Cwmann WW1 War Memorial
The War Memorial at Cwmann contains the names of eleven men of the village that died as a result of the Great War. Although in Cardiganshire, it sits on the border of Carmarthenshire, and it is on the 1922 published Carmarthen County War Memorial that many of the men on the Cwmann Memorial are listed, being listed under Pencarreg. According to the memorial, five of these men died at home. These men have proved very difficult to pin down and identify, as there is some confusion over the dates of death on the memorial (not matching up with men of the names or Regiments listed). Therefore where positive identification has proved impossible, I have listed men who are quite probably the men commemorated, but have noted the discrepancies on the Memorial. If anything else comes to light to prove otherwise, or if a surviving descendant knows anything that can help, the details will be altered.
Private Tom Daniel, M/408458, Army Service Corps, M.T. Tom was the Son of John and Mary Daniel, of 4, New York, Cwmanne, 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 the 18th February, 1919. He is buried at Lampeter (St. Peter) Churchyard.
Private James Davies, 4843, 16th Battalion, 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 the 169th 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 the 19th September, 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
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 the 31st March, 1918 during the great struggle to defend St. Quentin, and is buried at Namps-Au-Val British Cemetery.
Private John Davies, 533257, 15th Battalion, 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 the 140th 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 the 5th September, 1918. He is buried in Peronne Communal Cemetery Extension.
Private Llewellyn Davies, 30422, 15th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Llewellyn was born at Cwmann. He enlisted at Pentre, into the 15th Welsh (the Carmarthenshire Battalion), part of the 114th 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 the 8th October, 1918 and is buried in Rocquigny-Equancourt Road British Cemetery, Manancourt.
Private William Lewis Davies, 47412, 10th Battalion, 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 the 68th 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 the 17th October, 1917. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
Private David C. Evans, 534577, 15th Battalion, 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 the 4th (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 the 30th November, 1917. He is buried at Point-Du-Jour Military Cemetery, Athies. The War Memorial states that David was of Cilcell-Isaf, and served in the 21st London Regiment and died on May 8th, 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 Thomas Evans, 17757, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Tom was born in Taliaris, and enlisted at Neath into the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of the 22nd Brigade, 7th Division. The Division was a Regular Army Division which landed in Zeebrugge on the 6th September, 1914. Regarded as one of the best British Divisions of the War, hey fought at First Ypres, Neuve Chappelle, Aubers, Festubert, Givenchy and Loos, before moving south, to take part in the opening actions of the Battle of the Somme. At the Somme, the Division were stationed in the Fricourt area, moving forward and capturing the village of Mametz. It was during this opening stage of the battle that Thomas was wounded. He was brought back by rail to the Base Hospital at Boulogne, where he sadly Died of Wounds on the 9th July, 1916. He is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery. Again, the Memorial details don’t add up. It states that Thomas, of 2, Gwargate, died on January 28th, 1920. Again, there is no record of a man matching these details, who died near that date, so it is probable that the incorrect details are again on the Memorial.
Writer Cecil G. James, Royal Navy. The Memorial states that Cecil G. James served as a Writer, aboard H.M.S. Birmingham, and that he was of Bryn Teify, Cwmann. It gives his date of death as the 15th September, 1921. No records can be found of him at present, but the Royal Naval archives show that a Cecil George James, born in Milford Haven on the 27th January, 1900, served in the Royal Navy. This is the only man of the same initials, and there is no record of his death with the CWGC.
Private John Jones, 320234, 24th Battalion, the 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 the 231st 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 the 6th November, 1917 and is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery.
Gunner Ben Lloyd, Royal Garrison Artillery. The Memorial states that Ben, of 10, Treherbert, Cwmann, served in the Royal Garrison Artillery, and died on the 28th April, 1919. Again, no-one matching these details can be found at present.
Llanllwni War Memorial
Private Daniel Evans, 202981, 18th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Daniel was born at Llanllwni. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Welsh Regiment, serving with the 18th (Bantam) Battalion, as part of the 119th Brigade, 40th Division. The Division proceeded to France during June 1916, serving firstly at Loos, before being brought into the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme, fighting at the Ancre. After the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917, the Division played a major part in the Battle of Cambrai in late 1917, which is where Daniel was Killed in Action on the 23rd November, 1917. He is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval.
