Nantgaredig War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Guardsman Thomas Benjamin Daniel-1933, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. Thomas was born in Llanegwad in 1894. He joined the 1st Battalion of the newly formed Welsh Guards, who formed part of the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The Guards Division fought on the Western Front for the entirety of the Great War, and it was during their part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette (Part of the Battle of the Somme), that Guardsman Thomas Daniel was killed in action aged just 22, on the 10th September, 1916. Thomas lies in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. His brother D. J. Daniel, of Nantgaredig, survived him.
Private Jonny C. Davies-14895, 11th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. Jonny was born in Nantgaredig around 1892. He was the Son of William and Jane Davies, of "Pantglas," Cothi Bridge. He joined the Welsh Regiment at Cardiff, where he was enrolled into the 11th Battalion (Cardiff Pals). The 11th Welsh formed part of the 67th Brigade, 22nd Division, and fought at Gallipoli & Salonika. It was during the Salonika Campaign, at the Battle of Doiran, that Jonny was mortally wounded. He died of his wounds on the 25th September, 1918, and lies in Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston. He was aged 26, and had won the Military Medal, for Bravery in the Field. Not on Memorial.
Private Benjamin Evans-13461, 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Benjamin was born around 1894 in Carmarthen, to Benjamin & Bridget Evans. The family later lived at Tynewydd, Nantgaredig. Benjamin enlisted at Newport Gwent, into the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who formed part of the 3rd Brigade of the 1st Division. The 1st Division had fought in France & Flanders since the beginning of the Great War, and in early 1918 were in Flanders. On the 21st March 1918, the Germans launched Operation Michael-Kaiserschlacht. This was their last chance to win the war before the growing American Expeditionary Force could be lined up against them. In early April 1918, the 1st SWB were helping in a desperate defence of the Allied Lines, when Benjamin was wounded. He was taken to the massive Military Hospital at Etaples, where he succumbed to his wounds on the 13th April, 1918. He was aged just 24. Benjamin lies in Etaples Military Cemetery.
Private Isaac Evans-125761, 6th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps. Isaac Evans was born in Cilcennin, and lived in Nantgaredig. He enlisted in Carmarthen into the Monmouth Regiment, service number 47023. Isaac would have been a machine gunner, and when the Machine Gun Corps were formed in 1916, he transferred into the 6th Battalion, MGC, who formed part of the 6th Division. Isaac died of wounds on the 20th July, 1918, and lies in Le Quesnoy Communal Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Private Reginald Charles Wilfred Evans-68854, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Reginald was born in Nantgaredig. He enlisted into the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 4599. Reginald was probably wounded early in the war, and then transferred to the 2nd Battalion, RWF. The 2nd RWF formed part of the 115th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division, and they fought on the Somme (at Mametz Wood), and at Passchendaele, taking the Pilckem Ridge from the Prussian Guards. Reginald was fighting with the Division during their attacks on the Hindenburg Line when he was wounded. He sadly died on the 3rd December 1918, and now lies in Etaples Military Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Lieutenant Gwyn Arthur Griffiths-35th Squadron, Royal Air Force. Gwyn was born in Golden Grove, about 1893, to John & Elizabeth Griffiths of Typpica. He enlisted into the 15th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. From the 15th Welsh, Gwyn was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps, and it was with the 35th Squadron that he was killed in action on the 2nd June, 1917. Gwyn lies in Mons-En-Chaussee Communal Cemetery. He was aged just 24. Not on Memorial.
Private John Jones-320234, 24th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. John was born in Llanfihangel Rhosycorn about 1891, to Thomas & Elizabeth Jones. The family moved to Sunny Cottage, Gwernogle. John enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, with the service number 4294. The Pembroke Yeomanry fought in Palestine, and were merged with the Glamorgan Yeomanry to form the 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The 24th Welsh formed part of the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division were part of General Allenby’s army, who triumphantly took Jerusalem off the Turks. It was during the Battle of Gaza that John was wounded. He died of his wounds on the 6th November, 1917, and lies in Beersheba War Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Private David Idwal Morris-57146, 16th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. David was born around 1896 in Abergwili, to Jared & Elizabeth Morris. The family later lived at Capel Dewi Isaf. David enlisted at Nantgaredig into the Pembroke Yeomanry, service number 5119. He later transferred to the 16th (Cardiff City) Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, who formed part of the 115th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division. He was fighting with the Battalion during the Battle of Passchendaele when he was killed in action, on the 27th August, 1917. His body was lost in the terrible muddy battlefield, and so he is remembered on Panel 93-94 of the massive Tyne Cot Memorial to the Missing.
Rifleman Lloyd Owen Lloyd Price-R/5798, 2nd Battalion KRRC. Lloyd was born around 1885 in Abergele, North Wales, to Meredydd & F. M. Lloyd Price. His family moved to Bryncothi. When war broke out, Lloyd was in Rhodesia. He returned to Britain to enlist, and joined the 2nd Battalion Kings Royal Rifle Corps in London. The 2nd KRRC formed part of the 2nd Brigade, 1st Division, and fought in France from the outset of war. They fought the tremendous rearguard actions of Mons, Le Cateau and ended up on the Marne, where the Germans were held firm. The Division then moved North to the Loos- Armentieres Sector, where they took part in the First Battle of Loos in early 1915. It was during this horrific series of Battles that Lloyd lost his life. He was killed in action on the 10th January, 1915, and his body was lost. He is remembered on the beautiful Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg L'Avoue. Not on Memorial.
Private David Roberts-59843, 13th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. David was probably born at Llanfihangel-Y-Creddyn. He resided in Nantgaredig, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 13th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, who formed part of the 114th Brigade, 38th Welsh Division. David fought along the Western Front with the Division. As the summer of 1918 was at it’s height, the German Armies were being driven back in France. The 38th Welsh Division were taking part in the 2nd Battle of Bapaume, when David was killed in action on the 4th September, 1918. His body was lost on the battlefields, and he is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
Private John Thomas-14659, 1st Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment. John was born in Nantgaredig. He later resided at Treherbert, and enlisted at Pentre into the 1st Battalion, the Dorsetshire Regiment, who formed part of the 15th Brigade, 5th Division. John was killed in action on the 20th November, 1915 and lies in Carnoy Military Cemetery.
Private Thomas Thomas-238185, 2/4th Battalion, West Riding Regiment. Thomas was born 1896 in Nantgaredig, to David Thomas of Rhydlydan. He enlisted at Nantgaredig into the West Yorkshire Regiment, later the Welsh, before being later transferred to the 2/4th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, who formed part of the 186th Brigade, 62nd Division. Thomas was fighting with the Battalion during the Second Battle of Bapaume, when he was killed in action on the 2nd September, 1918. He lies in Vaulx Hill Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
