Ferryside War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Thomas Lewis Bennett, Sapper, 175528, Royal Engineers. Thomas was the Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Bennett of Red Lion Hotel, Drefach Henllan. He was a native of Kidderminster but resided in Ferryside prior to the outbreak of war, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Pembroke Yeomanry. It is unknown whether Thomas moved to Egypt with the Pembroke Yeomanry or not, but at some stage he transferred into the Royal Engineers, where he served as a Sapper in their 174th Tunnelling Company. This Tunnelling Company served on the Western Front throughout the war, and on formation, moved into the Houplines area. They served in the Rue du Bois sector in 1915 and moved to the Somme in July 1915, taking over French mine workings between La Boisselle and Carnoy. They gave up part of this front to newly-formed 183rd Company in October 1915, and concentrated on Mametz sector, but by October 1916, had moved north of the Ancre, facing Beaumont-Hamel, before following the German withdrawal in 1917 towards the Cambrai area. Thomas was Killed in Action here on the 20th November, 1917, during the Battle of Cambrai. He was 23 years old and was buried in Croisilles Railway Cemetery. His grave was lost during the battle but as he was definitely known to have been buried in the cemetery, Thomas is now remembered by a Special Memorial.
Alexander Davidson, Second Engineer, Mercantile Marine. Alexander was born at Milford Haven, the Son of the late Alexander and Elizabeth Davidson, and the Husband of Mary Davidson (nee Thomas), of 23, Brigstocke Terrace, Ferryside. He served in the Mercantile Marine aboard the S.S. Boltonhall, which was a 3,535 ton defensively armoured steamship owned by the West Hartlepool Steam Navigation Company. On the 20th August, 1918 the ship was 34 miles off Bardsey Island when she was torpedoed and sunk by a German submarine. Five crewmembers died including the 57 year old Alexander Davidson. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, alongside his fellow crewmen.
Benjamin Daniel Davies, Lance Corporal, 13114, Welsh Regiment. Benjamin was the Son of Mr. John Davies, The Stores, Ferryside, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. The 2nd Welsh were part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division and had landed in France as one of the first units of the B.E.F. in August, 1914. They fought at the Battle of Mons and took part in the fighting retreat to the Aisne, where the German Offensive was stopped. The Western Front formed partly as a result of this success, and the Division moved North to Ypres, where they again held the German attack there during the Battle of First Ypres. They remained in Flanders during the first winter, and fought at Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they took part in the Battle of Loos. After suffering heavy casualties during the battle the Division were brought out of the line to rebuild and rest, and moved further South in 1916 to the Somme area, where they took part in the opening Battle of Albert during the Somme Offensive, where Benjamin was wounded. He was brought back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Albert, where he sadly Died of Wounds on the 12th July, 1916. He is buried in Albert Communal Cemetery Extension.
David John Davies, Private, 3091, Welsh Guards. David was born in Llansaint the Son of John and Margaret Davies, St. Ishmael, Ferryside. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1st Battalion Welsh Guards, which were formed by the Royal Warrant of 26th February 1915. The Welsh Guards moved to France, landing at Havre on the 18th August, where they were attached to the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The first action seen by the Welsh Guards was at the Battle of Loos, where they entered the Battle on the 26th September, 1915, and remained there for a month before being withdrawn. They over-wintered on the Ypres Salient, and remained there until the 27th July 1916 when they moved South to the Somme, where the raging Battle had severely weakened the attacking British Divisions. The Welsh Guards fought at Ginchy and Flers-Courcelette, and at Morval before spending the Winter of 1916/17 in the Somme trenches before moving out of the line at the end of March 1917 to rest and refit. The next major action for the Guards Division was at Passchendaele, and it was during the Battle of Pilckem, on the 31st July, 1917 that David was Killed in Action. He was only 22 years old and because his body was lost on the battlefields, he is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial. Not on Memorial.
David Tom Davies, Private, 531587, Labour Corps. David was born at Ferryside, and enlisted at Llanelli into the King’s Liverpool Regiment. He was probably wounded at some time, which caused him to transfer into the Labour Corps, who he served with when he Died on the 9th November, 1918. David is buried at Ferryside (Salem) Baptist Burial Ground. Not on Memorial.
