Abergwili War Memorial

The Great War, 1914-1918

Frank Collier, Private, 944, 1/4^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Frank was the brother of Mrs. M. I. Hall, of 26, Percival St., Oldham. Prior to the outbreak of war he resided in Abergwili, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 4^th (Territorial) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. When War was declared in August, 1914, the Territorials were called up, and Frank joined his Battalion at Carmarthen, with the Battalion forming part of the South Wales Brigade. On the 17^th April 1915 the Battalion were attached to the 159^th Brigade, 53^rd (Welsh) Division, and in July that year sailed with the Division to Alexandria, en route to Gallipoli. On the 9^th August, 1915 the Division landed on Gallipoli, at saw action almost straight away. Frank was Killed in Action the following day, on the 10^th August, 1915. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial. Not on Memorial.

 

Robert George Duncan Dempster, Private, 227181, 2/1^st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment. Robert was born at Fishguard, the Son of Robert and the late Margaret Dempster, of Wiston, Pembrokeshire. He resided at Haverfordwest, and enlisted at Newport into the 2/1^st Battalion, the Monmouth Regiment. It is not known at present what Robert’s ties were with Abergwili, but he is remembered on the Village War Memorial. The 2/1^st Battalion were formed at Newport on the 20^th February, 1915 as part of the Welsh Border Brigade, Welsh Division. On the 19^th April they moved to form part of the 205^th Brigade, 68^th Division, and remained on Home Service until the Division was disbanded on the 31^st March, 1918. The men of the 2/1^st Monmouths must have been sent to reinforce the 1/1^st Battalion in France, who were the Pioneer Battalion to the 46^th Division. By this time, the German Spring Offensive was at its height, and the Allied armies were suffering a terrible onslaught, with many Battalions being almost wiped out. The War turned in the Allies favour on the 8^th August, 1918- the ‘Black Day of the German Army’, when Australian troops won a decisive battle at Villers Brettoneux, and from that day on the Allies held the upper hand. The 46^th Division pushed the Germans back in Flanders, then moved southwards, forcing a crossing over the formidable Hindenburg Line at Riqueval Bridge, and pushing on toward Cambrai. Robert was Killed in Action aged 36 on the 10^th October, 1918 during the Pursuit to the Selle. He is buried in Tincourt New British Cemetery.

 

Mary Evans, Nurse, Edmondton Military Hospital. The War Memorial at Abergwili contains the name of Nurse Mary Evans, Edmonton Military Hospital, October, 1918. Presently no record can be found of this lady.

Arthur Fallon, Private, 13103, 8^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Arthur was born at Worcester. Records show that he resided at Abergwili prior to the War, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 8^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, part of 40^th Brigade, 13^th Division. During January, 1915 the Battalion were made the Pioneer Battalion to the Division, and on the 15^th June, 1915 sailed with the Division to Mudros. On the 5^th August, 1915 the Division landed at Anzac, Gallipoli, where they were to see some of the worst fighting on the Peninsula. During December, the Division were evacuated, arriving in Egypt in January, 1916. They were sent to Mesopotamia to attempt to relieve the besieged town of Kut, which is where Arthur sadly Died of Sickness on the 29^th June, 1916. He is buried at Amara War Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

David Thomas Harries, Private, 39828, 2^nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. David was born in Abergwili, enlisting at Carmarthen into the 2^nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, part of the 87^th Brigade, 29^th Division. The Battalion were at Tientsin, China at the outbreak of War, and fought the Germans at Tsingtau. On the 4^th December 1914 they embarked at Hong Kong, landing at Plymouth on the 12^th January, 1915. The Division landed on Gallipoli on the 25^th April, 1915, remaining there until evacuating to Egypt on the 11^th January, 1916. On the 15^th March, 1916 the Division arrived at Marseilles, and were to remain in France for the rest of the war. They saw their first action in France during the Battle of the Somme, and it was on the Somme, during the Battle of Le Transloy, that David was Killed in Action, on the 20^th October, 1916. His body was lost on the battlefield, and so he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.

