Llansadwrn is a small Village which sits about three miles North-North-West of Llangadock in the picturesque Towy Valley. The War Memorial is in the form of a Granite Obelisk, and sits within the grounds of St. Sadwrn Churchyard.

Llansadwrn War Memorial

The Boer War, 1899-1902

Philip W. Davies, Private, 7565, 3rd Battalion, Grenadier Guards. Philip resided at Cwmbranfach, Llansadwrn. He was Killed in Action during the Battle of Belmont, on 23 November 1899, and is buried at West End Cemetery, Kimberley, Northern Cape.

The Great War, 1914-1918

William Barratt, Private, 288052, Welsh Regiment. William was the Husband of Catherine Kate Barratt, and they lived at Plasnewydd, Llansadwrn. He enlisted at Llandovery into the army, and was posted to the 1/6th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which had been in France since 29 October 1914. On 5 July 1915 they transferred to 84 Brigade, 28th Division, and on 23 October 1915 transferred again, to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, becoming Divisional Pioneers on 15 May 1916. William was wounded during the Second Battle of Passchendaele and Died of Wounds at the Casualty Clearing Station at Dozinghem on 11 November 1917. He is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

 

David Thomas Henry Bendle, Private, 18380, Welsh Regiment. David was born at Llansadwrn, the Son of James and Eleanor Bendle. The family later resided at Dilkasha, Blackpill, Swansea. David enlisted at Ammanford into the army, and probably served with the 13th Welsh, before being posted to the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion had been in France since the outbreak of war, and had fought in the retreat from Mons to the Marne, attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. They were then rushed to Ypres, and took part in First Ypres, where the German advance across Flanders was stopped, although at great cost. After a hard first winter in Flanders, the Division fought at the Battle of Aubers in May 1915 then moved to Loos, where they took part in the Battle of Loos throughout September and October that year. In 1916 they fought during the entire Battle of the Somme, and followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in March 1917. In the Summer of 1917 the entire Division moved to the Flanders coast in preparation for an offensive there, but after the Battles of Third Ypres had got bogged down in the Flanders mud, they were needed at Ypres. At Ypres, they fought at the Second Battle of Passchendaele, and when the Battle was called off, remained in Flanders over through another dreadful winter. On 21 March 1918 the German Spring Offensive was launched against the British Armies on the Somme. The ferociousness of their attack created mayhem in the British ranks, and the Germans swiftly pushed across France, leaving thousands of British soldiers dead in their wake. The 1st Division was still in Flanders, when on 9 April the German Offensive switched to Flanders, and the Division were caught in the Battle of Estaires, but the onslaught was too much, and so the British pulled back, fighting at the Battles of Hazebrouck and of Bethune. David was Killed in Action in Flanders on 23 July 1918, aged 21, and is buried at Cambrin Military Cemetery, France. David is not commemorated at Llansadwrn. 

Benjamin Trevor Davies, Gunner, 123915, Royal Garrison Artillery. Benjamin was the son of Daniel and Esther Davies, of Pantyrhendre, Llansadwrn. He enlisted at Llandovery into the Royal Garrison Artillery, serving in their 304th Siege Battery, part of the XCV Heavy Artillery Group. Benjamin fought in the Mesopotamian theatre, where he was wounded, and he sadly Died of Meningitis following Wounds on the 5 March 1918, aged only 21. He is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Iraq.

John Davies, Private, 52974, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Roderick and Mary Davies, of Pantygawmil, Llansadwrn. He enlisted at Llandovery into the 3rd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was a Home Service unit. John Died at Rhyl of sickness on 21 February 1917, aged 28, and is buried at Llansadwrn Churchyard.

William Durance, Private, 26127, East Surrey Regiment. William was the Son of Mrs. Valey Durance, of 2, Arundel Place, Arundel Square, Barnsbury, London. He worked at Abermarlais Park, and enlisted at Whitehall into the 1st Battalion, East Surrey Regiment. The Battalion had landed at Havre on 15 August 1914 attached to 14 Brigade, 5th Division. They fought at the Battle of Mons, and during the retreat south, fighting at Le Cateau, then down to the Marne where the German attack was halted. They took part in the push back to the Aisne, before moving to Flanders, where they fought at the Battle of La Bassee, then at Messines in October 1914. They fought here through First Ypres, and took part in the capture of Hill 60, and then fought at Second Ypres in April 1915. March 1916 saw the Division moving to positions between St. Laurent-Blangy and Vimy, near Arras, and the Division saw plenty of action during it's spell here. On 1 July 1916 the Battle of the Somme opened, and the Division moved south fighting at High Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy. On 5 October, after suffering heavy casualties, the Division moved to Festubert, where they remained until March 1917. They next saw action at the Battle of Arras, fighting at the Battle of Vimy in April 1917, and the attack on La Coulette. On 3 May they fought in the Third Battle of the Scarpe, and captured Oppy Wood. On 7 September, they were pulled out of the line again, and moved north, where they fought at Passchendaele. William was Killed in Action on 10 October 1917, aged just 19. His body was lost in the Flanders mud, so he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

 

John Evans, Private, 45037, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of John and Harriet Evans, of Llethyfagwyren, Llansadumen, Llanwrda. He is recorded as living at Llansadwrn, when he enlisted into the army. John was posted to France, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, probably after the Somme offensive of 1916. The battalion had been on the Western Front since the outbreak of war, attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, and had seen plenty of fighting. John was with the battalion when it followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917, before moving to the Flanders Coast during the summer of 1917. While training on the coast, the Battle of Third Ypres had stalled in the mire, and the Division was 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. John was killed during the advance on the Hindenburg Line, on 25 September 1918. He was 36 years old, and is buried at Roisel Communal Cemetery Extension, France. John does not seem to be commemorated locally.