Private Henry Evans, 55453, 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was the son of Evan and Mary Evans, of Penrhiw, Llanllwni. Henry originally enlisted at Llandovery into the Pembroke Yeomanry, but was transferred to the 16th R.W.F., part of the 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. Henry was fighting in the Battle of Pilckem Ridge when he was killed in action, aged 24, on the 31st July, 1917. He is buried in Artillery Wood Cemetery.
Private David Harry Harries, 7881, Kings Own Liverpool Regiment, was the son of the late David and Elizabeth Harries, of Dolgorse, Llanllwni, and the husband of Mary Anne Harries, of The Bungalow, Alltyblaca, Llanybydder. He died aged 29 at home, on the 28th November, 1918 and is buried in Llanllwni Congregational Chapelyard.
Private John Jones, 7815, 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, was born in Llanwenog, Montgomeryshire. He served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Scots Fusiliers, part of the 9th Brigade, 3rd Division. The Division was one of the first in France, fighting from the start of the war at the Battle of Mons, and they put up a gallant rearguard action whilst retreating south toward the Aisne, where the German Offensive was halted. They were moved north as the fighting begun to stagnate into the trench warfare that was to mark the war, and took part in the Battle of La Bassee, and First Ypres, where the Ancient City was saved from German occupation. After wintering at Ypres, and taking part in the now famous Christmas Truce of 1914, John was Killed in Action on the 12th January, 1915. He is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.
Private John Jones, TR/4/12333, 20th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. John was born at Llanllwni, and enlisted at Newcastle Emlyn into the 20th Welsh, part of the 13th Reserve Brigade. The Battalion became part of the Training Reserve in 1916, severing its ties with the Welsh. John Died of Sickness at home on the 27th February, 1917 without having seen overseas service. He is buried at Llanllwni (St. Luke) Churchyard.
Private Llewellyn Jones, 39592, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was the son of David and Catherine Jones, of Henfaes, Llanybydder. Llewellyn enlisted at Carmarthen into the S.W.B., and his Battalion formed part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. The Division were on the Somme in 1916, taking part in the Battle of Le Transloy, when Llewellyn was killed in action, aged 22, on the 21st October, 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing. Llewellyn is also listed on the Llanybydder Memorial.
Able Seaman Hariph Reginald Littlewood, 215102, H.M.S. Hampshire, Royal Navy. Hariph was born at Kensington, London. It is unsure at this time what his links are to Llanllwni, but he served aboard the Armoured Cruiser H.M.S. Hampshire. H.M.S. Hampshire fought during the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May/ 1st June 1916. Immediately after the battle, she was ordered to Scapa Flow, to take Lord Kitchener on a diplomatic mission to Russia. Setting course for Archangel on June 5th, 1916, she struck a mine off the Orkneys, sinking with the loss of all hands bar twelve. One of the unfortunate casualties, as well as Kitchener and his staff, was Hariph, who is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Lieutenant Duncan Ian Bowen Lloyd, 1st Battalion, 5th Gurkha Rifles. Duncan was the Son of Charles and Margaret M. Lloyd (nee Campbell), of Waunifor, Maesycrugiau. The 5th Gurkhas saw action at Gallipoli, losing over 120 men and officers within hours of landing on the Peninsula. After a brief spell of rebuilding at Mudros, they were sent again to Gallipoli during August 1915, and it was here that Duncan was Killed in Action, on the 14th August, 1915 aged 29. He had survived his brother Gwion (below) by just three days, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Captain Gwion Llewellyn Bowen Lloyd, 5th Battalion, Dorsetshire Regiment, Gwion was born at Maesycrugiau, the brother of Duncan (above), and the Son of the late Charles Lloyd, of Waunifor, Maesycrugiau, and of Margaret M. Lloyd, of 37, Hotham Rd., Putney, London. He served as a Captain in the 5th Dorsets, part of the 34th Brigade, 11th Division, who sailed from Liverpool on the 1st July, 1915 bound for the Mediterranean. On the 7th August the Division were landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli, just in time for some of the bloodiest fighting of the campaign. Gwon was Killed in Action just days after setting foot on Gallipoli, during the Battle of Sari Bair on the 11th August, 1915. He was 27 years old, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial.
Private Frederick Southgate, 320271, 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Frederick was born at Ipswich, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry. The Pembroke Yeomanry assembled at Tenby in August, 1914 as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, and in March 1916 moved to Egypt as part of the 1st Mounted Brigade, joining the Western Frontier Force. IN January, 1917 the Yeomanry Brigades were reorganised, and the Pembroke Yeomanry merged with the Glamorgan Yeomanry to form the 24th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, as part of the 231st Brigade, 74th Division. The Division fought in Palestine, and it was here during the Second Battle of Gaza that Frederick was Killed in Action on the 21st April, 1917. He is buried at Gaza War Cemetery.
