Llangathen is a Parish near Llandilo Fawr, incorporating the historic Golden Grove Estate, and is set in a picturesque agricultural area in the Towy Valley, north of Carmarthen. The Parish is served by the Church of St. Cathan. Within the Churchyard is a stone War Memorial Cross, which commemorates the fallen of The Great War. Many thanks to Stephen George for the photographs of the names on the memorial.

Llangathen War Memorial

The Great War, 1914-1918

Arthur Henry Birch, Private, 14480, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Arthur was born at Stourport, probably the son of John and Emma Birch, of Balsall Heath, Worcestershire. He lived at Abersannan, Golden Grove prior to the war, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the army. Arthur was posted to the 7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, which was attached to 8 Brigade, 3rd Division. He landed in France with the battalion on 28 September 1915, and moved to join the 3rd Division at Ypres. Arthur was killed in action during the Actions of St. Eloi Craters on 21 May 1916. He is buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium.

 

Ernest Davies, Private, 53674, Welsh Regiment. Ernest was born at Llangathen, and Resided at Broadoak, Llangathen prior to the war. He originally enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry, and sometime in 1917 was posted to France to join the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. Ernest probably fought through the Battle of Passchendaele with the Division, and was caught up in the terrible fighting on the Lys during the German advance in April 1918. Ernest was wounded during the Division's advance on the Hindenburg Line in September 1918, and died of his wounds on 16 September 1918. He is buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France.

 

Ivor J. Davies, Private, DM2/117601, Royal Army Service Corps. Ivor was the Son of James and Margaret Davies, of 69, High Street, Cefn Coed, Merthyr Tydfil. He resided at Cilsane Mill, Llangathen prior to the war, and served with the 14th GHQ Motor Transport Company, Royal Army Service Corps. Ivor died on 12 November 1918, the day after the Armistice. He was 25 years old, and is buried at Premont British Cemetery, France.

 

John Gabriel Davies, Private, 45492, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Ann Davies, of Dryslwyn Castle Inn, Golden Grove, and enlisted at Llandeilo into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was sent to France as part of 3 Brigade, 1st Division which were one of the first Divisions in France, landing at Havre on 13 August 1914. After the retreat from Mons to the Aisne, they were moved to Ypres, and stemmed the German attack there. After a hard first winter on the Western Front, the Division fought at the Battle of Aubers in May 1915, and then at the Battle of Loos in September. In June 1916 the Division were on the Somme, and fought through the offensive, at the Battles of Albert, Bazentin and Pozieres, where John was Wounded in Action. He was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Puchevillers, where he sadly Died of Wounds on 27 August 1916 aged 41. John is buried there, at Puchevillers British Cemetery.

 

T. Davies, Private. The memorial shows him as living at Ffosybroca, Llangathen, but he cannot be positively identified.

William Davies, Corporal, 40012, South Wales Borderers. William was born at Plasnewydd, Llangathen, and resided at Tumble before the war. He enlisted there into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, but was later posted to the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which had recently arrived back in England from duty at Gallipoli, as part of 87 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division took part in its first major action in France during the 1916 Somme Offensive, and fought at the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, suffering heavy casualties. They remained on the Somme over the winter, and it was here that William was killed on 26 February 1917. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on Pier and Face 4A of the Thiepval Memorial, France.

 

Benjamin Griffiths, Private, 42353, South Wales Borderers. Benjamin was the Son of Mrs. Sarah Griffiths, of Aberglasny Lodge, Llangathen. He originally enlisted at Ammanford into the Welsh Regiment, before being posted to the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which were attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division crossed to France in 21 July 1915, and moved to positions near Loos, where it took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. The following year the Division moved to the Somme, where it took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on 1 July, capturing the village at heavy cost. It then fought through the Somme Battles of Pozieres and the Ancre in 1916. Benjamin was killed in action on the Ancre on 18 February 1917. He was 22 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

 

Walter Hailes, Private, 200295, Welsh Regiment. Walter resided at Wernfawr, Llangathen, and enlisted at Llandeilo into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion sailed for Gallipoli in July 1915 as part of 159 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh), and saw fierce fighting at Gallipoli before being evacuated to Egypt in December 1915. In March 1917 the Division was part of the force which invaded Palestine, and it was here, during the First Battle of Gaza, that Walter was killed on 26 March 1917. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.

 

Edward Jones, Sergeant, 200808, Welsh Regiment. Edward resided at Dryslwyn Station, Llangathen, the son of Mr. D. Jones. He enlisted on 15 October 1912 into the 4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was the local Territorial unit. He didn't serve overseas, as he was deemed to be unfit, and was discharged on 23 October 1917 as being no longer physically fit for war service. Edward died of Tuberculosis on 12 January 1918, aged 28. It is not known where he is buried, as he is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

John Lewis, Private, 53644, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of William and Mary Lewis, of Glandulais Lodge, Dryslwyn, and enlisted at Ammanford into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion had been in France since the outbreak of war, attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, and saw considerable fighting during the first years of the war. John probably joined the battalion after the Somme battles in 1916. 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, and moved toward the Hindenburg Line. John was wounded here, and evacuated to the Base Hospital at Rouen for treatment, but sadly died there of his wounds on 3 October 1918. He was 28 years old, and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, France.