 

Thomas Vicars Hunter, Captain, Royal Air Force. Thomas was born in London in April 1897, the Son of Henry Charles Vicars Hunter, J.P., and the Hon. Mrs. Hunter, of Abermarlais Park, Llangadock. Thomas was educated at Ladycross and Eton, which he left early at the age of 17 for a Commission at Sandhurst, joining the 5th Battalion, the Rifle Brigade. Soon after being gazetted, he broke his leg in a motorcycle accident, which necessitated the amputation of his badly injured leg. This didn't stop him though, as he returned to service in October 1916, but quickly discovered that he was hampered by the loss of his leg, and so he volunteered for the Royal Flying Corps in February 1917. He gained his wings in May, and served in France flying scouts, with 66 Squadron. Thomas was gazetted Flight Commander in September, and in November 1917 was posted to Italy with his Squadron. Sadly Thomas was Killed in Action there on 5 December 1917, aged just 20, and is buried at Carmignano Di Brenta Communal Cemetery, Italy.

Henry Jones, Private, 474271, Canadian Infantry. Henry was born on 21 July 1884, the Son of William and Gwenllian Jones, of Bank-y-Gwin, and had emigrated to Canada prior to the outbreak of war. He enlisted at Saskatoon on 3 April 1916 into the 72nd Battalion (British Columbia), Canadian Infantry, which was part of the 12th Brigade, 4th Canadian Division. Henry would have arrived in France in time to take part in the Divisions first battle at Le Transloy, on the Somme, in October 1916. They then fought at the Battle of the Ancre Heights, where the Canadians captured Regina Trench, before taking part in the Battle of the Ancre. Henry was wounded in action at the Battle of the Ancre, and Died of Wounds on 16 November 1916, aged 32. He is buried in Aveluy Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

 

 

John Jones, Private, 46533, Welsh Regiment. John was the son of Hannah Jones and the late Thomas Jones, Pwllau, White Square, Taliaris. He was born around 1886. John was a Private in the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division, and they took an active part in the latter stages of the Battle of the Somme in 1916, before moving to Ypres. John was killed in action during the Battle of the Menin Road, on 21 September 1917. His body was lost on the muddy Flanders Battlefield, and so he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

 

Thomas Kynaston, Sergeant, 12969, South Wales Borderers. Thomas was born in Oswestry, but resided at Abermarlais Park, Llanwrda, and enlisted at Brecon into the South Wales Borderers, and was posted to the 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was attached to 40 Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. On 6 July 1915 the Division landed at Cape Helles, but they returned to Mudros just two weeks later. They then landed at ANZAC Cove on 3 August 1915, and fought at the Battle of Sari Bair, Russell's Top and Hill 60. Thomas was Killed in Action at ANZAC on 22 August 1915, and is remembered on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

 

Rees Alban Lewis, Lance Sergeant 49772, Royal Fusiliers. Rees was the Son of Rees and Elizabeth Lewis, of Brownhill, Llansadwrnen. He enlisted at Cardiff into the army, and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which was attached to 36 Brigade, 12th Division. The Division moved to France at the end of May 1915, and relieved the 46th Division at Ploegsteert Wood on 23 June, remaining there until 26 September when they moved to Loos. They fought at Loos until their relief on 15 November, when they moved into reserve at Lillers. On 10 December 1915 they moved to the line at Givenchy, and moved back to Loos in February 1916. By 18 June 1916 the Division was on the Somme, and attacked Ovillers on 2 July 1916. They then fought at Pozieres and Le Transloy, before moving to Arras on 22 August. Here they fought at the Battle of the Scarpe on 9 April 1917, then at Arleux and at the Third Battle of the Scarpe. In November 1917 they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, and this is where Rees was Killed in Action, aged 23, on 30 November 1917. He is buried at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich, France.

 

Joshua Williams, Private, 633812, London Regiment. Joshua is commemorated on memorials at Llansadwrn, Taliaris and Talley. He enlisted on 18 November 1915 into the 15th Battalion, London Regiment, with the Service Number 6132, then transferred into the 20th Battalion. Joshua was discharged on 26 June 1917, owing to ill health, and was was transferred to Beechwood House Hospital, Newport, where he sadly died on 17 September 1917 suffering from Cardiac Failure. He is not commemorated on the CWGC or on SDGW, so more research is needed to find where he is buried.

Benjamin Wright, Private, 11479, Welsh Regiment. Benjamin was born at London, but resided at Pwllyfan, Llanwrda prior to the war, where he worked as a Gardener for Mrs Hunter at Abermarlais Park. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which landed in France on 13 August 1914 as part of 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division fought at the Battle of Mons, and then during the epic retreat to the Marne, where they helped stop the German Advance before pushing them back to the Aisne. They were then rushed to Ypres, and took part in First Ypres, where the German advance across Flanders was stopped, although at great cost. After a hard first winter in Flanders, the Division fought at the Battle of Aubers in May 1915 then moved to Loos, and took part in the Battle of Loos throughout September and October that year. In 1916 they fought on the Somme, where Benjamin was Killed in Action on 23 August 1916. He is buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France.