John Nantgardia Thomas, Driver, 43259, 13th Division, Royal Field Artillery. John enlisted at Ammanford into the Royal Field Artillery, serving with the 13th Division. The Division came into existence during August, 1914 and concentrated at Blackdown, Hampshire. By mid June 1915 the Division had been ordered to the Mediterranean, arriving at Mudros on the 4th July. Between the 6th and 16th July the Division landed at Cape Helles, and then moved to Anzac Cove by early August, taking part in the Battles of Sari Bair, Russells Top and Hill 60, where John was wounded. He was brought back by ship to the main Hospital at Alexandria, where he Died of Wounds on the 14th November, 1915. He is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery.
Sapper William Thomas, WR/317268, Royal Engineers. William was born at Panteg, Llanllwni, the Son of William and Mary Thomas and the Husband of Elizabeth Thomas, of Cross Inn Fach, Llanfihangel-ar-arth. William enlisted into the Royal Engineers, serving in their 263rd Railway Company, which was raised at Longmoor and embarked to France on the 26th April, 1917. Once in France, William was assigned to a construction train, and his unit were deployed in laying new standard gauge track, often in very close proximity to the front. William Died in France on the 19th November, 1918 aged 25, probably as a result of the influenza epidemic. He is buried at Awoingt British Cemetery.
Llanybydder War Memorial
The War Memorial in Llanybydder is sited on a cross-roads in the centre of the Village, alongside the main road to Lampeter. Fifteen men and one woman are commemorated on the War Memorial, and the names seem to be in no particular order with WW1 and WW2 mixed. Below are the details of the men, plus any others with links to the Village, who are not remembered on the War Memorial. These men are marked as such. On the 1922 published Carmarthen County Roll of Honour, only A. G. Ridge has his Battalion listed. All of the other men are only listed with the rank of Private, and no Battalion. This makes research a bit more difficult than normal, due to the (as expected) number of Jones’s and Williams’s who served and died in the Great War. After much research, the following Roll of Honour for Llanybydder is as accurate as possible at the moment.
Isaac Davies, Blaenina, Aged 35. Cannot positively be identified, but is most probably Private Isaac Davies, 33756, 8th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Isaac Davies and the Husband of Sarah Davies, of Trehyfryd House, Llandilo Rd., Brynamman. Isaac enlisted at Brynamman into the 8th Welsh, part of the 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. The Division fought at Gallipoli, before moving to Mesopotamia, where Isaac took ill. He died in India of Sickness on the 22nd August, 1916 and is commemorated on the Kirkee Memorial.
Private Dan Henry Davies, Army Number 5985, served with the 5th Battalion of the (Kings Own) Liverpool Regiment. Dan was residing in Llanybydder prior to the time when he enlisted, at Blackpool. He was the son of Jonathon and Mary Davies, of Gwynfryn, Llanwenog, Llanybydder, and had been born around 1893. The 5th Kings Own were part of the 165th Brigade of the 55th (West Lancashire) Division, and were taking part in the 1916 Battle of Albert (the opening part of the Battle of the Somme) when Dan was killed in action on the 5th July, 1916, aged just 23. He is buried in Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt. Not on Memorial.
Joan Davies, Blaenpant, aged 19. Currently no more information.
Private John Clarke Davies, 334, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, was born in Llanybydder. He enlisted into the 1st Welsh Guards at Caerphilly, and the Battalion formed part of the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The Division were taking a leading part in the Battle of Passchendaele, when John was killed in action on the 12th October, 1917. Due to the terrible, muddy, conditions of the battlefields around Ypres, his body was lost, and so he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing. Not on Memorial.
Private Thomas Davies, 34490, 18th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, was born at Cribyn around 1897. He was the son of Evan and Jane Davies, of Frondeg, Llanwnen, Llanybydder. The 18th Welsh formed part of the 119th Brigade of the 40th (Bantam) Division, who distinguished themselves during the abortive Battle of Cambrai. It was during the height of the fighting for Cambrai that Thomas was killed in action, aged just 20, on the 23rd November, 1917. His body was lost in the ongoing fighting for the area, and so he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval. Not on Memorial.
