Bevan of Laugharne. In the 1901 census of England and Wales, he was boarding with Rich Smith-a collier-at Ystradfodwg in the Rhondda. David was just twenty at the time and his occupation was a Coal Hewer. Also lodging with him was his 23-year-old brother Richard Bevan. David enlisted into the army where he joined the 19th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment as a Private, with service number 40116. The 19th were formed as the Glamorgan Pioneers at Colwyn Bay during February 1915, as Pioneer Battalion 43rd Division. They then became part of the 38th Welsh Division during August 1915, before heading to France in December that year. In France, the Battalion were attached to the 255th Company, Royal Engineers. The 255th was one of the famous ‘Tunnelling Companies’, who were formed to carry out large-scale mining operations around the front lines in January 1916, taking some officers and men of the 173rd Tunnelling Company. It moved into the Red Lamp-Neuve Chappelle sector, before being relieved by the 3rd Australians during spring 1916. Tunnelling companies were responsible for some of the greatest spectacles of the Great War-for example the blowing of the Hawthorn Mine on the 1st of July 1916 that marked the start of the infamous Battle of the Somme. The Battalion War Diary for the 19th Welsh during May 1916 is very sketchy. The Battalion are shown to be at Laventie.
‘May 1 A & D Coys wiring. B Coy Draining. C Coy Attached party from 1st Infantry Bde. Engaged on mining fatigues for 255 Tunnelling Coy. RE.
May 2 Do Do Do
May 3 Do Do Do 1 man killed grenade, 1 wounded grenade.
May 4 Do Do Do 1 man killed grenade, 2 wounded bullet.
May 5 Do Do Do C Coy, 1 section constructing M.G. emplacement.
May 6 Do Do Do.’
The rest of the month follows a similar pattern. The officer who wrote the diary has obviously hardened to the fact that men were losing their lives. Private David Bevan was to die of wounds on the 4th May 1916, aged 36. He was obviously the man that was wounded by a grenade on the 3rd May 1916. David Bevan is buried in Bethune town cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France, in grave V.C.9. Bethune was the home of the 33rd Casualty Clearing Station until December 1917, and David must have been brought here, badly wounded. He is among 3004 Commonwealth burials of the Great War in this cemetery alone.
William John Lewis Bevan was the grandson of the late William Bevan of Island House, Laugharne. William and his brother Archibald Bevan enlisted together into the 9th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, with the service numbers 12897 and 12898 respectively. The 9th Battalion were a service battalion, formed at Cardiff during September 1914, forming part of 58th Brigade, 19th Division in Salisbury plain. The battalion landed at Havre on the 18th July 1915. The 19th (Western) Division played a big part in the Great War-they fought at the Battle of Loos, the Battle of Albert, the Battle of Pozieres, the Battle of the Ancre, at Messines, the battle of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde, Poelcapelle, Passchendaele, through the battles of the Somme up until ultimate victory. It was after the Battle of Loos, which began on the 25th September 1915 that Private William Bevan was killed. The 19th Division had taken part in the Battle between the 25th September - 8th October 1915. The war afterwards turned into a stalemate throughout the winter months of 1915-16 and it was during this period that Private William Bevan was mortally wounded on the 2nd December 1915. William died at St. Omer General Hospital of his wounds and is buried in Longuenesse Cemetery, St. Omer, in grave III.A.19. St. Omer was the General Headquarters of the British Expeditionary Force from October 1914 to March 1916. Lord Roberts died there in November 1914. The town was a considerable hospital centre and the Commonwealth section of the cemetery contains 2,874 Commonwealth burials of the First World War.
John Ritso Nelson Bolton was one of two brothers from the same family who gave their lives in the Great War. He was the son of Lieutenant Colonel A.H. Bolton and Mary Bolton of Elm House, Laugharne. During the 1901 census of England and Wales, John and his brother Stewart lived in Fullerton House, next to the Browns’ Hotel in Laugharne, with their aunt Elizabeth Leach, their sister Mary and two servants. John Ritso Nelson Bolton was educated at Suffolk Hall, Cheltenham, Pelham House, Folkestone, and Bedford Grammar School, where he was elected Head Boy. In 1912, John won a place at the Royal Military Academy at Woolwich, and in August 1914 was gazetted as a Lieutenant in the Royal Field Artillery, serving in the 104th Battery, 22nd Brigade, forming part of the 7th Division of the original British Expeditionary Force in 1914. By the end of May 1915, John Bolton had proved his worth in the field of battle, and was mentioned in Despatches for bravery. On the 25th September 1915, his gun battery was on active service at Vermelles. The 25th September marked the start of the Battle of Loos, where the 104th Battery RFA played a vital part, forming part of the 7th Divisions opening barrage on the German lines. Loos was where the British used gas for the first time. The battalion’s war diary for this day states;
‘5.45am O.C. Brigade with F.O.O’s 104th and 105th left for H.Q. 20th Infantry Brigade at CHAPEL KEEP. Lieut. J.R.N. BOLTON R.F.A. 7.0.0 104th, 2nd Lieut. J.W. PULLEN F.O.O. 105th.
5.50am Final Bombardment commenced in which this brigade was not engaged. 104th and 105th prepared to move.
6.30 a.m. Infantry attack launched and reports stated that 1st and 2nd German line carried with little opposition. (-Ammunition expended 1995 rounds).
8.30 a.m. Received orders from 7th D.A. for 104th and 105th to move into advanced positions near LE RUTOIRE.
9.00 a.m. 104th and 105th came into action in advanced positions.
9.10 a.m. Message from F.O.O. 104th Bty stating that he was 600 yards west of PUITS 13. GERMANS 600 yards NE of that point. 104th and 105th opened fire on them. Up to 4.00 pm various targets were engaged by batteries. Our infantry were held up in front of St ELIE and HULLUCH. Lack of information as to exact position of infantry. F.O.O’s lines repeatedly cut.
Lieut. J.R.N. BOLTON was seriously wounded about 1.30 pm. One telephonist of 104th Bty wounded and another missing. Two telephonists with F.O.O. 105th Bty killed.’
The diary mentions actions over the next few days, then the entry for the 27th states:
‘Lieut. J.R.N. BOLTON R.F.A. 104th Battery died this day of wounds received in action on the 25th. Night fairly quiet.’
John Ritso Nelson Bolton had died of wounds aged just 22 on 27th September 1915. He was recommended for the Distinguished Service Order the same day, which sadly he did not receive, due to it not being awarded posthumously. John is buried at Foquieres Churchyard Extension, Pas-de-Calais, France, in grave I.39. The majority of the burials here are from field ambulances stationed in the village, with 415 identified commonwealth war dead buried here alongside John Bolton.