James Davies, Lance Corporal, 13092, Welsh Regiment. James was the Son of Mr. David Davies, Carlton House, Ferryside, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. The 2nd Welsh were part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division and had landed in France as one of the first units of the B.E.F. in August, 1914. They fought at the Battle of Mons and took part in the fighting retreat to the Aisne, where the German Offensive was stopped. The Western Front formed partly as a result of this success, and the Division moved North to Ypres, where they again held the German attack there during the Battle of First Ypres. They remained in Flanders during the first winter, and fought at Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they took part in the Battle of Loos. After suffering heavy casualties during the battle the Division were brought out of the line to rebuild and rest, and moved further South in 1916 to the Somme area, where they took part in the opening Battle of Albert during the Somme Offensive, and it was at a later stage, during the Battle of Pozieres, that James was Killed in Action, on the 26th July, 1916 aged just 21. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Alfred George Dyke Private, 31641, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Alfred was born at St. Ishmaels, and had enlisted at Llanelli into the Territorial Army. When war broke out, the Territorials were called up, and Alfred joined the 1/4th Battalion King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, which formed in August 1914 at Shrewsbury as part of the Welsh Division. On the 29th October they sailed to India, and landed at Bombay on the 1st December, from where they split up, with two Companies moving to Hong Kong and two to Singapore, with a detachment in the Andaman Isles, On the 13th April, 1917 the Battalion concentrated in Singapore, and embarked for France via Colombo, Cape Town and England, landing at Le Havre on the 27th July, 1917. On the 18th August, 1917 they became part of the 190th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. They were immediately thrown headfirst into battle at the Second Battle of Passchendaele. The Division suffered a large amount of casualties here, but the attack was something of a success, and the Village was captured. After a brief rest period, the Division were sent to the Somme, and from there to Marcoing. The Battle of Cambrai was in full swing, and the Division moved into support, just in time to meet the German counter-attack head on the 30th December at Welsh Ridge. The attack was held, and the winter of 1917/18 was spent in the wet trenches in the Cambrai area. On the 4th February, 1918 the Battalion transferred to the 56th Brigade 19th (Western) Division, and on the 15th February the Division moved to Haplincourt to rest. The German Spring Offensive was launched on the 21st March, 1918, with this period for the 19th Division being called the Battle of St. Quentin, and at the time the Shropshires were at Beaulancourt, having been made ready for the attack. They were hit by German gas shells, which peppered the area on the eastern edge of the old Somme battlefields, and the Shropshires moved into position near Bertincourt to meet the attack. The village of Doignies had fallen, so the Shropshires moved to attempt to retake it, and so began a period of terrible slaughter for the 19th Division, which led to Alfred being Killed in Action just days later on the 26th March, 1918. His body was lost in the further fighting in the area, and so he is remembered on the Arras Memorial to the Missing.
Thomas Hanson Private 26198, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born in Chelsea, but prior to the outbreak of war lived at Ferryside. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 17th Battalion the Welsh Regiment, which was part of the 119th Brigade, 40th (Bantam) Division. The Division had moved to France during June, 1916 and served near Loos until October that year. They moved to the Somme, where they took part in the final Battle there that year, at the Ancre, and then wintered o the Somme, before following the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line. It was during this period on the Somme that Thomas Died, on the 6th February, 1917. He is buried at Bray Military Cemetery. Not on Memorial.
Albert House, Private, 17938, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Albert was born in Thatcham, and moved to Ferryside prior to the outbreak of war, being the Husband of Martha Ann House, of Railway Terrace, Ferryside. He enlisted at Swansea into the 7th Battalion, Oxfordshire & Buckinghamshire Light Infantry, which were part of the 78th Brigade, 26th Division. The Division moved to France in September 1915 and assembled around Amiens, but were sent to Salonika in November that year, and were all in place there by February 1916. The Division fought in the Battle of Horseshoe Hill in August 1916, and in April and May 1917 fought in the Battle of Doiran, where Albert was Killed in Action on the 26th April, 1917. He is buried at Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston. Not on Memorial.
