Private Tom Daniel, M/408458, Army Service Corps, M.T. Tom was the Son of John and Mary Daniel, of 4, New York, Cwmann, Lampeter. Not much is known of his war service, but he served in the Motor Transport branch of the Army Service Corps. During the Great War, as with all wars, the Army had to be constantly supplied with prodigious amounts of food, clothing, equipment, armaments and ammunition. The static nature of the front-lines on the Western Front allowed for development of a huge supply line to be established. Items arriving at the various ports in France were moved by the Army Service Corps, and Tom was a part of this huge machine. Tom managed to survive the War, but was overcome during the great Influenza Epidemic of late 1918. He was brought to Chiseldon Hospital where he Died of Sickness aged 31, on 18 February 1919. He is buried at Lampeter (St. Peter) Churchyard.
Private James Davies, 4843, London Regiment (Queen's Westminster Rifles). James is listed with SDGW as residing at Carmarthen. He enlisted at Westminster into the Queen's Westminster Rifles, part of 169 Brigade, 56th (London) Division. The Division were initially used to reinforce other Divisions, but reformed in France in January, 1916, seeing their first major action at Gommecourt, as part of the Diversionary attack on the Somme. They then fought at Ginchy, before taking in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, where James was Killed in Action on 19 September 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Private James Llewellyn Davies, 536557, Royal Army Medical Corps. James was the Son of Mr. John Davies, of Derlwyn House, Cwmann, Lampeter. He enlisted into the Royal Army Medical Corps at Chelsea, being posted to the 2/2nd Northumbrian Field Ambulance, which was attached to the 50th (Northumbrian) Division. The Division had moved to France during April, 1915, fighting at Second Ypres, then during the Battle of the Somme. They then fought during the Battle of Arras, and at Passchendaele, before being hit by the German Spring Offensive of 1918. They were in the St. Quentin area when the German struck with brutal efficiency. James was Killed in Action on 31 March 1918 during the great struggle to defend St. Quentin, and is buried at Namps-Au-Val British Cemetery, France.
Private John Davies, 533257, London Regiment (P.W.O. Civil Service Rifles). John lived at No. 3, Treherbert, Cwmann, and enlisted at Porth into the Prince of Wales' Own Civil Service Rifles, part of 140 Brigade, 47th Division. The Division had moved to France during March, 1915, seeing action at Aubers, Festubert, Loos, Vimy and on the Somme. They later fought at Messines and Cambrai, before taking part in major fighting throughout 1918. It was during the Second Battle of Bapaume that John was Killed in Action, on 5 September 1918. He is buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Private Llewellyn Davies, 30422, Welsh Regiment. Llewellyn was born at Cwmann. He enlisted at Pentre, into the 15th Welsh (the Carmarthenshire Battalion), part of 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had moved to France at the end of 1915, being deployed around the Armentieres sector, before moving south to take part in the attack on Mametz Wood, part of the greater Battle of the Somme. After taking the wood, the Division had suffered so heavily that it wasn't used again for almost a year, until taking part in the successful Battles of Pilckem Ridge and Langemarck. They fought with distinction throughout the great advance of 1918, and were pushing toward the Hindenburg Line in the Cambrai area when Llewellyn was wounded during the Battle of Cambrai. He Died of Wounds on 8 October 1918 and is buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt, France.
Private William Lewis Davies, 47412, Northumberland Fusiliers. William was born in Pencarreg, the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Davies, of Penrhiw, Pencarreg, Llanybyther. He enlisted at Preston into the Royal Fusiliers, then later transferred into the 10th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers, part of 68 Brigade, 23rd Division. The Division had landed at Boulogne during August, 1915 and fought during the Somme Battles, before moving to Ypres, and fighting at Messines. They fought on the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood, before moving to try and take the village of Passchendaele, which is where William was sadly Killed in Action aged 25, on 17 October 1917. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Private David C. Evans, 534577, London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles). David was born at Llanfihangel, end enlisted at London into the 15th Battalion, the London Regiment (Civil Service Rifles), part of 4 (London) Brigade, 2nd (London) Division. The Division was a Territorial Division, created in 1908. They sailed for France during March, 1915, seeing action almost immediately upon being deployed to the front in Flanders, during the Battles of Aubers and Festubert. They later fought at Loos and Vimy, then moved to the Somme during the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme, 1916. They later fought during the Battle of Messines, before moving to the Arras area, taking part in the Battle of Cambrai, where David was sadly Killed in Action on 30 November, 1917. He is buried at Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery, Athies, France. The War Memorial states that David was of Cilcell-Isaf, and served in the 21st London Regiment and died on 8 May 1918, but there are no records to match anyone to these details at all, so it is probable that the details are incorrect.
Lance Corporal Tom Evans, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Tom resided at 2, Gwargate, and died on 28 January 1920. He is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, therefore no more details can currently be discovered.
Writer Cecil George James, M32049, Royal Navy, HMS Birmingham. Cecil was born at Milford Haven on 27 January 1900, the son of Alfred and Alice James. The family moved to Bryn Teify, Cwmann around 1907, where Alfred took up work as a painter and photographer. On 18 June 1918, Cecil enlisted into the Royal Navy, and was posted to Portsmouth, where he received his basic training at HMS Victory. He was then posted to HMS Birmingham, but was taken ill with Pulmonary Tuberculosis, and sent to Haslar Royal Naval Hospital in September 1920. Cecil was released from hospital, and returned home to Cwmann, but died there on 15 September 1921, aged 21. He is not commemorated by the CWGC, so I can only presume he is buried at Cwmann.
Private John Jones, 320234, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Jones, of Sunny Cottage, Gwernogle, Nantgaredig. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, which later merged to form the 24th Battalion the Welsh Regiment, part of 231 Brigade, 74th Yeomanry Division. The Division fought in Palestine, and were in the midst of the Third Battle of Gaza when John was wounded. He Died of Wounds aged 26, on 6 November 1917, and is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel. Many thanks to Avril Marks for the photograph.
Gunner Ben Lloyd, Royal Garrison Artillery. Ben was the husband of Margaret Lloyd, of 10, Treherbert, Cwmann. Very little can be found about Ben, but he had served in the Royal Garrison Artillery. He survived the war, but died on 28 April 1919. Ben is not commemorated by the CWGC, so his place of burial cannot be identified.