Stewart Bladen Nelson Bolton was the youngest son of Lieutenant Colonel A.H. and Mary Bolton of Laugharne. Stewart Bolton enlisted in May 1910, serving in a training establishment until August 1914. Being confirmed as a Midshipman on the 2nd August 1914, he transferred to HMS Doris, serving there until the 5th September 1914, then to HMS Glory, where he served until 31st July 1915. John spent the best part of 10 months at HMS Raglan, before joining the mighty Battle cruiser HMS Indefatigable on the 14th May 1916. HMS Indefatigable was commissioned in February 1911 and joined the First Cruiser Squadron (renamed in 1913 as the 1st Battle Cruiser Squadron). She then joined the 2nd Battle Cruiser Squadron in the Mediterranean and at the outbreak of the Great War in 1914 took part in the pursuit of the German Warships Goeben and Breslau, and also bombarded Cape Helles during the fighting at Gallipolli. She became the Flagship of Admiral Carden in November 1914 until January 1915. After a refit at Malta she joined the Grand Fleet and took part in the famous Battle of Jutland, where she was sunk by 11-inch shellfire from Van der Tann. Official reports state that she was hit by two shells in the X magazine, causing her to stagger out of formation, sinking by the stern. This was followed by another hit on the foredeck, causing a much larger explosion, which sank her. Of her company of 1,012, only two were picked up by the German navy, the ferocity of the explosions causing the loss of the remainder of the men. This is where the unfortunate Midshipman Stewart Bladen Nelson Bolton died, aged just 18, on the 31st of May 1916. Stewart had served aboard the Indefatigable for just 17 days. He is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial in Devon, which commemorates more than 7,000 sailors of the First World War and almost 16,000 from the Second World War.
Isaac James Brace was born around 1898 in Aberdare, Glamorgan. In the 1901 census of England and Wales, he was 3 years old, and lived with his family in 2 Bell Vue, Aberdare. His father James worked as a Colliery Hauler, and was born in Laugharne. Isaac was an early recruit into the army, joining the Royal Artillery before being transferred to the 1st Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and receiving the service number 24421. Like some of his fellow Laugharne men, Isaac had got himself into a spot of bother in the army. His service papers show that on the 4th June 1915 he was absent without Leave and forfeited 2 days pay. On the 8th September 1915 he was absent again and forfeited another 2 days pay. On the 12th September 1915 he was absent off defaulters parade and was found in a hut, and confined to barracks for 4 days. On the 1st October 1915 the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers were attached to 22nd Brigade, 7th Division, and were sent into the line at Cambrin, where the campaign had foundered. Many of the battles involving the regiment were failures, rendering invaluable lessons to the officers for the coming campaigns. The winter of 1915-1916 was spent waiting for the summer offensive, with many a happy time spent behind the front line in Bethune by Isaac and his fellow fusiliers. The 1st Battalion did a tour of duty in the Cuinchy sector until the 23rd November 1915, passing through Bethune to Gonnehem, and on the 5th December entrained at Lillers for Saleux. They then made an 18-mile march to Montagne, where they remained training until the end of January, when they moved up into the line at the Somme, east of Meault. On the 22nd February 1916, the 1st Battalion was in the line at Merlancourt, improving the defences. Various actions ensued, coupled with periods of rest and relaxation, leading through to the 1st of July Battle of the Somme, where the 1st Battalion fought in the Battle of Albert. The 3rd of July saw the 1st Battalion resting in Mametz village. From here they took part in the Battle of Mametz, until they were relieved by the 14th Battalion, and marched back to rest at Heilly. The War Diary for the 1st Bttn Royal Welsh Fusiliers is very descriptive of the events from the 1st July onwards. Every day brought fresh casualties to the Battalion, so it impossible to say when Isaac Brace received his wounds. These wounds were to cause him to be sent to the 36th casualty clearing station at Heilly, but his wounds proved to be fatal, and Isaac James Brace died aged 18, and is buried at Heilly Station Cemetery, Mericourt-L’abbe, in grave II.A.14.
Thomas Hall Brigstocke was a native of Laugharne, who had moved away, like many others, to seek work. In the 1901 census of England and Wales, his mother Sarah Brigstocke was a widow at 49 years old. She lived in Gosport Street with her daughter Elizabeth aged 18 and her granddaughter Mary aged 14. Thomas was living at 9, Greatlands Crescent, North Prospect, Swilly, Devonport, with his wife Bessie. Thomas enlisted into the Royal Navy on the 14th July 1888, his papers showing him to be 5’ 7 ½” tall, with light brown hair and blue eyes. He had a long and interesting career, serving aboard many ships and working his way up slowly through the ranks. He would have served all over the Empire-The China War, India and South Africa, seeing much action. Thomas service papers show him to be a very good seaman, and he was pensioned off on the 1st July 1910, with the grand sum of £12. Upon the outbreak of the Great War, many reservists were recalled for active service. Thomas was recalled, being in the RNVR, and served as chief stoker aboard HMS Goliath. His service number was RFR/DEV/A/2844. HMS Goliath was classed as a 1st class battleship, of the ‘Canopus Class’, and laid down at Chatham Dockyard 4th January 1897. She was launched 23rd March 1898 and commissioned at Chatham 27th March 1900. Designed for the China station, she had a narrow draught, to enable her to use the Suez Canal. She remained there until 1903, and in 1904 went into commissioned reserve at Portsmouth. In May 1905 she joined the Mediterranean fleet, transferring to the channel fleet in December and remaining there until March 1907. She was then commissioned in April 1909 at Sheerness for the 4th Fleet (Nore Reserve). HMS Goliath was mothballed in 1913, and joined the 3rd Fleet (Pembroke Reserve), to be brought out in August 1914 to join the battle squadron operating from Devonport. Her complement was drawn up from the naval reserve on the 2nd of August 1914. She was despatched in September 1914 to the East Indies for escort duties, operating against the German light cruiser Konigsberg in November (Rufigi River, East Africa). In April 1915 she was transferred to the Dardanelles, to support the ill-fated landings around Cape Helles. She was damaged on 25th April and 2nd May, and then finally sunk by 3 torpedoes fired by the Turkish torpedo boat ‘Muavanet’ on the 13th May 1915. 570 of her crew were lost, including Chief Stoker Thomas Hall Brigstocke. Being in the engine room, he had no chance of escape, even if he had survived the initial explosions from the torpedo strikes. After a long career serving his country, Thomas Brigstocke died at the age of 48. He is commemorated on the Plymouth War Memorial in Devon. He left behind hid widow and eight children-the youngest of whom he sadly never saw.