William Howells Gunner, 122051, Royal Artillery. William was the Son of Lewis and Mary Howells, of Neptune Villa, Ferryside, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Royal Artillery, where he was to serve in their ‘X’, 32nd Trench Mortar Battery. This Battery was attached to the 32nd Division, which had moved to France in 1915. They fought throughout most of the Somme Offensive in 1916, and followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in 1917 before taking part in the Battle of Arras, when the German Spring Offensive was launched against the City in March, 1918. They remained on the Somme, fighting during the retreat towards Albert, then in the advance past Bapaume and on through the mighty Hindenburg Line, which they pushed through on towards the Sambre, where William was Killed in Action on the 4th November, 1918. He was 23 years old, and is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial. Not on Memorial.
Thomas James Humphries Private, 60429, Cheshire Regiment. Thomas was the Son of Mr James Humphreys, Wellfield Terrace, Ferryside. He enlisted at Llanelli into the South Wales Borderers, but at sometime transferred into the 1/4th Battalion, the Cheshire Regiment, part of the 159th Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division had moved to Gallipoli by the 9th August 1915 and fought there through the terrible winter that year, suffering many casualties, before it was evacuated to Egypt in December. Here it moved to the Palestinian front, and pushed the Turks North through the Sinai, towards Gaza. It was during the Third Battle of Gaza that Thomas was wounded. He was evacuated to Beersheba, but Died of Wounds there on the 13th November, 1917, and was buried in Beersheba War Cemetery.
Richard John Thomas Private, 41200, South Wales Borderers. Richard was the Son of John and Caroline Thomas, of 1, Pale House, Ferryside, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the Welsh Regiment. He subsequently transferred into the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division, and probably joined them in France, after missing their time in China and Gallipoli. The Division played a large part in the Battles of the Somme, fighting from the start on the 1st July through until the Battle was called off in December, and they then moved to Arras, fighting at the Battle of the Scarpe. They then fought through the battles of Third Ypres, before moving to the Cambrai area, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai. It was during this battle that Richard was sadly Killed in Action, on the 21st November, 1917. He is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval.
John Williams Private, 43216, Leicestershire Regiment. John was the Son of Mr. J. Williams, of Glantaff, Ferryside, and enlisted into the Welsh regiment. He subsequently transferred into the 1st Battalion the Leicestershire Regiment. The Battalion had been in France since September, 1914 as part of the 16th Brigade, 6th Division, and had fought at the Aisne and Hooge, before transferring to the 71st Brigade, in the same 6th Division, and then fought at the Somme, Hill 70 and the Battle of Cambrai, before they were caught in the German Spring Offensive of March, 1918, and moved to Flanders. After a very tense few months for the Allies, the tide finally turned on the 8th August after a spectacular Australian Victory at Villers-Brettoneux. The Allies were on the offensive from then on, and the 6th Division pushed on through Flanders, recapturing the lost ground of the previous months. They then moved south again where they fought at the Battle of Epehy, which was the jumping off point for the assault on the Hindenburg Line, and were in that vicinity, fighting in the 1918 Battle of Cambrai when John was Killed in Action on the 18th September, 1918. He is buried in Chapelle British Cemetery, Holnon.
World War Two, 1939-1945
Robert Bennet Player Brigstocke, Robert was the Son of George Robert (Lord of the Manor of Ryde) and Anna Cecilia Brigstocke of Roberts Rest, Carmarthen, and the brother of William (below). I cannot find more information at present, but he is buried in the family grave at Ryde, and an enscription on the grave states “M.A. Oxon. Born May 20th 1912, died December 31st 1943.” I would like to thanks the Ryde Family History Society for the grave photo, and for the transcription of the obelisk.
