On this page we remember the brave men of the ancient villages of Llanstephan, Llangynog & Llanybri, who gave their lives in both World Wars. Whilst it is relatively easy to research the men of the Great War, the service records of men of WW2 are still unavailable, and so it is very difficult to find out much about them.

Many thanks are due to Eiluned Rees of the Llansteffan Historical Society for her kind help in taking photos of the War Memorials and War Graves in the locality.

Llanstephan and District War Memorials

The Great War, 1914-1918

William Wood Brailsford, Private, 1050, 31st Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. William was born in Llanstephan in 1885, the son of Thomas Stanley Brailsford and Martha Anne Brailsford, later of "Highwood," Peaks Hill, Purley, England. William had emigrated to Australia, where he worked in Tasmania as an Orchadist. On the 6th April, 1915 William enlisted at Claremont, Tasmania into the 2nd Pioneer Battalion of the Australian Imperial Force, and embarked on H.M.A.T. Ascanuis on the 20th June, 1915. He was part of a reinforcement batch bound for Gallipoli, and arrived at Alexandria on the 4th September, 1915. William arrived soon after at ANZAC Beach, Gallipoli, but by the 25th September he was admitted to Hospital suffering from Gastritis, and shipped from ANZAC to Heliopolis. It wasn’t until the end of December that William was deemed fit enough to return to his unit, rejoining them at Ismailia. On the 6th April, 1916 William transferred into the 31st Battalion, A.I.F., which embarked at Alexandria on the 16th May, 1916 bound for Marseilles aboard H.M.T. Hororata, arriving on the 23rd May. The 31st Battalion were part of the 8th Infantry Brigade, 5th (Australian) Division, and the Division were moved by railway to the Fleurbaix Sector, in Northern France. The Battle for the Somme was about to begin, and a diversion was planned at Fromelles which the 5th Division was to take a full part in. A disastrous attack on the 19th July, 1916 heralded the opening of the Battle, and in the next few hours the 5th Division were almost annihilated. William was Killed in Action on the 2nd day of the Battle, where by now the 31st Battalion alone had lost over 500 men, and was buried in Rue-Petillon Military Cemetery, Fleurbaix, Grave I. K. 66. He was 31 years old. Not on Memorial.


J. Davies, Private. Cannot be identified at present.

James Thomas Davies, Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Somerset Light Infantry. Little is known of James at present, but he served as a Lieutenant in the 1st Battalion, Prince Albert’s Own Somerset Light Infantry, part of the 11th Brigade, 4th Division. The Division arrived in France just in time to join the II Corps in the Battle of Le Cateau, and played a part in the fighting retreat South towards the Marne, where the German Offensive was held. They were at Ploegsteert during the famous Christmas Truce of 1914, and fought at Second Ypres, before moving South again to take part in the 1916 Battle of the Somme. During 1917 they fought at Arras, and at Passchendaele, and were back at Arras at the beginning of 1918 when the German Spring Offensive was launched. On the 14th April, 1918 James was Killed in Action. He is buried in Lapugnoy Military Cemetery, Grave VI. D. 6.

 

William Charles Davies, Private, 3365, 10th Battalion, Australian Imperial Force. William was born in Guildford, Surrey in 1886. His family moved to West Wales, where William’s mother Mary lived at Dyffryn Factory, Llanstephan Road, Carmarthen. William had emigrated to Western Australia, where he found work as a Groom near Blackboy Hill, which is where he enlisted on the 17th October, 1916. William embarked at Fremantle aboard the H.M.A.T. Berrima, and arrived at Devonport on the 16th February, 1917. After several months in camps at Larkhill and Dorrington, where William was court martialled for being Absent Without Leave (for over a week), William was sent among a batch of reinforcements to the 10th Battalion, arriving in France on the 22nd August, 1917. His papers show that he was Wounded in Action on the 1st October that year, rejoining the Battalion on the 5th. The next entry on his papers show that he deserted his post on the 1st January, 1918, and was apprehended by the Military Police two days later. His trial on the 15th February, 1918 ended up in his being awarded 5 years penal servitude, but on the 7th March this was suspended and William rejoined his Battalion at the front. The Battalion were by now in Northern France (French Flanders), and the German Offensive was in full swing, with the Australian Corps in the Borre area. William was Killed in Action near Borre on the 30th May, 1918 and is buried in Borre British Cemetery, Grave I. D. 20. He was 31 years old.