William Constable was the son of Philip and Jane Constable, of Horsepool Road, Laugharne. They lived with Jane’s mother, Bridget Jones, along with Williams other brothers and sisters, Gwendoline, John and Neville. At the outbreak of the War, William enlisted in Finsbury, in Middlesex, and entered the Western Front on the 5th of December 1915, with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with the service number 26621. He was later transferred to the 19th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, his service number changing to 12132. The 19th was part of the 255th Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, and were moved to the Ypres salient after the battles of the Somme in 1916. The tunnellers had a busy time around Ypres-blowing mines at Messines and at Hooge. From the beginning of January up until the day of the 28th January 1917, Private William Constable was ‘safely’ billeted with his battalion behind the front lines at Trois Tours. The Battalion had been steadily training and brought up to strength for the Summer Offensives, and were enjoying some relaxation in the Belgian towns around Poperinge. After a month or so spent training behind the lines, the unfortunate William Constable was killed in his billets by shellfire from German long range guns, and lies buried alongside his comrades at Ferme-Olivier cemetery near Ypres, in plot 2, row 1, grave 10.
Kenrick Watkyn Brinley Richard Cook was born in 1898 in Ewell, Surrey. His parents were Henry and Elizabeth Frances Cook, and at the time of Richards’s death, they lived at The Outfall Works, Roxley, West Ewell, Epsom, Surrey. The Cook family had spent some time before the Great War living in Laugharne, but had returned home for work reasons. Richard’s cousin Mr G. M. Wilkins lived in Laugharne, owning the Newsagents shop, and Richard visited every summer. Richard originally enlisted into the East Surrey Regiment, taking the service number 10970. He was trained as a company Machine Gunner, and was therefore brought into the newly formed Machine Gun Corps when they were formed in October 1915, with his service number changing to 16826. In 1914, all infantry battalions were equipped with a machine-gun Section of two guns, which was increased to 4 in February 1915. On 2nd September 1915, a definite proposal was made to the War Office for the formation of a single Machine-gun Company per Brigade, by withdrawing the guns from the Battalions. They would be replaced at Battalion level by Lewis guns. The Machine Gun Corps was created by Royal Warrant on October 14th, 1915, followed by an Army Order on 22nd October. The MGC would consist of infantry machine-gun Companies, cavalry machine-gun Squadrons, and Motor Machine Gun Batteries. The pace of reorganisation depended on the rate of supply of Lewis guns. It was completed before the Battle of the Somme. The Base Depot of the Corps in France was established at Camiers. A further proposal to provide each Division with a fourth Company, and to increase the Lewis guns at the Battalion to 16, was sanctioned. The Lewis numbers increased by 1st July 1916, but the Divisional Machine Gun Company did not come into existence until April 1917. The 14th Machine Gun Company, of which Richard was part, formed part of the 14th Brigade, 32nd division-part of the 5th New Army. The Division took part in the opening of the Battle of the Somme-The Battle of Albert-which started with a bang at 06.00 on the 1st July 1916. Just two days into the battle, the unfortunate Private Richard Cook was killed in action. He was just 18 years old, and his body was lost in the carnage of the Somme battlefield, and so he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing, on Pier and Face 5C and 12C. Not on Memorial.
Arthur William Cooper was born in Calne, Wiltshire, around 1898. He was the son of Arthur and Sarah Cooper, and during the time of the 1901 census, was living in Wheel Barrow Lodge, Easton Grey, Chippenham. Arthur’s father had moved to Laugharne to work as the Head Gardener at Broadway Mansion. Arthur William Cooper enlisted into the Hereford Regiment-being given the service number 4302. He then transferred into the 6th Battalion the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, as a Private, with the service number 26005. The 6th Battalion Kings Shropshire Light Infantry was formed in September 1914 as a Service Battalion. They formed part of 60th Brigade, 20th Division at Aldershot. From there they were sent to France, landing at Boulougne on the 22nd July 1915. On the 26th July 1915 the 20th Division completed concentrating in the St-Omer area. Trench familiarisation and training took place in the Fleurbaix area, before the Division saw active service on the Western Front. The 20th Division took part in some of the bloodiest battles of the war-the Battle of Mount Sorrel, Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval, Le Transloy, Langemark, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Cambrai, St.Quentin, and finally the 1918 campaigns on the Somme. During the summer of 1918 they were withdrawn to South West of Amiens, where they received several new drafts of men, and from October 1918 it took part in the general advance that ultimately led to victory. The 60th Brigade, 20th Division (which included the 6th Bttn KSLI) had taken over the Mericourt section of the Western Front on the 14th August 1918. The 6th KSLI replaced the 1st Notts. and Derby Regt until the 24th August, before being moved to the Acheville Sector. On the 31st the 6th were back in the line at Mericourt, just in time to see the Germans opposite them withdraw on the next day. September saw the British push the German Army back to the Hindenburg Line, and from the 26th September the Allies launched four converging offensives against the Germans, which ultimately broke the Hindenburg Line defences and pushed the Germans to surrender. But the 6th Shropshire’s weren’t so lucky-the German defenders in their section at Mericourt stubbornly held on-even though they were under immense pressure, until the 1st October when a raiding party sent out by the Battalion came across a deserted German front line trench. The 20th Division extended its line the next day, and on the 3rd October sent out patrols to investigate how far the Germans had retreated. A patrol of the 6th Battalion, the Kings Shropshire Light Infantry was sent out, and the Battalion War Diary for the 3rd and 4th October 1918 states-
‘Information Having been received that the enemy had evacuated his trenches opposite the battalion, a patrol was sent out at 04.00 with the object of ascertaining if the information was correct and staying in the enemy lines if they had been evacuated. Patrol was met with rapid fire from T 5 C 23 and endeavour was made to rush the hostile post, but patrol was forced to withdraw owing to heavy hostile MG fire and Bombing.
At 4.30 pm orders were received to occupy the German Front Line, as the enemy was reported to have evacuated his line. 2 Platoons were sent over to do this but were unable to as the opposition was too strong. During the night vigorous patrolling was continued.
24th-During the early morning 2 platoons of A Coy succeeded in occupying a portion of the Boche front line, in spite of strong opposition. Late in the afternoon, the remaining 2 Platoons of A Coy went over with the intention of pushing further into the Boche support line. They encountered strong opposition, and also met with thick enemy wire, and were unable to get beyond the front line. A Company casualties up to this period had been 3 OR killed and 11 OR wounded.’
Arthur William Cooper had been killed in action aged just 21, on the 3rd of October 1918, and was buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, Pas-de-Calais, in grave reference XV.M.32. Just another 5 weeks and the Great War would have been over. Cabaret Rouge British cemetery was begun by Commonwealth troops in March 1916, used until August 1917, largely by the 47th (London) Division and the Canadian Corps, and at intervals until September 1918. These original burials are in Plots I to V inclusive. It was greatly enlarged after the Armistice when more than 7,000 graves were brought in from the battlefields of Arras and from 103 other burial grounds in the area. The cemetery now contains 7,655 burials of the First World War. Arthur’s Company Chaplain wrote a letter to his bereaved parents to try and console them some way. It read-
‘Y.M.C.A., France, October 9th, 1918.