Private Thomas Davies, G/40115, 12th Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment, lived at Penbryn Farm, Cribyn with his parents Charles and Mary Davies. Thomas originally enlisted into the Royal Fusiliers at Builth Wells, but later transferred to the 12th Middlesex, who formed part of the 54th Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. The Division fought in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and it was during the Battle of the Ancre Heights that Thomas was to be mortally wounded. He died on the 27th October, 1916, and was buried in Varennes Military Cemetery. He was aged 27. Not on Memorial.
Gunner William Davies, 161316, 26th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was born in Ystrad, Rhondda in 1888. He married Hannah and they lived at Llanvaughan Cottage, Llanybydder. William enlisted at Mountain Ash into the R.G.A., and his Battery formed part of the 77th Brigade, R.G.A. The war had turned a corner after the ‘Black Day of the German Army’ on the 8th August, 1918, and the Allied armies were steadily pushing the Germans back toward the Hindenburg Line. It was during this advance, which led to the final victory, that William Davies died, on the 30th September, 1918. He is buried in Glageon Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Not on Memorial.
Flight Sergeant William John Davies served in the Royal Air Force (E.P.D. Branch at Chingford). He was the son of David and Mary Davies of Llanybydder, and the husband of Margaret Hamilton Davies of 26, Station Road, Ystrad Mynach. William died at home on the 22nd October, 1920, probably of illness or injury related to his war service. He is buried in Ystrad Mynach Churchyard. He was aged 33. Not on Memorial.
Private William Thomas Davies, 57772, 24th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, was the son of David and Martha Davies of Llygadenwyn, Llanybydder. He originally enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but possibly transferred into the 24th Welsh in Palestine, after that Battalion had been created from the merging of the Pembrokeshire and Glamorgan Yeomanry Battalions. The 24th Welsh formed part of the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division, and were taking part in the Allied Advance in 1918, when William was killed in action, aged just 18, on the 7th September, 1918. He is buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, Maissemy.
Private William Davies, Military Medal, 5540, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was born in Ystradfodwg. He resided pre-war with his widowed mother, Hannah Davies, in Penybont Cottage, Llanwenog, Llanybydder. William enlisted at Tonypandy into the 2nd R.W.F., a regular army Battalion, who formed part of the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division (The Battalion that contained the likes of Robert Graves, Siegfried Sassoon and Frank Williams, D.C.M., M.M.). The Division was taking part in the 3rd Battle of the Scarpe when William was killed in action, aged 24, on the 21st May, 1917. William’s body was lost, and he is remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing. Not on Memorial.
Private Alfred Evans, 2754, Welsh Guards. Alfred was born at Llanycrwys on the 14th June, 1894, the son of Jenkin and Rachel Evans, of 14, Rock Terrace, Aberaeron. He was educated at Lampeter, and later worked as an Agricultural Labourer, before enlisting in the Welsh Guards on the 18th May, 1916. Alfred missed the Somme Battles of 1916, as he didn't arrive in France until December, 1916, but he arrived on the Western Front in time to join the 1st Battalion at St. Quentin. He was wounded just three months after arriving at the front, on the 12th March, 1917 and was avacuated home to the General Hospital at Denmark Hill, London after being gassed during the Battle of Cambrai in November/ December, 1917. He sadly died of the effects of gas poisoning on the 20th April, 1918 and is buried at Rhydybont Congregational Chapelyard, Llanybydder. Not on Memorial.
Private David Lewis Evans, 203572, 6th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, was born at Llanwennog. He was the son of Mr. & Mrs. Elizabeth Evans of North House, Llanybydder, and enlisted originally into the Royal Buckinghamshire Hussars, at New Court. The 6th Ox & Bucks formed part of the 60th Brigade of the 20th (Light) Division, and were taking part in the Battle of the Menin Road (part of the Battle of Passchendaele) when David was killed in action, aged 28, on the 20th September, 1917. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial to the missing, near Ypres. Not on Memorial.
Driver Evan Evans, T4/185456, 10th Reserve Park, Army Service Corps, was born at Llanarth. He was the son of Henry and Mary Evans, of Pontfanog, Cribyn, Llanybydder, and enlisted at Llanarth into the A.S.C. Evan was on the Somme during the winter Battle of the Ancre, when he died, aged 31, on the 30th November, 1916. He is buried in St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Not on Memorial.