Joseph Hoare, Gunner, 1410699, Royal Garrison Artillery. Joseph was born in Laugharne in 1899. His parents later moved to Llanstephan, where the family resided at Bonville House. Not much is known of Joseph’s wartime service at present, but he died at home on the 10th June, 1921 after being accidentally shot. Joseph is buried in Llanstephan Churchyard.


Thomas Howells, Private, M2/046283, Royal Army Service Corps. Thomas was born at Llanybri, the son of John and Mary Howells, later of Llain, Llanstephen. Thomas enlisted at Merthyr into the Army Service Corps, Base Mechanical Transport Depot. John was sent to France in 1915, but took ill and Died of Sickness on the 19th January, 1916, aged 36. He is buried in Ste. Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Grave Div. 19. P. 4.

William Howells, Private, 54571, 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. William was the younger brother of Thomas, the son of John and Mary Howells, who had moved back to Star House, Llanybri by 1918. He was born in Llanstephan, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 5264. Later William transferred into the 9th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. It is not known when William transferred, but the Pembroke Yeomanry fought in the Palestinian Campaign until they were returned to France, landing at Marseilles in May, 1918. Returning to the 19th Division, they had fought in all of the major battles of the War, Loos, the Somme and Passchendaele, and were to meet their sternest tests in 1918. They were in the St. Quentin area when the German Spring Offensive was launched, before moving North to Messines, where they suffered terrible losses. William was wounded at Messines, and was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Haringhe, West of Ypres, where William Died of Wounds on the 15th April, 1918, aged 27. He is buried there, in Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Grave II. D. 16.


W. Howells, Private. There are two W. Howells on the Llanstephan War Memorial. This man has yet to be positively identified, but is probably Gunner William Howells, 122051, ‘X’ 32nd Trench Mortar Battery, Royal Artillery. William was born at Ferryside, the Son of Lewis and Mary Howells, of Neptune Villa, Ferryside, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Royal Artillery. He was posted to the ‘X’ 32nd Trench Mortar Battery, which was allocated to the 32nd Division, which from April 1915 had become part of the Fourth Army. The Division fought on the Somme in 1916, moving to Arras in the Spring of 1918. After the Battles of Arras in 1918, where the German Offensive failed to take the City, the Division moved South to the old Somme battlefield, where the tide was turned against the German advance. From then on, they pushed the Germans back toward the Hindenburg Line, where their offensive had started off, and the 32nd Division fought their final Battle at the Sambre during early November, 1918. William was Killed in Action during this engagement on the 4th November, 1918, aged just 23. He is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Panel 3 and 4.


David James, Sergeant, 448350, Royal Engineers. David was born at Llanybri near Carmarthen on the 19th of October 1884, and moved to the Smithy, Llanddowror in 1908. David joined the 2nd First Welsh Field Company, Royal Engineers on the 14th of November 1914, and was promoted Farrier Sergeant on September 27th 1915. He was sent to the Dardanelles in October 1915 and from there was transferred to Egypt in December that year, when he was transferred to the 437th Field Company. He marched with the Forces from Egypt to Palestine and was present at the Battle of Gaza and other engagements. David was due to return to England in November 1917, and was returning firstly to Palestine on the Aragon when the ship was torpedoed by a submarine on December 30th 1917 and he was drowned, aged 33. David is remembered on the Alexandria (Chatby) Memorial, Egypt.