 

Daniel Howell, Private, 113, 14^th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Daniel was the Son of Margaret Howell, of 3, Glanyaefon Terrace, Johnstown, Carmarthen. He enlisted at Birmingham into the 14^th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, part of the 13^th Brigade, 5^th Division. The Battalion were stationed in the Arras area during the beginning of 1916, which is where Daniel was sadly Killed in Action, aged 21, on the 25^th March, 1916. He is buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez.

 

Walter James, Private, 203066, 2/4^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. Walter was born in Abergwili, the Son of Thomas and Rachel James, later of "Wauniags," Picton Place, Carmarthen. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 2/4^th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, part of the 172^nd Brigade, 57^th Division. The Division landed at Boulogne on the 6^th February, 1917, moving to the ‘Nursery Sector’ around Armentieres. Sadly Walter was wounded at Armentieres, and Died of Wounds on the 19^th April, 1917 aged 32. He is buried at Hazebrouck Communal Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

 

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Daniel James Jones, Gunner, 79521, 1^st Battery, Machine Gun Corps (Motors). Daniel was born in Abergwili, the Son of Daniel Jones, of 29, High St., Abergwili. He enlisted at London, and was transferred into the 1^st Battery, Machine Gun Corps (Motors), the predecessor to the Tank Corps. Daniel’s Battalion were taking part in the Flanders Advance of 1918 when he was Killed in Action, aged just 19, on the 26^th September, 1918. He is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery.

 

Herbert Jones, Sapper, 96505, 171^st Tunneling Company, Royal Engineers. Herbert was the Son of John T. Jones, of Llanarthney, Carmarthen, and the Husband of Edith F. Jones, of 4, Maryland Rd., Wood Green, London. Prior to the war, he resided at Camden Town, London, enlisting there into the 171^st Tunneling Company, Royal Engineers. Upon arriving in France, the Company were sent to the Hill 70 and the Bluff area near Ypres, where they began one of the most terrifying campaigns of the Great War, the war underground. The tunnelers dug a network of dugouts, subways and mines around the Ypres Salient, and the men manning the trenches above grew to fear the sound of digging beneath their feet, after the explosion of several mines in the sector. Herbert was Killed in Action at Ypres, aged 31, on the 2^nd June, 1915, quite possible underground whilst working on a mine. He is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

 

William Lewis, Private, 267153, 1/5^th Battalion, Notts & Derby Regiment (Sherwood Foresters). William was born at Abergwili, the Son of John and Anne Lewis, later of Pentrefynis Farm, Peniel, Carmarthen. He enlisted at Hounslow into the 1/5^th Battalion, Notts & Derby Regiment, part of the 139^th Brigade, 46^th Division, and the Battalion arrived in France on the 25^th February, 1915. The 46^th Division fought during the diversionary attack at Gommecourt on the Somme, and later distinguished themselves with being the first Division to break the Hindenburg Line, taking the Riqueval Bridge over the St. Quentin Canal. William was Killed in Action during the fighting for the canal, on the 3^rd October, 1918, aged 27. He is buried at Ramicourt British Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

 

Thomas Lloyd, Private, 63126, 11^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Thomas was the Son of Rachel Lloyd, of 58, High St., Abergwili, Carmarthen. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 11^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, part of the 67^th Brigade, 22^nd Division. The Division spent just a month in France, before embarking at Marseilles on the 30^th October, 1915 bound for Salonika, arriving on the 8^th November. They remained at Salonika throughout the war, where Thomas was wounded in action during the Battle of Doiran. He Died of Wounds on the 21^st September, 1918 aged just 21, and is buried at Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston

 

David Idwal Morris, Private, 57145, 16^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. David was born in Abergwili, the Son of Jared and Elizabeth Morris, of Capel Dewi Issaf, Carmarthen. He enlisted at Nantgaredig into the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 5119. David transferred into the 16^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 115^th Brigade, 38^th Welsh Division, which moved to France during December, 1915. The Division saw their first action at Armentieres, but were moved south to the Somme sector, tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. After suffering severe losses in capturing the strongly defended wood, the Division were not used again for almost a year, moving to Ypres to rebuild. At Ypres they took part in the Battle of Passchendaele, capturing the Pilckem Ridge and Langemarck. David was Killed in Action at Ypres, on the 27^th August, 1917 aged just 21. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. Not on Memorial.

