Llanwrda War Memorial

The Great War, 1914-1918

Sidney John Arthurs, Private, 15509, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Sidney was the Son of Cornelia J. Arthurs, of 280 Huntingfield Rd., Putney, London, and the brother of Ethel Duffield of 61 Spring Grove Crescent, Lampton, Hounslow, Middlesex. Prior to the war, he resided at Paris House, Llanwrda, and he enlisted at Carmarthen into the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, attached to the 76^th Brigade, 3^rd Division. The Division were at Ypres when Sidney joined them, and he took part in the actions at the Bluff and of the St. Eloi craters. In June, 1916 te Division moved to the Somme, and they took part in the Battle of Albert, the Battle of Bazentin, and the Battle of Delville Wood, where they captured Longueval Village. Sidney was Killed in Action on the 20^th July, 1916, aged just 22, and is buried at London Cemetery & Extension, Longueval.

 

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James Bateman, Private, 16170. James was born at Llanwrda, but resided in Fishguard at the outbreak of War. He enlisted at Ferndale into the 8^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, who were the Pioneer Battalion to the 13^th (Western) Division. James fought at Gallipoli with the Division, where they suffered heavy losses, until being finally evacuated between the 8-9^th January, 1916. They manned the trenches at the Suez Canal defences for several weeks, before moving to Mesopotamia on the 12^th February, marching to attempt to relieve the Siege of Kut. After several battles, the Division took part in the capture of Baghdad before pushing North through the country, and it was here that James was Killed in Action, on the 23^rd April, 1916. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Panel 24. Not on Memorial.

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Robert Philip Behrens, Lieutenant, South Wales Borderers. Robert was the Son of George Benjamin Behrens and Helen Elizabeth Behrens (the daughter of John Morgan Davies of Llanwrda, and the sister of Oswyn St.Leger Davies), of Vron Yw, Denbighshire. Robert was the Husband of Helen Elizabeth Davies, of Carmarthen. Educated at Cordwalles, Maidenhead he had gained a commission in the 2^nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. The 2^nd SWB were stationed in China at the outbreak of war, and fought at Tsingtau against the German forces stationed there. On the 4^th December, 1914 they embarked at Hong Kong, and returned to England, landing at Plymouth on the 12^th January, 1915. Here they were attached to the 87^th Brigade, 29^th Division, and on the 16^th March, 1915 sailed from Avonmouth to Egypt. On the 10^th April the Division moved to Mudros, where the invasion force was building up ready for the invasion of the Gallipoli Peninsula, and on the morning of the 25^th April, 1915 the Division landed at Cape Helles. Sadly Robert was shot during the landing at De Tott's Battery. He died at sea & buried from HMS Cornwallis that same day, and so is remembered on the Helles Memorial. Not on Memorial.

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James Thomas Davies, M.M., Private, 4020, Welsh Guards. James was born at Llanwrda, the Son of John & Margaret Evans, of Dan Y Graig, Llanwrda. He enlisted at Pentre into the Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards had been formed on the 6^th February, 1915 by Royal Warrant, and on the 17^th August 1915 embarked at Southampton for France, and they arrived at Le Havre that day. On the 27^th September the Battalion left Le Havre for Loos, as part of 3^rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. They fought during the Battle of Loos, before moving to Ypres in June, 1916, which is where David joined the Battalion. In September they moved to the Somme, where they remained until the end of November. After a spell in reserve, they moved north to Ypres again, and they fought at Third Ypres before moving to take part in the Cambrai Offensive. When the German Spring Offensive was launched on the 21^st March 1918, the Guards Division were in the St. Quentin sector, and fought in the First Battle of Bapaume, where the German pushed their way back across the old Somme Battlefields towards the coast. They were halted at Albert, where the Guards Division took part in the desperate defence there. After the Germans were stopped in their tracks on the 8^th August at the Battle of Villers-Brettoneux, the Guards Division took part in the great advance, fighting at the Battle of Bapaume, Havrincourt, the Canal du Nord, Cambrai, the Selle and the Battle of the Sambre, where James was wounded. He Died of Wounds on the 7^th November, 1918, and is buried at Villers-Pol Communal Cemetery Extension.

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Morgan Rees Davies, Private, 58397, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Morgan was born at Llanwrda, the Son of David and Catherine Davies, of Tirallen, Llawrda. He enlisted at Chepstow into the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which were attached to the 113^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division, and embarked with the Division for France in December, 1915. The Division served in the Armentieres sector, where they were initiated into trench warfare, before moving South to take part in the Battle of the Somme. The task allotted to the Division was the capture of Mametz Wood, and after a stuttering start to the offensive, finally succeeded in capturing the wood at heavy cost. They were put into reserve for almost a year before taking part in the Battle of Third Ypres, capturing Pilckem Ridge, and saw considerable action during Spring 1918, when the German Offensive was launched. They remained in the area until the tide of war was turned on the 8^th August, 1918, and then began the push back toward the mighty Hindenburg Line. Morgan was Killed in Action, aged just 19, on the 24^th August, 1918 and is buried at Ovillers Military Cemetery.