J. John, Private. Cannot be identified at present.

Thomas John, Corporal, 13227, 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Tommy was born in Llanstephan, the Grandson of Thomas John, of 4, Stratford Villa, The Green, and had enlisted at the start of war at Carmarthen. Tommy was wounded during the Battle of Loos, and returned home for treatment spending some time at home in Llanstephan with his family at Stratford Villas, before being sent back to France. Just a few weeks later, Tom was on trench duty at La Basée when he was shot in the chest by a sniper. He died of wounds on the 17th January, 1916 aged 32, and was buried in the beautiful setting of the Le Touret Military Cemetery, Richebourg-L'Avoue, Grave III. C. 27.

Daniel John Jones, Private, 282285, 2/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers. Daniel was born at Llanstephan, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, part of the 197th Brigade, 66th Division. The Division were formed on the 31st August, 1914, but remained at home until the end of February 1917, being used as a source of reinforcements for the 42nd Division at Gallipoli. They concentrated on the Western Front during March, 1917 and moved North to the Flanders Coast. Daniel was Killed in Action in North Flanders on the 29th August, 1917 and was buried at Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery, Grave II. C. 17.


Benjamin James Lewis, Private, 811138, 50th Battalion, Canadian Infantry (Alberta). Benjamin was born at Llangynog, on the 10th July, 1889, the son of Daniel and Sarah Lewis, of Ebenezer Cottage, Llangunnock, Llangain He emigrated to Canada, where he worked as a Miner, and enlisted there in Edmonton on the 7th December, 1915. Upon arriving in England, Ben joined the 50th Battalion, part of the 10th Canadian Brigade, 4th Canadian Division, who formed in Britain in April, 1916. The Division embarked for France in August that year, fighting in the latter part of the Somme Offensive at Le Transloy, and the Ancre. In early 1917 they moved North above Arras, where the task set for the Canadian Corps was to capture the up to now impenetrable heights of the Vimy Ridge. The Battle began on the 9th April, 1917 in sleet and snow, with the blowing of several mines underneath the German positions. The Canadians rapidly advanced, and to their great credit took Vimy Ridge later that day. Just 3 days later, on the 12th April, 1917 whilst the battle raged on around Vimy, Ben was Killed in Action, aged 28. His body was lost in the continued fighting in the area, and so he is remembered on the Vimy Memorial. Not on Memorial.


Thomas Voyle Morgan, Private, 951, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. Thomas was born in Cothi Bridge, and moved to Merthyr Tydfil in later life, working as a Policeman. He married there, his widow Mary Jane Morgan later living at 163, Mackintosh Place, Roath, Cardiff. Thomas enlisted at Merthyr into the Welsh Guards, who were formed by Royal Warrant on the 26th February, 1915, and had joined 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division in France. The Welsh Guards saw their first action at the Battle of Loos in September, 1915. After Loos, the Guards were brought out of the lines, spending time at Calais recuperating. From here they moved to Ypres in where they spent time again in the front line, where Thomas was wounded. He was brought back to the Base Hospital at Etaples, where he Died of Wounds on the 25th May, 1916 aged 27. He is buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, Grave V. D. 9.