 

Stephen David Morris, Private, 52753, 11^th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Stephen was born at Abergorlech, the Son of Richard and Ann Morris, later of the Black Ox, Abergwili. He enlisted at Porth into the Welsh Regiment, service number 45356, but later transferred into the 11^th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, part of the 7^th Brigade, 25^th Division. The Division landed in France on the 26^th September, 1915, and its first recorded action was at Vimy Ridge during May, 1916. After a short period of rest at St. Pol, the Division moved to the Somme, fighting around the Thiepval area, and then at the Battles of Bazentin, Pozieres and at the Ancre. On the 31^st October, 1916 the Division moved to the Plougsteert Sector, and took part in the opening of the Passchendaele Offensive, the Battle of Messines. Stephen was wounded at Messines, and sadly Died of Wounds on the 8^th June, 1917 aged 26. He is buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension.

William Owen, Private, 240782, 1/5^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment.  William was born at Abergwili, the Son of Elizabeth Owens, later of Penrhiol, Capel Gwyn, White Mill. He enlisted at Pontypridd into the 1/5^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, part of the 159^th Brigade, 53^rd (Welsh) Division. On the 19^th July, 1915 they sailed from Devonport bound for Mudros, and then landed at Suvla Bay, Gallipoli on the 9^th August, 1915. The Division suffered terribly at Gallipoli, losing a lot of men during the Winter blizzards, and on the 11^th December were evacuated to Egypt. From here, they fought in the Palestinian Campaign, capturing Gaza, before marching on to Jerusalem, which was taken on the 7^th December, 1917. William must have been evacuated from Palestine to the Hadra Hospital at Alexandria. He Died of Sickness on the 9^th December, and is buried at Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

Dan Ivor Price, Private, 40048, 1^st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Dan was born at Abergwili, the Son of David and Margaret Elizabeth Price, later of Chayel House, Peniel, Carmarthen. He was educated at Carmarthen Grammar School. Dan enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1^st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of the 22^nd Brigade, 7^th Division. On the 7^th October, 1914 the Division landed at Zeebrugge, but were too late to prevent the city falling, and moved to Ypres, where they took part in the First Battle of Ypres, saving the City from the Germans. They fought at Neuve Chappelle, Loos and on the Somme, capturing Mametz Village, before spending the Winter of 1916/17 on the Somme, at the Ancre. Dan was Killed in Action on the Ancre aged just 20, on the 26^th February, 1917. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Not on Memorial.

 

W. M. Rees, Private, Australian Forces. The War Memorial at Abergwili shows that Private Rees died during August, 1917. At present no records can be found of him.

Edward Rockingham, Private, 320155, 24^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Edward was born at Norwood, Surrey, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, Army Number 2237. The Pembroke Yeomanry formed part of the 231^st Brigade, 74^th Yeomanry Division, and fought in Palestine as a dismounted infantry unit. Early in 1918 when the tide of war was turning in favour of the Germans, with big breakthroughs on the Somme and in Flanders, the 74^th Division was sent back to France, landing during May, 1918. They were rushed to Flanders, where they helped stem the German advance, before moving south, pushing against the Hindenburg Line around the Epehy area. The records of Soldiers Died in the Great War show that Edward was Killed in Action in France & Flanders on the 21^st September, 1918, during the Battle of Epehy. The Abergwili Memorial shows October 1918. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission has no record of Edward, neither does the Medal Index Cards.

Dyson Thomas, Private, 2488, 1/4^th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Dyson was born in Abergwili, the Son of Herbert and Elizabeth Ann Thomas, later of Milner House, Luddendenfoot, Yorks. He enlisted at Halifax into the 1/4^th West Riding Regiment, part of the 147^th Brigade, 49^th Division. On the 14^th April, 1915 the Battalion landed at Boulogne, moving to the Ypres Sector. Dyson Died at Ypres on the 13^th November, 1915 aged just 21. He is buried at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

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Herbert Gordon Thomas, Second Lieutenant, 3^rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Herbert was born at Llandovery, the Son of the Rev. T. Thomas and M. A. Thomas, of The Vicarage, Abergwili. He was commissioned into the 3^rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was a Home Service Battalion. Herbert must have been seconded into another Battalion, as in July 1916 he was in France, fighting during the Battle of the Ancre, when he was Killed in Action, aged 31, on the 13^th November, 1916. He is buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps.