Sergeant Evan William Evans, 290604, 124th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was born in Hull. He married Charlotte Evans, of Cledlyn Villa, Derfach, Llanybydder, and they moved back to Hull, where Evan enlisted. Evan was to die at home on the 15th January, 1918, and is buried in Hull Western Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Driver Thomas Davies Evans, 730701, 2nd Welsh Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, was born at Cardiff. He was the son of Thomas and Sarah Evans, of Green Meadow, Llanybydder, and the husband of Gwen Evans, of Glynteg, Whitchurch, Cardiff. Thomas sadly died of illness in Egypt, on the 6th November, 1918, and is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. He was aged 32.
Sapper Garfield I. Griffiths, 448351, 437th Field Company, Royal Engineers, was a Llanybydder man who died in the Palestinian Campaign. His Company formed part of the 53rd Welsh Division, who had served with distinction at Gallipoli, before moving to Egypt and Palestine. Garfield died aged 31, on the 16/11/1918, and is buried in Gaza War Cemetery.
Lance Corporal James Price Herbert, 40970, 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was born at Cribyn, and was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Herbert, of Tangaer Cribyn, Llanybydder. The 4th R.W.F. were the Pioneer Battalion of the 47th Division, and were taking part in the Battle of Amiens, during the great German Offensive of early 1918. James was killed in action, aged just 19, on the 16th August, 1918 during the Battle of Albert, and is buried in Heilly Station Cemetery, in the picturesque Somme Valley. Not on Memorial.
Private David Hughes, 19019, 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was born at Llanfihangel. He was the husband of Dinah Hughes, of Tenby Cottage, Llanybydder. The 5th S.W.B. formed part of the 58th Brigade of the 19th (Western) Division, and were tasked with the capture of Ovillers during the opening stage of the Battle of the Somme. David was seriously wounded during the Battle, and was progressively worked home, through the various Casualty Clearing Stations and Base Hospitals in France. He died of his wounds at home, on the 16th September, 1916, aged 37, and is buried in Aberduar Welsh Baptist Chapelyard.
Private David Aaron Jones, 320357, 24th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, was a Llanybydder man who joined the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry at Carmarthen. In Palestine, the Pembroke Yeomanry were amalgamated with the Glamorgan Yeomanry to form the 24th Battalion (Pembroke & Glamorgan Yeomanry) of the Welsh Regiment, who formed part of the 231st Brigade, of the 74th Yeomanry Division. The Battalion were in the midst of the Third Battle of Gaza when David was killed in action, on the 31st October, 1917. He is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Driver David Ronald Llewellyn Jones, T/198182, Royal Army Service Corps, was born in Llanybydder, the Son of Llewelyn and Mary Hannah Jones, of Llanybyther Carmarthenshire and the husband of Rachel Anne Jones of Llanybyther. David had landed in France at some time after D-Day, and Died on the 4th April, 1945 aged 33. He is buried at Lille Southern Cemetery.
Private Evan Tom Jones, 43634, 2/8th Battalion, the Worcester Regiment, was born in Llanwennog. He was the son of David and Mary Jones, of Lletyrwenol, Cwrtnewydd, Llanybydder. Evan enlisted at Narberth into the Worcester’s, who formed part of the 182nd Brigade, 61st Division. The Division were taking part in the Final Advance in Artois, when Evan sadly died, aged 19, on the 5th October, 1918. He is buried in Leuze Communal Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Private John Jones, 27774, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was born in Llanybydder. He enlisted at Seven Sisters, originally into the Devonshire Regiment, and upon transfer to the 4th S.W.B., his Battalion formed part of 40th Brigade, 13th Division. The Division were fighting in Persia, taking part in the Battled of the Hai Salient, Dahra Bend, and Shumran Peninsula, when John was killed in action, on the 15th February, 1917. He is remembered on the Basra Memorial, Iraq.
Private Llewellyn Jones, 39592, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was the son of David and Catherine Jones, of Henfaes, Llanybydder. Llewellyn enlisted at Carmarthen into the S.W.B., and his Battalion formed part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. The Division were on the Somme in 1916, taking part in the Battle of Le Transloy, when Llewellyn was killed in action, aged 22, on the 21st October, 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
Private Rees Jones, 203373, 11th Battalion (Cardiff Pals), the Welsh Regiment, was born in Llanybydder. He enlisted at Gwaen-Cae-Gurwen into the 11th Welsh, and went with the Battalion to Salonika. Here he was transferred into the 67th Battalion Machine Gun Corps, and it was with these, during the Battle of Doiran, 1918, that Rees died, on the 6th October, 1918. He is buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria. (Possible J. R. Jones on Memorial).