Dear Mrs. Cooper, you will probably have been informed before of the death of your son Arthur William Cooper, K.S.L.I. The Colonel and all of us would like to express our deepest sympathy with you in your great trouble.
I was not actually with the battalion till the day after, but I am told he was killed instantaneously and did not suffer at all. It was during an attack made by his company on some German trenches. His body was brought away.
We were moved soon afterwards so we could not be at the funeral ourselves, but he will surely have been buried in one of the cemeteries away from the trenches with a proper service. We are sending over a cross for his grave this week if possible. His private belongings will be sent to you in time through the War Office. He was a good lad out here and died doing his duty like a brave man. So I hope that you will find some real comfort in knowing that he is quite safe with Our Father. He gave what he could for his country as the Saviour taught us to be always ready to do. He is a son to be really very proud of, though you cannot have him with you for a time.
Yours Truly, H. C. Pellham, Chaplain.’
Robert Craig David was one of four brothers who enlisted and served in the Australian Imperial Forces in the Great War. The brothers were the sons of Robert and Agnes David of Maroon, Queensland, Australia, who had had immigrated to Australia from Laugharne during the 1880’s. Robert worked as a Stockman and was married to Edith Matilda David, but she sadly died soon after Robert enlisted into the Army, attesting into the 49th Battalion, AIF at Brisbane, on the 24th February 1916. After training Robert embarked on the SS Arundel with the 4th Reinforcements, arriving in Plymouth on the 13th October 1916. On the 12th December Robert embarked from Folkestone, arriving at Etaples on the 13th December 1916. On the 20th December, this latest batch of reinforcements was taken on strength in the field with the 49th Battalion. The 49th Battalion formed part of the 13th Infantry Brigade (Queensland). They fought in Egypt before being posted to the western Front for the Battle of the Somme, taking part in the Battle of Pozieres, Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, Bullecourt, Messines, Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Passchendaele, Amiens, Albert, and the final Battle of the Hindenburg Line. The Australians took a major part in the winter operations in the Ancre Valley at the end of 1916, fighting alongside the British II Corps throughout the terrible winter months. On the 5th February 1917, whilst in action near Bernafay Wood, Robert David was mortally wounded. He was brought to the 12th Australian Dressing Station where he died of his wounds that same day, aged 32. Robert was buried in Bernafay Wood British Cemetery, but his grave was later lost owing to further fighting and shellfire on the site, and so Robert is remembered by a ‘Special Memorial’ inside the entrance, on which an inscription states ‘Known to Be Buried in This Cemetery’. Bernafay Wood British Cemetery now contains 945 burials and commemorations of the First World War. 417 of the burials are unidentified but there are special memorials to 11 soldiers known or believed to be buried here. Other special memorials commemorate 12 soldiers buried in Bernafay Wood North Cemetery whose graves were destroyed by shellfire. Not on Memorial.
Thomas Jackson David was a younger brother of Robert Craig David. He was born in Fassifern Station, Boonah, Queensland in 1885 and was educated at Engelburg State School, Boonah. At the outbreak of war, Thomas worked as a Stockman in Boonah, and was married to Margaret Kerr Sanderman. Probably following his brother Robert, Thomas enlisted into the 15th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, on the 2nd May 1916. The 15th Battalion had been raised in late September 1914, from Queensland volunteers, and formed part of the 4th Brigade, commanded by the famous Colonel John Monash. The Battalion had taken part in fighting in Egypt and Gallipolli, before being sent to France in June 1916, forming part of the 4th Australian Division. Thomas sailed from Australia aboard HMAT Boonah, on the 21st October 1916, as part of the 21st Reinforcements for the 15th Battalion, following their heavy losses at Gallipolli, Pozieres and Mouquet Farm, and joined his Battalion on the Western Front. The winter of 1916 saw the 1st Anzac Corps, comprising of the 1st, 2nd, 3rd and 4th Australian Divisions, carrying out operations around Gueudecourt on the Somme. It turned out to be a terrible winter for the Australians. The conditions were alien to the men from Down Under, and they suffered badly over the winter months. In January 1917, the 15th Battalion took part in an offensive near to Bapaume, at ‘Stormy Trench’, which ended with the sudden retirement of the German Armies to the defensive positions of the Hindenburg Line. By the end of March 1917, the Australians held a position around Bapaume, facing the Hindenburg Line and were putting pressure on the Germans, gaining ground toward Bullecourt and Hermies. Boursies and Demicourt were captured by the 4th Division during the first week of April, and then the 15th Battalion were plunged into the heart of an attack on Bullecourt. The 4th Division attacked two sectors of the German front between Bullecourt and Queant, with the 16th and 14th Battalions taking on the Hindenburg Line and the 15th and 13th tasked with passing through them to attack and capture Riencourt. Some time during this attack, Private Thomas Jackson David disappeared and was reported as Missing in Action. After months of investigations and questioning of survivors of the attack, the AIF headquarters listed Thomas as having been ‘Killed in Action 11.4.17, previously reported Missing’. Thomas had been killed in action on the 4th April 1917, just less than two months after his brother Robert, leaving his widow Margaret desperately trying to piece together what had happened to her husband. His body was never recovered, and so Thomas Jackson David is remembered on the walls of the Villers-Brettoneux Memorial to the Missing. Not on Memorial.