William George Player Brigstocke, Lieutenant, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. William was born on June 14th, 1910, the Son of George Robert (Lord of the Manor of Ryde) and Anna Cecilia Brigstocke of Roberts Rest, Carmarthen. In 1938 he became the husband of Gladys Veronica Wigram, of Weybridge, Surrey. William was educated at Sherborne, and at Manchester University, where he studied as an Electrical Engineer, and joined the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve around 1930, ending up serving aboard H.M.S. Foylebank. The Foylebank was a converted 5,500 ton merchant ship of the Bank Line, and had been launched in 1930. She was requisitioned in September 1939, shortly after war broke out, and converted into an anti-aircraft ship with 2 pounder pom-poms, .5 inch machine guns and four twin high angle 4 inch turrets. She arrived in Portland on the 9th June for work-up followed by anti-aircraft duties. On the 4th July, whilst the bulk of her crew were at breakfast, unidentified aircraft were reported to the south, but these were believed to be friendlies returning to base, but turned out to be 26 of the German's most feared aircraft, the JU87 Stuka dive bomber, heading towards the Foylebank. The ship fought back and 3 Stukas were shot down, but 22 bombs found their mark and her guns were put out of action. Fires raged, electricity failed and the stricken ship listed to port, shrouded in smoke. She finally sank on the 5th July. William was wounded in the attack, and Died of Wounds that day on the 4th July, 1940. He was 30 years old and is buried at Ryde Borough Cemetery, in the family grave pictured above. During the gallant defence of the ship Leading seaman Jack Mantle, one of the Ack-Ack gunners, received the Victoria Cross for gallantry, for staying at his post, even after suffering terrible injuries. Below is a photograph showing the sinking of the Foylebank.
William Richard Hopkins, Sergeant (Flight Engineer), 610971 Royal Air Force. William served as a Flight Engineer with 15 Squadron Royal Air Force. During 1938, the Squadron was one of the first to receive Fairey Battles, and it was with these that 15 Squadron flew to France in September 1939. In early 1940, the Squadron returned to the UK and re-equipped with Blenheims flown in the ground attack role. By the turn of the year, these had been traded in for Wellingtons, and shortly after that 15 Squadron became one of the first Short Stirling heavy-bomber units, and were based at Bourn, Cambridgeshire as part of 3 Group. On the night of the 27th/28th August, 1942 a large Bomber force took off on course for Kassel in Germany, and it seems likely that William’s Stirling was shot down on the outward journey over occupied Holland. He was Killed on the night of 27th August, 1942, and is buried in Amersfoort (Oud Leusen) General Cemetery.
Edward Morland Lewis, Captain, 171535 General List. Edward was born in Carmarthen in 1903, the eighth Son of Benjamin Archibald and Mary Lewis, who had retired to Ferryside, and the husband of Kathleen Margaret Faussett-Osbourne, of Kensington, London. Edward was a renowned artist, who had studied at the Royal Academy, where he became a favoured student of Sickert, and painted many local scenes, especially of Ferryside. Prior to the war, he was on the teaching staff at Chelsea Polytechnic. He Died of Malaria whilst serving as a Camouflage Officer in North Africa on the 4th August, 1943 aged 40, and is buried in the Medjez-El-Bab War Cemetery, Tunisia.
Edwin Denzil Horace Morgan Aircraftman 2nd Class, 1123734, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Edwin was the Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Maud Morgan, of Ferryside. And enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Nothing is known of his war service at the moment but he died at home on the 12th March, 1941 aged 34 and is buried at Ferryside (Salem) Baptist Burial Ground.
Hugh Martin Stephens, M.C., Captain, 123552, Royal Tank Regiment. Hugh was the Son of Hugh Owen Taylor Green Stephens and Ragnhild Margarete Stephens, of Bedford. He served as a Captin in the 1st Royal Tank Regiment, attached to the Royal Armoured Corps. On the 8th March, 1940 Hugh was gazetted from Sandhurst to be 2nd Lieutenant in the Royal Tank Regiment, and promoted to full Lieutenant on the 2nd September 1941. The 1st RTR was attached to the 7th Armoured Division, the famous ‘Desert Rats’, and Hugh fought with them in North Africa, during the Battle of El Alamein where they were equipped with Stuart and Grant Tanks. In September 1943 the Desert Rats landed in Italy at Salerno, and fought there until returning to England in early 1944. On the 25th April, 1944 Hugh was approved by the King to be Mentioned in recognition of gallant and distinguished service in the field in the London Gazette, for which he presumably was awarded his Military Cross. As Montgomery’s old command, he wanted them to be with him during the invasion of Europe, and so on D-Day, 6th June, 1944 the 1st RTR landed at Arromanches, and they fought on through the drive into Germany, through Normandy and North through Belgium and Holland. Hugh sadly died at home on the 21st December 1945 aged just 25 and is buried at St. Ishmael (St. Ishmael) Churchyard. He had fought throughout some of the British Army’s toughest campaigns, only to die at home.