 

Albert Pritchard, Private, 13057, Welsh Regiment. Albert was originally from Hereford, but resided at Brynhafod, Llangathen prior to the war. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which moved to France in August 1914 attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division fought 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, posted to the Dranoutre Sector. Albert was killed here on 2 April 1915, during a relatively quiet spell. He is buried at Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery, Belgium.

 

Thomas Rees, Private, 44253, South Wales Borderers. Thomas was born and lived at the Three Compasses, Llangathen. He enlisted at Chatham into the army, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was in France attached to 87 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division took part in its first major action in France during the 1916 Somme Offensive, and fought at the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, suffering heavy casualties. In the Spring of 1917 they fought at the Battle of the Scarpe, which was part of the Arras Offensive, and then moved further north to Ypres. Here they fought at the Battle of Langemarck. Thomas was killed here on 16 August 1917. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

 

Harry Shooter, Private, G/29227, East Kent Regiment. Harry was the Husband of F. M. Shooter, of 14, High Street, Pleasley Hill, Mansfield, Notts. The couple had resided at Dryslwyn Uchaf, Llangathen prior to the war, and Harry had enlisted at Derby into the army. He was posted to the 7th Battalion, East Kent Regiment, which was in France attached to 55 Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. The Division had fought during the Battle of the Somme in 1916, and through the Battles of Arras and Third Ypres the following year. In 1918 it fought at the Battle of St Quentin, suffering terrible casualties, and took part in the Battle of the Avre and the Actions of Villers-Bretonneux. On 8 August 1918 they formed part of the force which attacked the German positions around Villers Brettoneux, south of the Somme Valley, during the Battle of Amiens, and then took part in the Battle of Albert, which began the great push by the Allies which ended the war. Their next action was at the Battle of Bapaume, and then at the Battle of Epehy, which was during the second phase of the Battles of the Hindenburg Line. Harry was killed here on 18 September 1918. He was 24 years old, and is buried at Unicorn Cemetery, Vendhuile, France.

 

William Thomas, Private, 1298, Welsh Guards. William was the Son of John and Margaret Thomas, of Penwaun, Capel Isaac, Llandeilo. He had enlisted at Kingston, Surrey into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, who were raised after the Royal Warrant on 26 February 1915. After being formed, they became part of 3 Guards Brigade, Guards Division, which was formed in France in August 1915. Their first taste of battle was at Loos, and they remained here over their first winter in France, before moving to Ypres, where William was wounded. He Died of Wounds on 3 July 1917 aged 22, and is buried at Brandhoek Military Cemetery.

 

Frank Watts, Sergeant, 42046, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Frank was the Son of John and Mary Watts, of 82, Catherine Street, Aston, Birmingham. He resided at Broad Oak, Llangathen prior to the war, and returned to Birmingham to enlist into the 2nd Battalion, Warwickshire Regiment, which was attached to 22 Brigade, 7th Division. The Division moved to Italy in November 1917, so Frank must have transferred to another battalion. He was killed during the Battle of the Selle on 18 October 1918, aged 19, and is buried at Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France.

 

William Watts, Private, 1051, Welsh Regiment. William resided at Broad Oak, Llangathen, and must have been the brother of Frank Watts. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was the local Territorial unit. The battalion was attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Division, and sailed for Gallipoli in July 1915. William didn't embark with the division though, as he must have been unwell at the time. He died on 13 August 1915 at Pembroke Dock, and is buried there, at Pembroke Dock Military Cemetery. Many thanks to Les Nixon for the photograph.

 

Evan George Wright, Private, 5136, Welsh Regiment. Evan was born around 1896, the son of  Mr. A. J. and Mrs. E. J. Wright, of Maesyrhiw, Talley, and resided at Upper Gilsanc, Llangathen prior to the war. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1/4th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, with the number 5136. The Battalion formed part of the 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, and fought at Gallipoli. It was at Gallipoli, during the Attack on Scimitar Hill, that Evan was killed in action on 10 August 1915. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial.

 

World War Two, 1939-1945

Victor Charles Coombes, Lance Corporal, 4080534, South Wales Borderers. Victor resided at Redstone Villa, near Llandeilo, and served with the South Wales Borderers during the war. He died on 14 July 1941, aged 26, and is buried at Llangathen (St. Cathen) Churchyard. Many thanks to Bev Lewis, of Swansea for the photograph.