Private Thomas Isaac Jones, 200957, 54th Battalion, Tank Corps, was born in Denbighshire, the son of Isaac and A.J. Jones of Wrexham. This is the only man who fits the name and age on the memorial. He enlisted into the Tank Corps at Wrexham, and was killed in action, aged 30, during the German Spring Offensive, on the 16/4/1918. He is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial.
Second Lieutenant Morris James Marsden, 214th Company, Machine Gun Corps, was the son of Mr. & Mrs. John Marsden, of Maes-y-Clere, Cribyn, Llanybydder. His Company formed part of the 58th (London) Division, and were taking part in the Battle of the Menin Road, when Morris was killed in action, aged 22, on the 20th September, 1917. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Not on Memorial.
Gunner Rhys Rees, 61241, 130th Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, was the son of Mary Jenkins, of Emlyn House, Cribyn, Llanybydder. His Battery were attached to the Fourth Army, and were caught up in German Spring attack in 1918. The Fourth Army suffered terribly in this onslaught, and Rhys was one of those who died of wounds received in this terrible part of the war, aged 33, on the 13th April, 1918. He is buried in Namps-Au-Val British Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Rifleman William Lloyd Rees, 6916543, 7th Battalion, Rifle Brigade, was the son of David and Mary Rees of Myrddin House, Llanybydder. The Battalion formed part of the 61st Infantry Brigade, 6th Armoured Division, 8th Army, and fought at the Liri Valley, Arezzo, advance to Florence, on the Gothic Line and the Argenta Gap.William was taking part in the fighting on the Italian Front when he was Killed in Action, aged 27 Years old, on the 10th June, 1944.
Sapper A. G. Ridge, Royal Engineers. The Carmarthen Roll of Honour of 1922 has this man listed at from Llanybydder. Nothing can be found of him, and he isn't listed on the War Memorial, so presently he cannot be identified.
Gunner Benjamin James Rodney, 30002, ‘A’ Battery, 77th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, was born at Prendergast, Haverfordwest. He worked in the Great Western Railway Station at Llanybydder, and enlisted at Preston. The Brigade were attached to the 16th (Irish) Division, and took part in the famous Battle of Messines, where the Irish and Australians took the Ridge from the Germans. Benjamin died of wounds, aged 23, on the 29th July, 1917, and is buried in Mendinghem Military Cemetery.
Sergeant James Thomas, 15052, 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, was born in Llanwenog. He was the son of Evan and Hannah Thomas, of Pandy Cottage, Rhuddlan, Llanybydder. James’ Battalion were part of the elite 1st Guards Brigade, Guards Division, and fought on the Somme, and it was during the Battle of Flers-Courcelette that James Died of wounds, aged 26, on the 16th September, 1916. He was buried at St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens.
Private Thomas Arthur Thomas, 30557, 2/5th Lancashire Fusiliers, is most probably the son of Thomas Thomas, later of 23, Bradewell St., Kirkdale, Liverpool. The Memorial shows him as being of Y Fro, Llanybydder. Thomas enlisted at Liverpool, firstly into the Liverpool Regiment, later transferring into the Lancashire Fusiliers, part of the 164th Brigade, 55thy Division. The Division fought on the Somme, then moved to Ypres to take part in the Assault on Pilckem, where Thomas was wounded. He Died of Wounds on the 8th July, 1917 aged 19, and is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.
Private John T. Walters, 30568, 11th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was born at Llanfihangel, the son of William and Anne Walters. He was the husband of Margaretta Walters, of Prospect House, Llanybydder. The 11th S.W.B. formed part of ‘Lloyd George’s Army’- the 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division fought at Mametz Wood and took Pilckem Ridge at Ypres, before playing a large part in the battles of 1918. It was during the German Spring Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) that the 38th Division were based in the Armentieres area. It was here that John was killed in action, aged 40, on the 11th April, 1918. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery Extension.
Daniel Williams, Neaudd Cottage, Age 43. Cannot positively be identified, but is almost certainly Gunner Daniel Thomas Williams, 281268, 26th Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Daniel was born in Llangyfelach, and married to Annie. He enlisted at Mountain Ash into the Royal Garrison Artillery,with whom he was Killed in Action on the 4th October, 1917 during the Battle of Passchendaele. The CWGC list him as being 44 years old. This is the only Daniel Williams that comes anywhere near matching the Memorial Details. He is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery.