 

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Oswyn St. Leger Davies, Lieutenant-Colonel, Manchester Regiment. Oswyn was the Son of John Morgan Davies, D.L., J.P., and Jane Elizabeth Davies, of Froodvale, Llanwrda, and he resided near Llansawel.. He was in Command of the 6th Battalion, Manchester Regiment, but transferred to be the CO of the 8^th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, 125^th Brigade, 42^nd Division. The Division had fought in Gallipoli and in Egypt, and on the 27^th February, 1917 landed at Marseilles en route to the Western Front.  The Division entered the line at Epehy then moved to Havrincourt where they remained until the 8^th July, facing the Hindenburg Line positions in front of Cambrai. July and August saw the Division training at Albert, and in September, 1917 moved to Ypres to take part in the Battle of Third Ypres. After a series of unsuccessful attacks the Division moved to the Flanders Coast, and in November moved to Givenchy. When the German Spring Offensive of March 1918 was launched, Oswyn and his Battalion faced the onslaught at the Battle of Bapaume, and the First Battle of Arras. Oswyn was Killed in Action during the latter Battle, on the 5^th April, 1918. He was 44 years old, and is buried at Bienvillers Military Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

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John Evans, Private, 45037, Welsh Regiment. John was born at Tillwydhir, the Son of John and Harriet Evans, later of Llethyfagwyren, Llansadurnen, Llanwrda. He enlisted at Ammanford into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division. The Division had been one of the first to arrive in France, fighting at the Battle of Mons, and taking part in the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved North to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they fought during the Battle of Loos, and the action at the Hohenzollern redoubt. Again they were required for a major offensive, moving South to the Somme, where they fought during the opening of the Somme Offensive at the Battle of Albert, then at Bazentin, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette and Morval. They followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917, and were then briefed for an operation on the Flanders Coast, and moved there during the Summer of 1917. While training on the coast, the Battle of Third Ypres had stalled in the mire, and the Division were recalled to Ypres, where they fought at the Second Battle of Passchendaele. After spending another Winter in Flanders, they were near Estaires when the German Spring Offensive caught them, fighting through the Battles of Estaires, Hazebrouck, and Bethune before being moved South again to Arras, fighting at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant, and at the Battle of Epehy, after the tide had been turned in the favour of the Allies. The Division pushed on towards the St. Quentin Canal, where John was Killed in Action on the 25^th September, 1918 aged 36. He is buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension. Not on Memorial.                                                         

 

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Morris Evans, Private, 8136, Welsh Regiment. Morris was born in Llandovery, and resided at Cwmdwr Llanwrda. A pre-war regular, he enlisted at Ferndale into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was sent to France as part of the 3^rd Brigade, 1st Division which were one of the first Divisions in France, landing at Havre on the 13^th August, 1914. After the retreat from Mons to the Aisne, they were moved to Ypres, where Morris was Killed in Action during the First Battle of Ypres, on the 23^rd October 1914. He is buried at Perth Cemetery (China Wall).

 

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James Morse, Private, 48544, Welsh Regiment. James was born at Llanwrda, the Son of William and Ann Morse, later of Good Hope, Goodwick. He enlisted at Fishguard into the 3rd Battalion, the Welsh regiment, which was a Home Service Battalion, used for training new recruits. James Died of Sickness at home on the 12^th February, 1917 and is buried at Pencaer (Harmony) Baptist Burial Ground. Not on Memorial.            

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Thomas Henry Rolfe, Private, 48404, Royal Fusiliers. Thomas was the Husband of Mrs. R. A. Rolfe, of 4, Chapel St., Hythe, Kent. He resided at Smithfield, and enlisted at Hythe into the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers which were attached to the 111^th Brigade 37^th Brigade. The Battalion were known as the Stockbrokers Battalion, as it was formed from a nucleus of businessmen. On the 30^th July, 1915 they landed at Boulogne, and they saw their first significant action during the diversionary attack at Gommecourt but due to heavy losses suffered by the 34^th Division on the Somme, the 111^th and 112^th Brigade were temporarily attached to them from the 6^th July until the 22^nd August, 1916. Upon their return to the Division, they fought on the Ancre, and were at Arras in March, 1917, where they fought at the Scarpe, capturing Monchy-le-Preux. After the Arras offensive ahd ground to a halt they moved to Ypres, where Thomas was Killed in Action on the 4^th August, 1917. He is buried at Cabin Hill Cemetery, Ieper.

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David Thomas, Private, 44204, Welsh Regiment. David was the Son of Mrs. Thomas of Llwynhelig, Farmers, Llanwrda. He enlisted at Swansea into the 15th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. Raised as part of the Welsh Army Corps, the Carmarthenshire Battalion fought in some of the major actions of the war. The Battalion was first raised in Swansea during October and November, 1914, by the Carmarthenshire County Committee, attached to 129^th Brigade, 43^rd Division, and was composed at first of men recruited from Lancashire. Recruiting in Lancashire was stopped at the end of 1914, and all subsequent recruiting was carried out in Carmarthenshire and South Wales. The preliminary training of the battalion was carried out at Rhyl.  From 28^th April, 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division, part of K4. In the summer of 1915 the Battalion moved with the remainder of the Welsh Division to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester, where it completed its training and equipping, and embarked for France from Folkestone on December 5^th, 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held nearly every section of the British line from Givenchy on the La Bassée Canal to Laventie, about six miles South of Armentières. At the end of May, 1916, the Battalion moved South with the remainder of the 38^th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme, which commenced on July 1^st 1916. The 38^th Division were tasked with the taking of the infamous Mametz Wood. The first attack on Mametz Wood was on 7th July, when the division lost heavily in 'Death Valley' during the advance on the 'Hammer Head'. The next attack went in on the 10th, and by 14th July the wood was cleared - but at the cost of over 5,000 casualties in the 38th (Welsh) Division. David was Killed in Action on the 11^th July 1916 at Mametz, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. He was just 22 years old. Not on Memorial.

 

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

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