Thomas Morgan David was born on the 24th October 1875. He was the son of Thomas and Caroline David of South Hills, Laugharne, a cousin to Lionel Mordaunt Smith, and the husband of Eleanor David of 7 Wentworth Villas, Plymouth. Thomas had a long career in the Royal Navy, his service papers show that in 1897 he was training as a ships engineer, and passed ‘very creditably’. On the 1st June 1899 he was serving on the HMS Compendium, and on 6th July 1902 was transferred to the Hannibal. His papers show him to be a very good engineer, taking an active role in ships life. Thomas then served on 3 ships (that I cannot make the names out) before being posted to the Argonaut and then the Rattlesnake. His service record is full of praise for both his quality of work and his attitude. He was becoming a very highly regarded officer. On the 13th February 1913, Thomas was posted to the Edgar class destroyer, HMS Hawke as Engineering Officer. H.M.S. Hawke had a displacement of 7350 tons and a speed of 20 knots. The Hawke was launched in 1893 at Chatham Dockyard and was not of great fighting value due to her age. On October 15th 1914, the Hawke was part of the 10th Cruiser squadron and was stationed off the N.E. Coast. The Hawke was in convoy, steaming second in line behind the HMS Endymion and at 9.30 am had stopped to send a boat to the Endymion to collect mail. At 10.30 am the Hawke began steaming again, when she was hit by a torpedo abreast the foremost funnel. She listed immediately and sank in a few minutes. There was only time to launch two lifeboats, with 21 men aboard, and 49 other men were picked up by a Norwegian steamship. The total loss of life in the disaster was nearly 524 officers and men including her Captain Williams. Only 70 men survived. HMS Hawke was sunk by the German submarine U-9. Engineering Lieutenant Commander Thomas Morgan David, an officer with a great future ahead of him, was lost in the sinking of the Hawke. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Daniel Davies was born in Laugharne, to Mr and Mrs T. Davies of the Grist. He married and moved with his wife to Llanelli, and was an early volunteer in the army, serving as Private in the 8th (Service) Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers with the service number 13369. The 8th Battalion were formed at Wrexham during August 1914, being part of 40th Brigade, 13th Division- based at Salisbury Plain. In February 1915 they moved to Blackdown, and in July 1915 were landed at Mudros, then on the Gallipolli peninsula. The 16th-30th July was spent at Helles. They then spent a short rest period at Mudros, before returning to Gallipolli-landing at Anzac on the 4th of August 1915. Daniel’s medal card states that he entered war in Gallipolli on the 15th of October 1915, as part of the reinforcements sent to Gallipolli. In January 1916 the 8th RWF were sent to Egypt, before heading through Suez on the 14th February 1916, arriving at Basra on the 28th of February 1916. The 8th Bttn RWF was then involved in the bitter campaign against the Turkish army in Mesopotamia. The Battalion War Diary for the month of April 1916 shows them to have arrived at Oram on the 1st April 1916:
‘1 APRIL: Arrived from SHEIK SAAD after a very trying night march. A heavy thunderstorm broke just before starting & made the surface of the ground very slippery & greasy, the numerous streams that had to be crossed were an enormous obstacle for the transport. Remained in bivouacs for the remainder of the day.
2 APRIL: The Battalion crossed the Tigris and took over a section of fire trenches from the 7th Division.
4 APRIL: The Battalion closed up into its final positions preparatory for the assault. The second line of our trenches was occupied & the Battalion was extended along it in line.
5 APRIL: A simultaneous movement was made by the whole division at this hour (4.55), the 8th RWF moved through the Wiltshire Regt (who had captured the first line) and pushed on to occupy the second line. The Turks had practically abandoned the position and there was no opposition. Finding the trenches empty somewhat confused the troops & a mixed body of men pressed on to the third line & they unfortunately came under the fire of our artillery. The troops were quickly reorganised & the advance continued towards the FALAKIYEH position some four to five miles in rear of HANNAH. The 40th Brigade had orders to cover the advance of the 38th & 39th. The 8th RWF were in the 3rd line. The advance was continued as long as possible till checked by machine gun % rifle fire when the troops lay down & dug themselves in. At dusk the 38th & 39th Brigades came up & went through the 40th Brigade & reached the trenches in front.’
The Battalion fought on throughout April 1916, pushing the Turks back through Falahiyeh, Sannaiyat, Beit Aieesa and Abu Roman Mounds. They were hit by savage Turkish counter-attacks, but held on, before being replaced in the front line on the 28th April and moving to a rest camp. The Battalion were then entrenched in Beit Aieesa, and the War Diary for the period 1st May 1916 to the 31st May 1916 reads:
‘1 MAY; In trenches. Improving existing works & commencing new ones.
2 MAY: Semi Armistice as steamer went up to Kut to bring down the wounded.
3 MAY: Party of Turkish stretcher-bearers with white flags appeared advancing towards our line. On enquiry it was ascertained they wished to collect and bury any of their dead who might still be lying out. This was allowed & an armistice existed throughout the greater portion of the day.
4 MAY: An informal armistice was supposed to exist most of the day owing to a boat proceeding up to Kut to bring back wounded.
5 MAY: 2/Lieuts. R.L. Wilks, R. Charnley, B.R. Jilling, W.P. Morrel, C.J. Mollen all of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers reported their arrival, the first live on discharge from Hospital in Egypt & the remainder from England.
6 MAY: Nothing to report.
7 MAY: Started work on new communication trench from S7 to S6b.
8 MAY: Captain E.A Stretch proceeded to Brigade Head Quarters to take over the duties of Acting Staff Captain to the Brigade. The duties of Adjutant to the Battalion were taken over by Captain T.J. Graham.
9 MAY: Moved Battalion Headquarters to a more central position near R4a.
10 MAY to G.O.C. B Division visited trenches.
14 MAY: Nothing to record. Ordinary trench life. Very little fire from the enemy, practically none from our immediate front.’
As can be seen from the War Diary, the month was very quiet. Daniel Davies was unluckily shot in the back by a German sniper, and was operated on, having the bullet successfully removed, before succumbing to his wounds. He must have been shipped to a Hospital in India for treatment, where he died of his wounds on the 10th of May 1915. A letter was published in ‘The Welshman’ newspaper on the 28th of July 1916, which was written to Daniels parents by a friend who served alongside him. The letter states-
‘Room 15, Y. M. C. A., Bombay. Dear Mr and Mrs Davies, I am in receipt of your letter dated 26th May, and am extremely pleased to inform you that your son died like a soldier and a man. On this earth he served his King and Country well, and as the Lord Jesus Christ laid down His life to save sinners, so did your son lay down his life to save his country. Greater love hath no man for his King and Country than to lay down his life to save it from the ruthless Hun. I myself would like a similar glorious death as your son had. The poor fellow was shot in the back, and the bullet penetrated to his spine. He underwent an operation and the bullet was extracted, after which he lived for some days.
But I am pleased to tell you that after the operation he had little pain. I visited him every day and was with him about two hours before he died. Before I left him that night he asked me to write to his mother, wife and children and also his Clergyman. But it was only his wife’s address that I was able to get from him before he lapsed into unconsciousness.
When I left him, a lady Nurse (who had come from England especially to look after wounded soldiers) and a brother soldier sat with him until he departed this life for the life to come. Your son was quite prepared to meet his Saviour, but was constantly worrying about the future welfare of his wife and family. But I assured him that his country for which he had died would look after his wife and six children, he became more contented in mind, and before parting that night he said to me: ‘Good-Bye brother, I am going to join the new army tonight, with the Lord Jesus Christ as my General. But before I go promise me again that you will write to my Mother, Wife and Children for me.’
These were his last words. He had previously given me his wife’s address, but was then too weak to give me yours. I promised him that I would, and now that I have written to you I have fulfilled my promise to a dying brother soldier. Your lad was buried the next day with full military honours, and the ‘Dead March’ in ‘Saul’ was played next at the cemetery. Shots were fired across the grave and the Last Post was sounded. I feel sure that your son answered his last call at Reveille to his new General-the Lord Jesus.
Yours in his Master’s service, H. Coleman.