James Stanley Phillips, Private, 39605, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. James Stanley Phillips was born in 1897 to David and Anne Phillips, of Parcnwc, Llanstephan. James’s mother Anne was a Laugharne girl, the daughter of Mr and Mrs Thomas, Castell-Toch. James spent a lot of his childhood with his Grandparents at Castell-Toch, and was well known in Laugharne. Early in 1917, James was drafted into the army, where he became a Private in the 2nd Battalion of the famous South Wales Borderers, with the service number 39605. The 2nd Battalion formed part of 87th Brigade, 29th Division, who had landed at Marseilles on the 29th of March 1916 after a torrid spell at Gallipolli, before fighting at the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and through the Battles of the Scarpe, near Arras, through the beginning of 1917. On the 7th of June 1917, the Flanders Offensive, a brainchild of Sir Douglas Haig, was begun around Ypres. The following battles were to become known as ‘Third Ypres’ or ‘Passchendaele’. On the 16th of August 1917, the Battle of Langemarck began. This area, just North of Ypres, had become a hellhole. The continuous bombardment of the German Front Lines had turned the battlefields around Ypres into a quagmire of foul, sticky mud, full of the debris of three years of non-stop fighting. Private James Stanley Phillips, aged just twenty years old, was killed in action that day. As happened to so many other poor souls that fought in that area, his body was lost in the mud, and so he is commemorated on the massive Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing, on Panels 65-66. At the very time that James lost his life, his mother also had the agony of her elder brother in an Army Hospital in Birmingham having his leg amputated after a terrible wound suffered in France.




W. H. Rees, Sapper, Royal Engineers. The Carmarthen County War Memorial of 1922 has this man listed on it, but no records can be found of him, and he is not on the War Memorial at Llanstephan.

J. M. Richards, Gunner, Royal Artillery. Cannot be identified at Present.

David Arthur Thomas, Second Lieutenant, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. David was born at Llanstephan, the Son of the Rev. David E. Thomas and Jennie Thomas of Brynllwyfen, Llanstephan. Prior to the war, David worked on the staff of Lloyds Bank in Llanelli, but he sought a commission in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and after his training was posted to their 1st Battalion. The 1st R.W.F. were at Malta at the outbreak of War, and upon their return, landing at Southampton on the 3rd September, 1914, they were attached to the 22nd Brigade, 7th Division. The 7th Division was formed from regular British Army units brought together from around the Empire. They landed at Zeebrugge on the 6th October, 1914, but were too late to halt the German advance there, and were sent to Ypres, where they took part in the First Battle of Ypres, and helped stopped the fall of the City, suffering terrible losses in the process. They moved South to Neuve Chappelle, where they took part in the Battle there, before fighting at Aubers Ridge Givenchy and Loos, before being brought down to the Somme, where they pulled off one of the few successes on the opening day of the Battle on the 1st July, 1916 by capturing Mametz Village. The Division stayed on the Somme for the duration of the Battle, and helped to follow the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917. The Battle of Arras began on the 9th April, 1917 and the 7th Division were moved in front of one of the most strongly defended German positions around Arras, at Bullecourt, which they attacked and successfully took alongside the Australian Corps. David was Killed in Action around this period, on the 4th May, 1917 aged only 22. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial, Bay 6.

David John Thomas, Private, 320328, 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. David was born at Llangunnock, the son of James and Esther Thomas, of Blaencwm, Llangunnock, Llangain. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 4532. The Pembroke Yeomanry formed part of the 1st Mounted Division in the U.K. In November 1915 the Division were dismounted, and sent to Egypt, landing March 1916. On the 2nd February 1917 the Pembroke Yeomanry were merged with the Glamorgan Yeomanry to form the 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, part of the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division, and David’s number changed to 320328. The Division fought in the Palestinian Campaign, and David was Killed in Action with them, during the Third Battle of Gaza, on the 12th November, 1917 aged just 21. He is buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Israel, Grave E. 154. Not on Memorial.

Thomas Trevor Treharne, Private, 63045, 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born in Llanstephan, the son of Thomas and Mary Treharne, of Llanstephan, and was the Husband of Margaret A. Treharne of 2, Ivy Cottage, Llanstephan. Thomas enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, service number 5417, but soon transferred into the 9th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. It is not known when Thomas transferred, but the Pembroke Yeomanry fought in the Palestinian Campaign until they were returned to France, landing at Marseilles in May, 1918. Returning to the 19th Division, they had fought in all of the major battles of the War, Loos, the Somme and Passchendaele, and were to meet their sternest tests in 1918. They were in the St. Quentin area when the German Spring Offensive was launched, before moving North to Messines, where they suffered terrible losses. William was wounded at Messines, and was evacuated to the Base Hospital at Boulogne, where William Died of Wounds on the 24th April, 1918, aged 33. He is buried there, in Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, Grave IX. A. 15.

