Below are remembered the men of Pembrey who lost their lives in both World Wars. The towns of Burry Port and Pembrey have a joint War Memorial, which was erected by the local British Legion, but due to the number of men remembered, they have been split into two pages on this site. Several men from the area are not listed on the memorial, and so are shown below. Many thanks are due to Pauline James, of the Carmarthen Family History Society for her photographs of the memorial from where I took the transcripts, and to John Davies of Llanelli for the photographs of the War Graves at St. Illtyd Church.

The details on RAF Pembrey have now been given their own separate page.

Pembrey War Memorial

The Great War, 1914-1918

Andrew Barbour, Private, 49368, Lancashire Fusiliers. Andrew was the Son of William and Jane Barbour, of Springwell Place, Stewarton, Ayreshire, and enlisted at Pembrey into the Royal Engineers. He subsequently transferred into the 19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who were attached to the 49th (West Riding) Division as Pioneers. The Division moved to France between the 12th and the 19th April, 1915 and saw its first major action on the Somme, during the Battle of Albert. They remained on the Somme, taking part in the Battle of Bazentin, the Battle of Pozieres, and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and the following year saw action at Third Ypres, during the Battle of Poelcapelle. The Division remained in Flanders over the final winter of the war, and it was here that they met the brunt of the German attacks on the Lys in April, 1918, taking part in the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Bailleul (and the Defence of Neuve Eglise), the First Battle of Kemmel, and the Second Battle of Kemmel. After the tide of war had been turned, with the Allied successes on the Somme during August, 1918, they took the offensive. The 49th Division took part in the resulting Pursuit to the Selle, the Battle of the Selle and the Battle of Valenciennes, which saw the war out. Andrew was killed in action during the Pursuit to the Selle on the 13th October, 1918. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Haspres Coppice Cemetery, Haspres, France. Not on Memorial.

Daniel Charles Bevan, Seaman, R/6216, Royal Naval Division. Daniel was born on the 26th June, 1897, the Son of John Arthur Bevan, of Wenfa House, Pembrey. He was an Army Reservist prior to the war, and then joined the Anson Battalion, 189th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Naval Brigades were originally sent to Antwerp and Dunkirk in September and October, 1914 to guard against invasion by the Germans. However Antwerp fell to the Germans soon after, and so many of the RND units were withdrawn to England. After a lengthy period of refit and training the Division moved to Egypt preparatory to the Gallipoli campaign. Landing on the 25th April, 1915 the Division was soon transferred from the authority of the Admiralty to the War Office on 29th April 1916, and was redesignated the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division on the 19th July, 1916. The Division moved to France, arriving at Marseilles between the 12th and 23rd May, 1916 and moved to positions on the Somme, where it took part in the Battle of the Ancre, and the resulting Operations on the Ancre. In April, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Gavrelle. They then fought at the Battle of Arleux, before moving north to Ypres, where they took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Their next major action was at Cambrai, during the Action of Welch Ridge, and they were still in the area when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, and fought at the Battle of St Quentin, where Daniel was killed in action on the 24th March, 1918 aged just 20. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Arras Memorial, France.

Joseph Bulcock, Private, 63064, Welsh Regiment. Joseph was the Son of Joseph and Elizabeth Bulcock, of 16, Fir Street, Burnley. He enlisted at Pembrey into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, attached to the 58th 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 between the 11th and the 21st 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 the 1st July, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battles of Pozieres and the Ancre in 1916. They then moved north to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, and fought on the Menin Road, where Joseph was wounded. He was transported back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Haringhe for treatment, but died of wounds there on the 20th September, 1917 age 39. He is buried at Haringhe (Bandaghem) Military Cemetery, Belgium. Not on Memorial.