P.S.-Perhaps you are wondering who is writing to you. I am also a soldier in the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, and am at present living in the address above.’
A touching letter from a fellow soldier who had befriended Daniel in his last days on earth. Daniel is commemorated on the Kirkee Memorial in Poona, near Bombay. His name is found on face C of the memorial. The Kirkee Memorial commemorates more than 1,800 servicemen who died in India during the First World War, who are buried in civil and cantonment cemeteries in India and Pakistan where their graves can no longer be properly maintained. This total includes the names of 629 servicemen whose remains were brought from Bombay (Sewri) Cemetery for re-interment here in 1960.
John Henry Dodd was born on the 15th April 1893 at Penlan-Coed, Aberarth, Cardiganshire. His father Charles was a publican from Shropshire. His mother was Anne Dodd, and he had a sister Marg Jane. In 1901 they lived at the Ram Inn, Coedmore, Carmarthen. When John was killed, the family lived at Dan-y-Coed, Llanddowror. John joined the army on the 29th August 1917 and was placed into the 68th Battalion Training Reserve, with the service number 22050, based at Ripon in Yorkshire. In December 1917 John was transferred to 635th Home Service Company, Labour Corps, with his service number changing to 492006. The Labour Corps were to become the Army Pioneer Corps, and the largest areas they were used in were road building, railway construction, docks and other duties associated with transportation. There were 175,000 men working in the U.K. as part of the Labour Corps during the Great War, with over 389,000 in total including the overseas contingents. The 635th Home Service Company was stationed at Larkhill from September 1917 to April 1919, and then moved to Durrington until disbanded in June 1919. They were employed as cooks, clerks, orderlies, camp staff etc. Private John Henry Dodd was seconded to the Royal Engineers and was sent to France on the 15th January 1918, but by the end of March, John had been sent home to Plymouth Hospital suffering from Shellshock. John received treatment at Devonport and Lyme Regis Hospitals before being recalled to the Labour Corps at Salisbury Plain on the 20th August 1918. At the beginning of October 1918, John was taken seriously ill with Pneumonia and was sent to Bulford Manor Convalescent Home. He recovered and rejoined his unit, but soon fell ill again, and in February 1919 he was taken to Fargo Military Hospital, and then transferred to Plymouth Military Hospital where he died after an operation, aged just 26 on the 1st of July 1919. He is buried in the Efford cemetery in Plymouth, reference- Church. C. 7605. HE. The cemetery contains 338 scattered burials of the Great War.
David James Edwards was born in Aberystwyth in 1883 He was the son of Evan and Anna Marie Edwards of 48, Cambria Street, Aberystwyth. Sometime before the start of the War, David had met and married a Laugharne girl, named Elizabeth, and had settled at Lower Gosport Street, Laugharne. Sometime in 1916, David was called up into the Royal Field Artillery, where he became a Gunner in ‘A’ Battery, 296th Brigade, which was attached to the 59th (Second North Midland) Division. The 59th Division was a territorial Force, which was formed in January 1917. In April 1916, the Division moved to Ireland to help quell the Republican uprisings that were gathering momentum at the time. They were the first Territorial Division to serve in Ireland, and took part in the fighting of the Easter uprising. In January 1917 the Division returned to England, before heading to France in February, where they stayed for the remainder of the war. The first action that the 59th Division were involved in happened almost immediately, in March 1917. The tremendous loss of life that had occurred in 1916, following the Battles of the Somme had weakened the German Army to such an extent that they had been forced to create a formidable new line of defence several miles back from the front lines. In March 1917, just as the British were about to embark on a fresh new offensive, the Germans pulled back to their new positions. The British troops pursued the Germans but came to an abrupt halt at the formidable new positions that the Germans had created. It was called the Hindenburg Line. The 59th Division were moved to Ypres during mid 1917, where they were readied to take part in the planned offensives of 3rd Ypres, or Passchendaele. The attack was a disaster from the start, with the area experiencing the heaviest rainfall for many years, turning the Flanders Fields into a muddy quagmire that was to make Passchendaele the most bitter, terrible battle of the Great War. Gunner David James Edwards was part of the crew of a Gun Battery that took part in the shelling of the German Lines which marked the beginning of the Battle of the Menin Road, on the 20th September 1917. They fought through for a week, with limited success, before reaching the outskirts of Polygon Wood, where David was seriously wounded. David was brought back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem, where he was to die of his wounds on the 29th September 1917, aged 33. David’s widow, Elizabeth Edwards stayed in Laugharne, residing in Gosport Street. Not on Memorial.
Richard Edwards was born around 1890 at Morfa Bach Cottage, Laugharne. His parents were David Edwards, a railway platelayer, and Lizzie Edwards. He had 5 brothers- John, Benjamin, Thomas, David and Stanley Edwards and 5 sisters, Elizabeth, Sarah, Mary Jane, Edith and Rachel Edwards. His Statement of names and Addresses of all Relatives (Army Form 5080) also lists his uncles James John of Broad Moor Farm, Laugharne, and John John of Grovesend, Pontardawe, and his nephews and nieces-Ben John-St.Clears, James Lewis John-Laugharne and Hannah Lewis (John)-Laugharne. Richard served in the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the rank of Private and the service number 5193, before transferring to the 13th (Service) Battalion (2nd Rhondda) the Welsh Regiment, his service number changing to 56935. The 13th Battalion were raised in Cardiff on 23rd October 1914, becoming part of 129th Brigade, 43rd Division at Rhyl. In December 1915 they landed at Havre. According to the Battalion War Diary for the days leading up to Richard’s death, on the 22nd April, the Battalion attacked ‘on a 2 brigade frontage to left of battalion front. Our artillery both in the initial stages and in the subsequent harassing and protective fire. , fired consistently short. Enemy barrage lines not heavy but most clearly defined. About 60-80 prisoners were captured, our casualties being considerable.’
The entry for the 23rd states-‘In connection with yesterdays operations, No. 11 Platoon under Lt. Col. Barry was sent to reinforce 2nd RWF on our left who in turn reinforced 113 Brigade. Bttn sent out 2 patrols in the early morning. 1 Prisoner being brought in. Enemy aircraft active at dawn. At about 2.45 pm a hostile aeroplane crashed just behind our front line. At 7.30 pm, enemy fired a counter preparation programme lasting about 35 min. He kept up a harassing fire all night. Advance parties from 19th Bttn. AIF reconnoitred the line during the night with a view to relief.
On the 24th the entry states-‘No Mans Land was patrolled by us in the early morning at about 4.30 am. The enemy attempted to attacks to regain ground lost on night 22-23rd. The first was repulsed by artillery and infantry fire, the second by LG and MG fire. The valley and embankment in which Bttn HQ was situated was shelled intermittently from dusk to midnight. A total of about 20 casualties, chiefly Police & runners were caused. Both artilleries active all day& during the night with harassing fire on the roadside. Visibility poor, aerial activity nil.’
