Llanegwad War Memorial, The Great War, 1914-1918

 

Guardsman Thomas Benjamin Daniel, 1933, 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 10 September 1916. Thomas lies in Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval. His brother D. J. Daniel, of Nantgaredig, survived him.

 

Private Jonny C. Davies, 14895, 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 67 Brigade, 22nd Division, and spent a brief period of time on the Western Front before being sent to Salonika. It was during the Salonika Campaign, at the Battle of Doiran, that Jonny was mortally wounded. He died of his wounds on 25 September, 1918, and lies in Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston. He was aged 26, and had won the Military Medal, for Bravery in the Field.

Llewellyn Davies, Private, 12225, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Llewellyn was born at Llanegwad, and enlisted at Ammanford into the 8th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Battalion was attached to the 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division, and on 13 June 1915 the Division sailed to Alexandria, and by the 4th July, all units had moved to Mudros, preparatory for landing on Gallipoli. In July 1915 the Divisional infantry landed on Cape Helles and relieved the 29th Division. They left and returned to Mudros at the end of the month, and the entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between 3 and 5 August 1915, taking part in the Battles of Sari Bair, Russell's Top, and Hill 60, ANZAC. Soon afterwards the Division was transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay, and it was evacuated from Suvla on 19 December 1915, whereupon the infantry moved after a weeks rest to the Helles bridgehead, where they faced the last Turkish attacks at Helles. On 8 January 1916, the Division was evacuated from Helles, and by 31 January was concentrated at Port Said, where they held forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. On the 12 February 1916 the Division began to move to Mesopotamia, to strengthen the force being assembled for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. By 27 March, the Division had assembled near Sheikh Saad and came under orders of the Tigris Corps, and then took part in the attempts to relieve Kut. However, after these efforts failed and Kut fell, the British force in the theatre was built up and reorganised. Llewellyn was taken ill during the expedition into Iraq, and died there on 19 May 1916. He is buried at the now devastated Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.

 

Richard Davies, Gunner, 77856, Royal Garrison Artillery. Richard was the Son of Henry and Anne Davies, of Glynaber, Twyn, Garnant. He served with the 76th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery on the Western Front. Richard's battery was caught up in a desperate rearguard action against a ferocious German offensive, known as Kaiserschalcht, and he was killed in action on the third day of this German Spring Offensive, at the Battle of St. Quentin, on 23 March 1918. Richard was 24 years old, and is buried at Villers Brettonneux Military Cemetery, Fouilloy.

Private Benjamin Evans, 13461, 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 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division had fought on the Western Front since the beginning of the Great War, and in early 1918 was in Flanders. On 21 March 1918, the Germans launched Operation Michael, or 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 13 April 1918. He was aged just 24. Benjamin lies in Etaples Military Cemetery.

Herbert Goldsby, MM, Sergeant, 12854, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Herbert was the Son of Edwin and Elizabeth Goldsby. He had been born in London, and enlisted at Tumble into the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division assembled around Bulford during September 1914. Divisional training was completed near Tidworth, from March 1915, and the Butterfly Division crossed to France in July 1915, and moved to positions near Loos.  The Division fought during the opening attack of the Battle of Loos, and then moved to the Somme, where they took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on 1 July, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battle of Pozieres, where Herbert was killed in action on 27 July 1916. He was 28 years old, and has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Herbert had won the Military Medal for Bravery, and as it was a relatively new award at that time, it must have been for the attack on Ovillers.

 

Lieutenant Gwyn Arthur Griffiths, Royal Air Force. Gwyn was born in Golden Grove, about 1893, to John and Elizabeth Griffiths of Typpica. He originally enlisted into the 15th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion, Welsh Regiment, as one of the original officers, and served with them at Mametz Wood before volunteering to join the Royal Flying Corps. Gwyn joined 35 Squadron in France in January 1917, which was equipped with the Armstrong Whitworth FK8. The Squadron took part in reconnaissance work alongside the Cavalry Division during the Battle of Arras. On 2 June 1917, Gwyn was flying as Observer to Lieutenant E. R. Bottomley, when their aircraft was hit by Anti Aircraft fire over Vermand, and crashed, mortally wounding both men. Gwyn died in captivity by the Germans later that day, and was buried at Mons-En-Chaussee Communal Cemetery. He was aged just 24.