John Tucker, Private, 13406, 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Probably). John was born at Kidwelly, and enlisted there into the 9th Welsh, which formed part of the 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The 19th Division assembled around Bulford in September, 1914 and crossed to France during July 1915. The Division saw their baptism of fire at the Battle of Loos, which began on the 25th September, 1915. Taking place on ground not of their choosing and before stocks of ammunition and heavy artillery were sufficient, the opening of the battle was noteworthy for the first use of poison gas by the British Army. Despite heavy casualties, there was considerable success on the first day in breaking into the deep enemy positions near Loos and Hulluch. But the reserves had been held too far from the battle front to be able to exploit the successes and succeeding days bogged down into attritional warfare for minor gains. John was Killed in Actio on the opening day of the Battle, on the 25th September, 1915. He is buried in Brown’s Road Military Cemetery, Festubert, in Grave I. F. 15.

John Tyssil-Davies, Lieutenant, Royal Navy. John was born in Llanybri, the son of the Rev. D. S. Davies, Vicar of Llanybri, and the Husband of Sybil E. H. H. Tyssil-Davies, of 8, St. Helena Rd., Westbury Park, Bristol. John had served aboard H.M.S. Hindustan in German East Africa, but became ill, and returned home to England for an operation. He sadly died after the operation, on the 21st January, 1918 aged 37 and is buried at Gillingham (Woodlands) Cemetery, Grave Naval. 24. 1243. Not on Memorial.

Arthur Williams, Private, 55462, 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Arthur was born at Llanstephan, and enlisted into the 16th Battalion, R.W.F., part of the 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to France at the end of November, 1915 and remained there throughout the war, fighting at Armentieres, before being moved South to the Somme, being ordered to capture Mametz Wood. The Division were badly cut up at Mametz, and were pulled out of the line, not being used again for nearly a year, when they took part in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, part of the larger Passchendaele Offensive. After Passchendaele, they moved South again, to help try and stem the German Spring Offensive, and when the tide had turned the way of the Allies in August 1918, the Division played a major part in the advance that followed to the Hindenburg Lone and beyond. On the 8th October, 1918 the Division captured Villers-Outreaux, part of the 1918 Battle of Cambrai, and Arthur was Killed in Action that same day, aged only 21. He is buried at Bois-Des-Angles British Cemetery, Crevecouer-Sur-L'Escaut, Grave I. B. 5.

Benjamin Williams, Private, 15809, 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Benjamin was born at Llangunnock, the son of Mr & Mrs Williams of Eithinduon. He married and moved to Aberdare, where he worked as a Miner, living with his wife Mrs. Williams, at Ann Street, Gadlys, Aberdare. Benjamin enlisted at Aberdare into the 7th Battalion, K.S.L.I., which was formed at Shrewsbury during September 1914 as part of the 76th Brigade, 25th Division. The Battalion shipped to France during September, 1915, where they transferred into the 8th Brigade, 3rd Division. The Division were moved to the Somme in readiness for the great offensive, and fought in the opening few weeks of the Battle. Benjamin was Killed in Action at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge on the 14th July, 1916 and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, Pier and Face 12 A and 12 D. Not on Memorial.

Benjamin Williams, Private, 8001, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Benjamin was born at Llanstephan, the son of Thomas and Anna Williams, of Penybank, Llanybri, Llanstephan. He enlisted at Cardiff into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division, which was among the first Divisions to land in France at the outbreak of War. They fought in the opening Battle of Mons, before fighting a retreat South towards the Aisne, where they stopped the Garman Advance. They moved North again, to La Basee, then to Ypres, where they withstood the heavy German assault on the ancient fortified City in the Battle of First Ypres. Benjamin had been wounded at the Battle of La Basee, and was taken to the Duchess of Westminster's Hospital (No.1 B.R.C.S) at Le Touquet where he Died of Wounds on the 30th January, 1915 aged 36. He is buried at Le Touquet-Paris Plage Communal Cemetery, Grave I. A. 26.