Private Richard Edwards was killed in action on the 24th April 1918 at 28 years old and was buried in Contay British Cemetery, near Arras on the Somme, in grave VII.C.5. The cemetery was the site of the 49th and 9th Casualty Clearing Stations, until being overrun by the Germans in April 1918.
Llewellyn Humphreys Evans was born in Laugharne around 1893. His parents were James and Eliza Evans, who were farmers living at Grassland Farm, near Brixton Farm in Laugharne. He had two older brothers, Richard James Evans and William James Evans. Llewellyn was recruited into the 15th (Service) Battalion (1st Salford), the Lancashire Fusiliers-although he enlisted at Carmarthen serving as 25830 Private Llewellyn Humphreys Evans. The 15th Battalion were raised in Salford on the 11th September 1914, moving to Conway on the 28th December 1914. From there they moved to Catterick to join the 96th Brigade, 32nd Division on the 21st June 1915. They landed at Boulogne on the 22nd November 1915, fighting in France. Private Llewellyn Humphreys Evans was killed in action on the 26th November 1916 aged 23, during the action around Beaumont Hamel (which the 51st (Highland) Division famously captured during November 1916). The Battalion War Diary entry for the period doesn’t mention their involvement in any actions, but the Battalion had just left Munich Trench at Beaumont Hamel-which was on the Front Lines of the Somme battlefield. Llewellyn was buried at Mailly Wood Cemetery, near Albert on the Somme, in grave II.C.8.
Thomas William Arnold Evans was born around 1887 in Market Street in Laugharne. His parents were George and Marianne Evans, and he had five sisters, Alice, Cornelia, Florence, Roberta and Annie Evans. Thomas was living in Loughor at the outbreak of war and was married to Elizabeth Sarah Evans, who was also born in Laugharne. They married on the 12th April 1909 and had no children. His trade upon enlistment was butcher. Thomas attested into the 14th (Service) Battalion the Welsh Regiment at Rhyl on the 14th December 1914. The mayor and corporation, along with the football and cricket club, raised the 14th Battalion at Swansea. They formed part of 114th Brigade-38th Welsh Division, landing at Havre in December 1915. The famous 38th Welsh Division was formed at the wishes of the Prime Minister David Lloyd George. They were blooded at the Battle of the Somme, beginning on the 1st of July 1916, taking part in the battle of Mametz Wood, where many soldiers from the division were killed. Later on the battalion were moved to the Ypres Salient. According to the War Diary for the 14th Welsh Regt. the Battalion were based at Brandhoek at the start of September 1916. The battalion moved to Camp E, then into reserve and relieved by 17th Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Machine Gun Farm and Canal Bank. The diary then goes on to state;
‘Sept 11 Battalion in reserve 13 wounded, 3 died of wounds from shelling of Canal Bank. 2nd Lieut J.C. Warren & 2nd Lieutenant A.F.H. Kelk (?) rejoined for duty from England.
Sept 12 Battalion in reserve
Sept 13 DO DO DO
Sept 14 Battalion relieved the 15th Battalion Welsh Regt in the front line trenches.
Sept 15 Battalion in the front line (2 killed & 6 wounded)
Sept 16 Battalion in the front line
Sept 17 Battalion in the front line
Sept 18 Battalion relieved in front line trenches by 15th Welsh Regt.
Sept 19 Battalion in reserve. Leave reopened.’
Thomas died of wounds on the 17th September 1916 at No. 3 Canadian Casualty Clearing Station, and was buried in Ljissenthoek military cemetery, near Ypres, in grave X.B.7A.
John Llewellyn Griffith was born around 1897 in a ‘Cottage by the Cliff’ in Laugharne. His parents were William and Mary Griffith-his father being a gardener. He had 4 brothers-Hubert, Granville, Harold and Hector, and two sisters, Constance and Eira Griffith. Again, there are no surviving records of John Llewellyn Griffith’s wartime service, but the CWGC shows that John served in the 4th Battalion the Gloucester Regiment, with the service number 51673. The 4th Battalion were a Territorial Battalion, and were formed on the 4th August 1914 at Bristol. The 1/ 4th Battalion were sent to France in March 1915 as part of 144th Brigade, 48th Division, then during November 1917 to Italy. The 2/ 4th Battalion served at Chelmsford and Salisbury Plain, before going to France in May 1916. They disbanded in February 1918, leaving just the one battalion. Not much is known of the military service of John Llewellyn Griffith, but that he died in the Military Hospital at Newcastle-on-Tyne of Meningitis on the 29th February 1920, aged just 23, and was buried in St. Martins’ Churchyard in Laugharne, to the North of the Church in the old graveyard.
Thomas James Jackson was born in Gosport Street, Laugharne, in 1896. He was the son of David and Harriet Jackson, and had a sister Edith, and a brother Alfred Llewellyn. His father was a mason (builder). Thomas James Jackson enlisted into the army in October 1914, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, the South Wales Borderers, with the service number 18440. The 2nd Battalion had a very interesting war to say the least. They were based in Tientsin in China at the outbreak of war, where they aided the Japanese army to force the German garrison from Tsingtao. They embarked from Hong Kong on the 4th December 1914 for Plymouth. Once back on British soil, they joined the 87th Brigade, 29th Division at Rugby, and this is where Thomas Jackson joined his Battalion. On the 17th March 1915 they sailed from Avonmouth on the SS Canada for Alexandria, and on the 25th April 1915 they landed at Gallipoli. Thomas was slightly wounded just after arriving at the Dardanelles, and wrote home to his parents-
‘I am alright now. When we landed we had a fine reception, and we went for the Turks like mad dogs let loose and soon shifted them. We were not long about it either. We sent them over the hill and we held the position for a few days. We were relieved by the French and then we joined our brigade and had a great battle. Had they not shifted we would have wiped them out. It is a funny feeling when you charge with the bayonet. When you are halfway you don’t aim for anything. We fought a good many fights before I was hit, but I am going to do my share again. Please send me some paper and envelopes.’
Sadly this was to be the last letter that David and Harriet Jackson received from their brave young son. On the day of the 10th June 1915, an attempt was made to dislodge the Turks from a trench east of the Gully Ravine. The battalion War Diary Entry for the 10th states-
’10.00 pm Ingles RC led 10 men, some bomb throwers & RE into the sap. They were supported by remainder of platoon and also 1 other platoon if necessary. The party got into the sap but were bombed out being unable to advance owing to MG fire. 12.30 am A second attempt made with the same result. Total casualties Lt. Spartali killed-Lieut R.C & H.J. Inglis wounded. 6 men killed & wounded. Border Regt successful-they reached point C but were finally forced to withdraw to a point K where a barricade was built.’