 

John Nantgardia Thomas, Driver, 43259, 13^th Division, Royal Field Artillery. John enlisted at Ammanford into the Royal Field Artillery, serving with the 13^th 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 14^th November, 1915. He is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery.

Thomas Thomas, Private, 238185, 2/4^th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Thomas was the Son of David Thomas, of Rhydlydan, Nantgaredig. He enlisted at Nantgaredig into the West Yorkshire Regiment, then transferred into the Welsh Regiment. He transferred again, into the 2/4^th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, part of the 186^th Brigade, 62^nd Division. During January, 1917 the Division moved to France, seeing action on the Ancre, before following the German retreat in 1917 to the Hindenburg Line. They took part in the Battle of Bullecourt during May, 1917, and also the Battle of Cambrai during November and December that year. In early 1918 the Division were at Bucquoy near Arras when the German Spring Offensive was launched. The Division made a heroic stand, surviving ten days of the most terrible fighting they had seen, and were relieved at the end of March. In May, the German attacked French positions near Reims, and a British Corps, including the 62^nd Division, were rushed south to plug the gaps in the line there. After the line around Reims had been stabilised, the Division moved north to the old Somme area, taking the village of Mory on the 25^th August, and pushing forward toward Vraucourt and Vaulx-Vraucourt. Thomas was Killed in Action during this advance, on the 2^nd September, 1918 aged only 22. He is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery. As canm be seen from the photograph below, the CWGC have made an error with the carving of Thomas's initial, placing J. Thomas on his headstone.

 

Joseph Longstaff Watson, Lieutenant, 16^th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. Joseph was born on May 4^th, 1891 at Banchory, Scotland, and his Aunt, Mrs. Owen lived at Abergwili Palace. Joseph enlisted at Victoria, British Columbia, on the 9^th February, 1915, into the 16^th Battalion (Manitoba), Canadian Infantry, part of the 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Canadian Division. Joseph would have been in France by June 1915, and probably fought at Givenchy that month. In 1916, the 1^st Canadian Division fought at Mount Sorrel, south of Ypres, before being brought south to the Somme, fighting at Flers-Courcelette, Thiepval, Le Transloy and the Ancre Heights. In 1917 they played a big part in the famous capture of Vimy Ridge, and the Battles of Arleux and the Scarpe, before moving north again, to take part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele from October 26^th onwards. Joseph was Killed in Action, aged 26, on the 8^th November, 1917. He is buried at Tyne Cot Military Cemetery.

 

John Williams, Driver, T4/173334, Army Service Corps. John was the Son of John and Margaret Williams, of White Mill, Abergwili. Not much is known of his wartime service, but he served in the Army Service Corps, and Died at home of pneumonia, on the 21^st December, 1918 aged 38. He is buried at Pyle (North Cornelly) Calvinistic Methodist Chapelyard.

The Inter War Years

Parcell Rees Bowen, M.C., D.F.C. & Bar, Captain, 5^th Welsh and Royal Air Force. Parcell Rees Bowen was the 4^th son of Mr. & Mrs. Josiah Bowen, of Pantyglien, Abergwili. Parcell was a student at St. David’s College, Lampeter when he enlisted at the outbreak of War, becoming a Private in the Army Service Corps. He spent the Winter of 1914/15 in France, but in February, 1915 was sent home with badly frostbitten feet. In July that year, he was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant into the 5^th Welsh, and he embarked with the Battalion for Gallipoli, where the Battalion formed part of the 159^th Brigade, 53^rd (Welsh) Division. The Division fought at Gallipoli until the evacuation in December, suffering badly from casualties, forcing the 5^th Welsh to merge with the 4^th Welsh for a short period. After the evacuation, Parcell fought in the Palestinian Campaign, where he then transferred into the Machine Gun Corps, and it was with them that he was awarded his first decoration, the Military Cross. Parcell then transferred into the Royal Air Force on the 10^th January, 1918, becoming an Observer. He gained his second decoration during the air war in Egypt, the Distinguished Service Order. After the Armistice on 11^th November, 1918, Parcell served in Salonika and Mesopotamia, before being placed on the unemployed list. Again though, Parcell wanted more adventure, and so he volunteered for further service with the R.A.F. in their private war in North Russia, fighting for the White Russians. On the 17^th July, 1919 Parcell arrived at Archangel, where he met his old compatriot from Carmarthen, Ira Taffy Jones.