John Daniel Williams, Lance Sergeant, SE/5364, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. John was born in Llanstephan, but later moved to Burnley, with his wife Ada Williams, of 46, Hollingreave Rd., Burnley. He enlisted at Burnley into the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, being based at their Woolwich Depot. John Died of Sickness at home on the 26th September, 1918 aged 52, and is buried at Hurstwood General Baptist Chapelyard Burnley. Not on Memorial.

World War Two, 1939-1945

George William Reginald Victor Coventry, Lieutenant, 7th Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. Born in September 1900 near Llanstephan, George was the elder son of the late Viscount Deerhurst and Virginia, only daughter of William Daniel. George succedded his father as 10th Earl in 1930. He was educated at Eton, and in 1922 contested the Carmarthenshire Division as a Unionist, and was Master of the Carmarthenshire Hounds. In 1921 he married the Honorable Nesta Don Phillips, eldest daughter of the First Lord Kylsant, and they had a son, George William, Viscount Deerhurst, in 1934. George served before the War in the Worcestershire Yeomanry, transferring to the 7th Worcester’s at the outbreak of war. On the 4th September, 1939 troops of the B.E.F. left Britain for France, and by the end of September over 150,000 British troops had assembled on the French-Belgian borders. After months of desperate fighting, the mighty German Army, with it’s vastly superior armoured divisions, had pushed the B.E.F. back into a small pocket surrounding the French port of Dunkirk, and on the 25th May, 1940 Lord Gort V.C., the Commander of the B.E.F. decided to withdraw his troops from Dunkirk. The 7th Worcester’s meanwhile had been trapped in one of the old WW1 battlefield areas, around Givenchy-Les-La-Basee, and on the 27th May, 1940, George, Viscount Coventry, was Killed in Action. He is buried at Givenchy-Les-La-Bassee Communal Cemetery, Grave A. 2. He was 39 years old. Not on Memorial.

Phillip Thomas Davies, Sergeant, 1152952, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Phillip was the Son of Sydney A. and Gwladys Davies, of Llanybri, and enlisted into the R.A.F.V.R., joining 166 Squadron. The Squadron was based at R.A.F. Kirmington between the 27th January 1943 and 1945, operating first Whitley’s, then Wellington’s and Lancaster Bombers. Phillip was part of the crew of a Wellington Mark X when he was Killed in Action on a bombing raid on the 31st August, 1943. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey, on Panel 147. He was just 20 years old. There is a memorial to him on his parents grave at Llanybri Churchyard.


Ivor Lewis Evans, Private, 14541568, 6th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Ivor was born in the Llanstephan area, and served in the 6th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, which was created from a doubling up of the Territorial Army at the outbreak of WW2. The 6th Battalion were part of the 56th Division, who were moved from North Africa to take part in the Italian Campaign. On the 3rd September 1943, the Allies invaded the Italian mainland. Following the fall of Rome to the Allies in June 1944, the German retreat became ordered and successive stands were made on a series of defensive lines. In the northern Appenine mountains the last of these, the Gothic Line, was breached by the Allies during the Autumn campaign and the front inched forward as far as Ravenna in the Adratic sector, but with divisions transferred to support the new offensive in France, and the Germans dug in to a number of key defensive positions, the advance stalled as winter set in. Coriano Ridge was the last important ridge in the way of the Allied advance in the Adriatic sector in the autumn of 1944. Its capture was the key to Rimini and eventually to the River Po. German parachute and panzer troops, aided by bad weather, resisted all attacks on their positions between 4 and 12 September 1944. On the night of 12 September the Eighth Army reopened its attack on the Ridge, with the 1st British and 5th Canadian Armoured Divisions. This attack was successful in taking the Ridge, but marked the beginning of a week of the heaviest fighting experienced since Cassino in May, with daily losses for the Eighth Army of some 150 killed. Ivor was Killed in Action at Coriano Ridge on the 18th September, 1944, aged just 21. He is buried in Coriano Ridge War Cemetery, Grave XIX. M. 4.