Private Thomas James Jackson was one of those unfortunate men who were killed on the raid. He was 29 years old and was buried at Twelve-Tree Copse Cemetery, in Gallipolli. His grave reference is XI.A.15.
David Thomas John was born on the 2nd July 1891. His parents were William and Elizabeth John, of Halfpenny Furze, Laugharne. David had a younger brother John James John, and a sister Mary Ann John who were both born in Glamorgan. Their youngest sister Sarah Jane John was born in Laugharne, in Halfpenny Furze. In 1913, David John married Lillian Evans of Laugharne, and they had a son-John William John who was later known in Laugharne as ‘Bill the Boat’, and who was to become my Grandfather. At the outbreak of war, David was working as a Coalminer, in Bulli, New South Wales, Australia. On the 18th August 1914, he enlisted at Randwick, NSW into ‘A’ Company, 4th Battalion, 1st Australian Infantry Brigade, being given the Army Number 244. His medical examination certificate shows him to have been 23 years old, 5’7 ½” tall, 10st 7ibs in weight, with fair hair and blue eyes. During April 1915, Private David Thomas John embarked on the Troopship Lake Michigan, bound for Alexandria from Australia. The ship arrived on the 5th April 1915, and the troops were sent to Gallipolli. On the 29th July 1915, David was temporarily transferred to duties with Brigade Engineers as a well sinker, but by the 24th August 1915, David was suffering badly with fever, and was admitted to a Casualty Clearing Station, diagnosed with Pyrexia. By the 28th August, David was diagnosed with Debility, and was transferred to No.3 Auxiliary Hospital and from there sent back to hospital at Alexandria. By the 20th November 1915, David John was deemed fit enough for duty, and was transferred back to Base at Cairo, finally rejoining his Battalion on the 2nd January 1916. By the 12th February he was back in Hospital in Egypt and suffered spells in and out of the sick bed for some weeks. On the 29th March 1916, the Battalion boarded the troopship Transylvania and embarked from Alexandria to join the BEF in France, landing at Marseilles on the 6th April 1916. The build up to the Somme Offensive was racing ahead-and the Australian Troops had been dragged from the Hell of Gallipolli to join the Hell of the Western Front in France.
The Battalion spent time at Etaples-no doubt training and acclimatising themselves to their new surroundings, and also spent time in trenches around Armentieres and Fromelles, before being sent to the Somme, being billeted around Warloy Baillon. The Battle of the Somme began on the 1st July 1916 and the Australian Division played a huge and bloody part in the coming battles. Perhaps the bloodiest was the Battle for Pozieres-which took place between the 23rd to the 25th July 1916. The village of Pozieres was taken by the Australians at a huge cost in lives and remains one of the greatest feats of arms of WW1. Over 158,000 Commonwealth casualties were suffered between July 1st and August 1st 1916. After taking Pozieres, the front that the Australians now occupied was facing the renowned German Stronghold of Mouquet Farm. This was an immensely formidable fortified farmhouse, with a complex of bunkers and trenches making it almost suicidal to attack. David’s Service papers show that on the 11th August 1916 he was promoted to Lance Corporal, and that day his Battalion were sent back to the front line, directly opposite Mouquet Farm. A letter from the archives of the Australian Red Cross states that on the 18th August 1916, the 4th Battalion were entrenched near Mouquet Farm. Company Headquarters were about 100 yards away from the Front Line trenches, and HQ wanted a patrol sent out to reconnoitre the area, as they were going to launch an assault later that afternoon. David Thomas John and three other men stepped forward-Private Oliver Williams, Private Bernard Conaty and Private Green. At 2 pm the four men went out of the trench and crossed through the barbed wire defences of the German Front Line, where a German Patrol surprised them. They were shot at and shelled from the German Lines and managed to return some fire and bombs themselves, but only Privates Conaty and Green escaped to tell the tale. Lance Corporal David John and Private Oliver Williams were missing in action in an area known as Shrapnel Gully, which is now a sedate looking field near to the rebuilt farmhouse. A court of Enquiry was held on the 1st September 1916 regarding the disappearance of David John and his compatriot. The findings of the court were that they were both killed in action. The Casualty Form has a small handwritten note on the bottom-Buried between Pozieres & Mouquet Farm-probably in Cemetery Sh 57DSE R34C. This is a British Army Trench Map Reference number. I have searched the area myself, following the map, but if there was a cemetery there then-it was wiped off the face of the earth in the coming battles-as were so many other War Cemeteries. Lance corporal David Thomas John’s body was never recovered and he is remembered on the Australian National Memorial at Villers-Brettoneux. He was 25 years old and had left a 3-year-old son behind.
John James John was a younger brother of David Thomas John. Born on the 21st May 1895 at Pontygwarth, Tyler’s Town, he was the fourth child of William and Eliza John. The family later returned to Laugharne, living at Halfpenny Furze. John enlisted in 1915 and became a Private in the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 4837. The Pembroke Yeomanry fought in Palestine in 1916, and the young Private John James John would have been serving with his cousin and fellow ‘Larney’ William John-who was killed on the Jerusalem Road. Whilst in Egypt in 1917, the Pembroke and the Glamorgan Yeomanry merged and became the 24th Battalion (Pembroke & Glamorgan Yeomanry) the Welsh Regiment. John’s service number then changed to 320374. The 24th Battalion was a Territorial Battalion. It was attached to 231st Brigade, 74th Division. After a difficult campaign in Palestine, during May 1918 the 24th was sent to France, landing at Marseilles on the 7th May. There they were to fight during the great breakthrough and the German retreat. On the 11th November 1918-Armistice Day- they were sent to Belgium. John didn’t get as far as Belgium though-he was killed in action on the 21st September 1918, when the battalion attacked Guillemont Farm, near St. Quentin on the Somme. The 74th Division were taking part in the Battle of Epehy, which was a major assault on the German Hindenburg Line. Casualties suffered by the Battalion during that attack were-2 officers and 12 other ranks killed, 4 officers and 92 other ranks wounded. The missing totalled 1 officer and 23 other ranks. The battalion war diary for the attack states-
‘OWING TO HEAVY COUNTER ATTACK AGAINST BRIGADE ON RIGHT AND DIVISION ON LEFT NOT GAINING OBJECTIVES, 231 BRIGADE HAD TO WITHDRAW AT NIGHT TO BENJAMIN TRENCH AND LATER BRIGADE WERE RELIEVED BY 230 BRIGADE. BECAME RESERVE-THE BATTALION WITHDRAWING TO HUSSAR ROAD.’
John James John was buried at Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile, Aisne, France. His grave is referenced II.C.13. He had only just returned to the front after some well deserved leave, and was sadly killed just 15 miles from where his brother David had lost his life 2 years earlier.