In Ira Jones’s book, ‘An Airfighter’s Scrapbook’, Ira writes glowing reports of Parcell, being glad to see another Welsh Warrior in his Squadron. A long passage from the book tells of an incident that earned Parcell a Bar to his Distinguished Flying Cross. In short, Parcell and his Pilot were carrying out a bombing mission when they came across a superior force of Russian Aeroplanes. Being the men they were, they agreed to attack the Russians, who dispersed in chaos when these two madmen plunged into their midst. The Russians took flight, but one fired a burst of rounds at the British pair, and Parcell and his Pilot were hit. The Pilot fainted at the controls of the aeroplane, and Parcell only had one good arm, but he leaned over his colleague and piloted the aeroplane back nearly 100 miles to base. Parcell was sent home wounded, and again placed on the Unemployed List, so volunteered for a Commission into the Lithuanian Army, with whom he served until July, 1920 when he accepted a Government Post. This post was Top Secret, and involved him going undercover in Dublin, at the time when the troubles were at a peak. Due to the secrecy of the work being carried out in Ireland, nothing much is known about the operations Parcell was engaged in, but on ‘Bloody Sunday’, November 21^st, 1920, 14 British Agents were murdered in Dublin by the I.R.A., led by Michael Collins.

The British Army reprised the killings by storming into a Gaelic Football match at Croke Park in Dublin, and fired into the crowd to avenge their murdered colleagues, inflicting many casualties, and 14 men and children dead. Later that night, three IRA prisoners suspiciously died in captivity in Dublin Castle, and the situation swiftly escalated. The Irish Public quickly turned against the Crown, and Peace negotiations ensued, resulting in a truce being declared on July 11^th, 1921. For some reason though, this did not prevent the assassination of the undercover Captain Parcell Bowen. Parcell had been lodging with a fellow Officer at 28, Upper Fitzwilliam Street, Dublin, and the two had spent the afternoon of the 27th October, 1921 watching a football match at Donnybrook. After the match, Parcell could not be found, until his lifeless body was discovered, lying face down, at Herrion Street. His body was brought back to Carmarthen, where Captain Parcell Rees Bowen was buried with full military honours in Abergwili Churchyard.

 

World War Two, 1939-1945

Frank Ernest Burtenshaw, Second Radio Officer, Merchant Navy. Frank served aboard the R.F.A. Gray Ranger. The Ranger Class were the first class of tanker built for the Royal Fleet Auxiliary since the First World War. The Gray Ranger measured 349ft in length, 47ft in breadth and 20ft in draught. The funnel was positioned on the port side and it was fitted with a derrick at the beam to facilitate fuelling at sea. The Gray Ranger could carry 2,600 tons of fuel oil, 550 tons of diesel and 90 tons of petrol. On the 2^nd September, 1943, Convoy PQ.18 departed from Loch Ewe, bound for Archangel in Russia. Among the Convoy was the R.F.A. Grey Ranger. After unloading their cargoes at Archangel, the Convoy (renumbered Q.P.14) sailed on the 13^th September bound for Loch Ewe. Nine days into the voyage, almost safely in Home waters, the Gray Ranger was torpedoed by the German Type VIIC U-Boat U-435. She suffered irreparable damage to her engines, so was scuttled and sank in the North Sea. Frank was killed in the explosion, aged just 19, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

John Myrddin Evans, Lieutenant, Royal Artillery. Not much is known of John at present, except that he died on the 3^rd October, 1945. He most probably lost his life at sea, and He is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey.

C. M. Henton, Aircraftwoman, Womens Auxiliary Airforce. Nothing can be found about C. M. Henton at present, but the Memorial states that she died during December, 1941.