A. James, W/Op. Cannot presently be identified.

E. H. Jones, Lance Corporal, Auxiliary Territorial Service. Cannot presently be identified.

Thomas Lloyd, Sergeant, Home Guard. Thomas was the son of Jane Lloyd, and the husband of Hannah Mary Lloyd, of Llangain. Being too old for overseas service, he served at home in the 1st (Carmarthenshire) Battalion, the Home Guard, and Died at home, aged 45, on the 22nd July, 1941. He is buried at Llangynog Churchyard.

William John Rogers, Gunner, 1747903, Royal Artillery. William was born at Llanybri, the son of John and Margaret Rogers, and the husband of Sarah Mary Rogers, of Llanybri. He joined the Royal Artillery at the outbreak of War, serving in their 313th Battery, 4th Heavy Anti Aircraft Regiment. William was possibly serving as an Anti Aircraft Gunner aboard a ship, as he was Killed on the 30th October, 1942 aged 35, and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial, Panel 3, Column 3. The Brookwood Memorial serves to commemorate members of the UK land forces who died in WW2 and who have no known graves. The majority of the names on the memorial are of people lost at sea.

Thomas Mansel Stephens, Lieutenant, 1st Regiment, Special Air Service. Thomas was born on the 31st May, 1920, the son of Mr. and Mrs. T. B. Stephens, and he resided in the Grove, Llanstephan. He enlisted into the South Wales Borderers, but volunteered for service into the Commandos, before entering the newly formed 1st Regiment of the Special Air Service (S.A.S.). Nicknamed ‘Twm’, Thomas was part of a diversionary assault on occupied France, landing on the night of the 6th June, as part of Operation Ballbasket under the command of Captain John Tokin. The force consisted of 39 men of ‘B’ Squadron, 1st S.A.S. who were parachuted into France with jeeps, which were dropped by converted Halifax bombers. Each jeep came down on a carrying platform with 4 parachutes, and were highly armed with Vickers ‘K’ Machine-guns. Sadly the men were betrayed and their camp was found, and they lost most of the jeeps and men in the resulting fighting. Thomas was wounded and captured by the Germans, and was executed at Verrieres on the 8th July, 1944 aged 24. He is the sole Military burial in Verrieres Communal Cemetery, where he is entombed in a French family crypt. There is a memorial to ‘Twm’ at Moriah Chapelyard, Llanstephan.

David Rudolph Bentley Thomas (Dolph), Corporal, 14493238, Royal Army Service Corps. Not much is known about ‘Dolph’, as he was known, but he was the nephew of John Thomas of Llanstephan, and a cousin to my Grandfather, John William John. Dolph died after the war, on the 15th March, 1947 aged just 20, and is buried in Llanstephan Churchyard.


John Thomas, Private, 14342801, Monmouthshire Regiment. John was the Husband of Annie Florence Thomas, of Llanybri. He served in the 3rd Battalion the Monmouthshire Regiment, which was a Territorial Unit, mobilised as part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division in Northern Ireland. It trained in Northern Ireland in 1940 and returned to England in 1941. In the summer of 1912 it was transferred to the 11th Armoured Division and trained for armoured warfare. The Division were to embark for North Africa, but this was cancelled, and they instead landed in Normandy on the 14th June, 1944. John didn’t get to France though, as he Died at home on the 15th April, 1943 aged 30. He is buried in Llanybri Churchyard.