David Rixon Harris, Private, 4715, Australian Infantry. David was the Son of John and Jane Harris, of Blaenantymab Farm, Nantgaredig. David had emigrated to Australia in 1911, prior to the Great War, and found work as a Stockman at Rockhampton in Queensland. David had enlisted there at Rockhampton on 6 December 1915 into the Australian Imperial Force, and embarked from Sydney on the 12th April, 1916 aboard the HMAT Mooltan, bound for England, as part of the 15th Reinforcents for the 25th Battalion. In England, the Australians trained at Salisbury Plain, and were then sent to the Western Front. David proceeded to France on 9 September, 1916, and joined his unit, the 25th Battalion, on 11 September. The Battalion were attached to the 7th Brigade, 2nd Australian Division, and by that time had suffered terrible casualties on the Somme, during the fighting at Pozieres and Mouquet Farm. By now the fighting had pushed further along the old Roman Road from Albert to Bapaume, and the Australians were in the Warlencourt area. On the morning of 14 November 1916 the Battalion were at Turk Alley Trench near Flers, and attacked the German lines opposite them. David was posted missing, but a subsequent investigation and court of enquiry found that he had actually been killed in action during the attack that day. David was 24 years old, and after his body had been recovered some three months later during the German withdrawal on the Somme, he was buried at Warlencourt British Cemetery, France.

 

Caleb Sidney Jones, Private, 292718, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Caleb was the Son of John and Dinah Jones, of Llanegwad, and enlisted at Tonypandy into the 24th Battalion (Denbigh Yeomanry), Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Battalion had been formed in Palestine after the disbanding of the Yeomanry Battalions in 1917, and were attached to 231 Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division had formed in Egypt in January, 1917 and had fought through the Palestinian Campaign, at the Battles of Gaza and the Battle and capture of Jerusalem. Caleb was killed in action after the capture of Jerusalem, during the Battle of Jaffa, on 27 December, 1917. He was 36 years old, and is buried at Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. Not on Memorial.

David Hamblyn Jones, Private, 435, Welsh Guards. David was the Son of Dr. Evan Jones, of Llanegwad, and enlisted at Llanelli into the Grenadier Guards. On 26 February 1915 a Royal Warrant was raised, which gave the go ahead for the formation of the Welsh Guards. Many serving Guardsmen who originated from Wales transferred to this new Guards Battalion, and David was one of them. He moved to the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, which was attached to the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. This Division has the distinction of being formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. They remained here for the winter, and it was here on 19 November 1916 that David was killed. He was 27 years old, and as his grave could not be located after the war, is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Howel Morgan Williams, Second Lieutenant, Welsh Regiment. Howel was the Son of John and Catherine Williams, of Gwynondale, Llanarthney, and was commissioned into the Welsh Regiment, serving with the 19th Battalion, which was the Pioneer Battalion to the 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June they marched south to the Somme, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on 7 July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took almost a week to finally clear the wood. The Division suffered terrible casualties at Mametz, and were taken out of the line, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Howel was killed in action during the build up to the Third Battle of Ypres, on 24 June 1916. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

Ronald Wray, Private, 547412, Labour Corps. Ronald was born at Bramley, Leeds, the Son of Alfred and Ada Wray. He resided at Llanegwad prior to the war, but returned to Leeds to enlist into the West Riding Regiment. He later transferred, either due to wounds or from being passed as unfit for front-line service, into the 864th Agricultural Company, Labour Corps. Ronald died of sickness on 2 November 1918 aged just 19, and is buried at Leeds (Harehills) Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

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Llanegwad War Memorial,  World War Two, 1939-1945

A ceremony was held at the Memorial Hall, Cothi Bridge on Thursday, 13th May, 1948 unveiling the tablet in memory of the men of the district who fell 1939-45 and others who served their country. (Thanks to Gwenda Lanagan for this information and the list of names).