D. H. Jones, Corporal, Royal Air Force Police. Nothing is yet known about D. H. Jones at present, but the Memorial states that he died during May, 1948. This would have been too late for him to be recorded as an official casualty of the Second World War by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, and as service papers for World War Two haven't been released into the public domain, he is presently impossible to trace.

Desmond Lewis, Sergeant, 1414771, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Desmond was the Son of W. T. and Margaret Lewis, of Carmarthen. He served in 429 (Royal Canadian Air Force) Squadron, R.A.F.V.R., which flew the Vickers Wellington Mark X based at East Moor. Desmond was just 17 when he was Killed in Action on a bombing raid, on the 27^th January, 1943. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

John Chapman Oliver, Rifleman, 7012565, 1^st Airborne Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles. John was the Son of John and Sarah Oliver, and the husband of Francis Nest Oliver, of Abergwili. He served in the 1st Battalion, Royal Ulster Rifles, which had been stationed in India at the outbreak of hostilities, but returned in time to help defend Dunkirk and evacuate the British Expeditionary Force. The Battalion became a part of the 31st Independent Infantry Brigade billeted in Wales, where they assumed a coastal defence role. Over the coming months the Brigade moved to various locations in the East Anglia, London, and Kent areas, before returning to Wales in February 1941 for a more long-term posting in the Black Mountains. It was here, until the end of the year, that the Brigade trained extensively in mountain warfare, travelling light and fast with pack-transport; hundreds of horses and mules. Such specialist activities had considerable repercussions for the future of the Brigade. At this stage in the war, the British Airborne Forces consisted of just the 1st Parachute Brigade, however in September 1941, the War Office decided that a Brigade of glider infantry should be raised to compliment them. The 31st Infantry Brigade was selected for this task and accordingly, on the 10th October of that year, it was renamed the 1st Airlanding Brigade. In addition to the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles, this experimental formation consisted of a further three battalions; the 1st Border, 2nd Oxford and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, and 2nd South Staffordshires. Gliders were seen as a necessary method of supporting airborne operations, as they were able to carry additional infantry to reinforce the parachute brigades, and also heavy equipment, such as Jeeps and anti-tank guns. It was this factor, and the subsequent formation of the 1st Airborne Division, that made it possible for the role of the British Airborne Forces to advance beyond the small-scale and infrequent commando raids that had been previously envisaged. Nevertheless, twenty months of training passed before the Brigade was earmarked for an action. The 1st Parachute Brigade had been detached since late 1942 and had been involved in heavy fighting in North Africa, and with hostilities in that continent at an end, the 1st Airlanding Brigade was called to join them in May 1943 to prepare for an invasion of Sicily. The 1st Royal Ulster Rifles and 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, however, did not accompany the Brigade, but were instead detached to form the experienced nucleus of the 6th Airlanding Brigade. As a part of the newly raised 6th Airborne Division, their task was now to prepare themselves for the invasion of France. It had originally been planned that the 6th Airlanding Brigade would land with the first wave of Airborne troops to secure the Ranville and Bénouville Bridges, however the discovery of considerable anti-glider defences on their intended Landing Zone resulted in their arrival being delayed until the evening of D-Day. When the 1st Royal Ulster Rifles landed at LZ-N, near Ranville, they were greeted by German mortaring and a degree of small-arms fire. These, however, did very little to hinder the forming up of the Battalion and only one casualty was sustained. Because it was unclear as to what the situation would be in Normandy when the Second Lift arrived, the Ulstermen did not receive definite orders of their objectives until an hour after landing. Their task was to help enlarge the southern sector of the bridgehead by capturing the villages of Longueval and Sainte Honorine. The first of these was taken without incident, however the attempt to move on the second was dogged by communications difficulties and determined German resistance. The Battalion was forced to retire to Longueval, having suffered in excess of one hundred casualties, the overwhelming majority of which were either wounded or missing. The Ulstermen remained in this area for the following week and endured a great deal of shelling and numerous harassing attacks throughout, although no truly serious attempt was made to dislodge them. John was Killed in Action during the succesful capture of Longueval on the 7^th June, 1944, just a day after D-Day. John was 38 years old, and is buried at Ranville War Cemetery.

 

 

Memorial to the 1st Bttn R.U.R. at Longueval, France