David Harold Harries, Sergeant (W.Op/Air Gunner), 1377756, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. David was the Son of Thomas and Annie Maria Harries of Penllwynau, and the husband of Joyce Lilian Harries, of Bromley, Kent. David served with the RAFVR, and was posted to 487 (R.N.Z.A.F.) Squadron, which was equipped with the Lockheed Ventura II, based at RAF Feltwell in Norfolk. Operations bagan during December 1942, with their first raid during daylight on the Phillips factory at Eindhoven. The Squadron suffered heavy losses, with David being one of the men killed when his Ventura was brought down near Eindhoven on 6 December 1942. He was 31 years old, and is buried at Eindhoven (Woensel) General Cemetery.

David John Jones, Private, 7672679, Royal Army Pay Corps. David was from Myrtle House, Llanegwad and served with the Royal Army Pay Corps. Very little else is presently known about him, but he died on 26 September 1944 and is buried at Cothi Bridge (Siloam) Congregational Chapelyard.

William Samuel Northwood, Leading Aircraftman, 948273, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son of Walter and Jane Northwood, of Llwynarel, Llanegwad, and served with 84 Squadron, RAF.  84 Squadron left Heliopolis by Air and Sea parties between January 14th and 18th 1942. The first flight of the Air Party was inspected by Air Marshall Sir Arthur Tedder, ACC in C Middle East, on the afternoon of the 13th January. The main route was by way of Habbaniya, Bahrein Island, Sharjah, Karachi, Allahabad, Calcutta (Dum-Dum), Toungoo, Rangoon, Lhoknga, Medan (or Pakan Baros) to Palembang. The Sea Party left Heliopolis at 21.00 hours on January 16th, and had reached Oosthaven, Sumatra, on the 14th February (the day that the Japanese parachute troops invaded Palembang aerodrome. The first five aircraft of the Squadron arrived at Palembang in the afternoon to find that the aerodrome had been bombed and ground-strafed at 09.00 hours that morning. The air-crews were given instructions to leave at 07.45 next morning for P2, 45 miles South West of Palembang. This was the Squadron's base for the remainder of the time it was in Sumatra. By the middle of February, it was clear that Sumatra would soon be over-run, and on the 14^th Japanese parachutists landed, and evacuation was ordered. William must have been one of the hundreds of RAF men captured by the Japanese, and he died on 9 March 1942. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Singapore Memorial. Many thanks to Nigel Anstey for the photograph below.

William Howard Preece, Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy. William is mentioned on the Memorial as having resided at The Knoll, Llanegwad. No trace of him can be found with the CWGC, and so it must be presumed that he survived the war, but died too late to be commemorated by the CWGC?

John H Stafford, Private, 13062800, Pioneer Corps. John was the Son of Henry George and Margaret Stafford, of Whitchurch, and prior to the war had resided at Llanegwad, at Kincoed. Little else is known of him, but he died on 2 May 1941 aged just 22, and is buried at Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery.

John Douglas Walters, Gunner, 920412, Royal Horse Artillery. John was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Walters, of Gwynfryn, Llanegwad and served with the 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery. The Regiment was formed at Helmieh in Egypt in May 1939 from three batteries drawn from independent commands in India, and fired the opening rounds of the campaign in North Africa on the 8th December, 1940 against the Italians at Sidi Barrani. As part of 7th Armoured Division, the Regiment was involved in numerous subsequent battles in the desert, including Bardia, the capture of Tobruk, Beda Fomm, Sidi Rezegh and the withdrawal from Gazala to El Alamein. It then took part in the Battle of El Alamein as part of 1st Armoured Division, later taking part in the battle for the Mareth Line and the capture of Tunisia. John was killed in Tunisia on 30 May 1942 aged 26, and is buried in Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma.

Hywel Williams, Engineer 3rd Class, Merchant Navy. Hywel is mentioned on the Memorial as being of the Grove, Llanegwad. Again, there is no trace of his death with the CWGC, and so it must be assumed that he survived the war. The only matching details of a Merchant Mariner in the National Archives is Eric Hywel Williams, born on 28 March 1913.

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