Frederick Arthur Campbell, Second Lieutenant, Tank Corps. Frederick was the Husband of F. M. Campbell, of Sunny Bank, Gws-cwm Road, Pembrey. He had been commissioned into the Tank Corps, and served with their 2nd Battalion. Frederick was killed in action during the terrible days of the German Spring Offensive on the Somme on the 22nd March, 1918. He was 34 years old, and is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, France. Not on Memorial.

William Johnston Campbell, Private, 310004, Gordon Highlanders. William was born at Stewarton, Ayrshire, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 7th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, attached to the 153rd Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. The Division were in France by early May 1915, and was hurried to the defence of Ypres. The enemy had attacked on the 22nd April 1915, using poison gas for the first time. All available reserves were deployed to stop the Germans taking advantage of the initial surprise. The Division remained in action until moved to the area of Estaires on the River Lys, on the 19th May. They then fought at the Battle of Festubert, and took part in an unsuccessful attack near Givenchy (the Second Action of Givenchy) on the 15th June, 1915, and shortly afterwards moved south to the area north of the River Somme. They relieved a French Division near Hamel, and subsequently took part in several of the engagements that are now considered to comprise the Battle of the Somme 1916, particularly at High Wood in late July 1916. They captured the enemy strong hold of Beaumont-Hamel on the 13th November 1916, taking more than 2000 prisoners. There is now a Divisional memorial at Beaumont-Hamel. During December and January in the bitter winter of 1916-17, the Division remained on the Somme in the area of Courcelette, and saw their next major action in the opening days of the offensive at Arras, as part of the opening attack, the First Battle of the Scarpe. They then fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe before being brought out of the line to rest. They re-entered the line on the 15th April, and eight days later took part in an attack near Roeux, which they captured before moving north to Ypres. Here they took part in the opening assault of the Third Battle of Ypres, on the 31st July, 1917, at the Battle of Pilckem. They advanced on Langemarck before being relieved. They then took part in the Battle of the Menin Road before being moved south, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, attacking in the area of Cantaing and Flesquieres. William was killed in action here on the 20th November, 1917, and is buried at Orival Wood Cemetery, Flesquieres. Not on Memorial.

William Lewis Christie, Third Engineer, Mercantile Marine. William was the Son of Alexander and Alison Turnbull Christie, of "Denholm," Victoria Avenue, Quinton, Birmingham. He served in the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Malda, which was a Clyde built Passenger Cargo Vessel. On the 25th August, 1917 she was torpedoed by the German Submarine U70, 130 miles West by South of Bishop Rock. She had almost finished her voyage from Boston for London. William must have been washed ashore at Pembrey, as he is buried there, at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. He was 28 years old. Not on Memorial.

James Davies, Private, 17075, South Wales Borderers. James was the Son of David and Mary Davies, of Penstar Farm, Pembrey. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who were attached to the 25th Division as Pioneers. The Division landed in France on the 26th September, 1915, and were posted to the Vimy area, where they defended Vimy Ridge against a German attack in May 1916, then moved to the Warloy area and attacked on the 3rd July near Thiepval. James must have been wounded during this abortive attack, and was transported to the Base Hospital at Rouen, where he sadly died of wounds on the 10th July, 1916. He was 23 years old, and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.

William Fanning, Private, 10868, Irish Guards. William was born at Ballymony, Wexford, and resided at Pembrey prior to the war. He enlisted at Llanelli into the 2nd Battalion, Irish Guards, who had begun the war as a Home Service Battalion, and on the 17th August, 1915 the Battalion transferred to the 2nd 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 the 25th 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 in March, 1917 took part in the advance caused by the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Later that year they moved north to Ypres, where they fought at the Battle of Pilckem, where William was killed in action on the 31st July, 1917. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Not on Memorial.

Thomas George, Second Lieutenant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was the Son of John and Lettice George, of Brynhir, Pembrey. He had been commissioned into the 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were attached to the 113th Brigade, 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 the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. The Division suffered terrible casualties at Mametz, and were taken out of the line, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Here they fought at Pilckem and Langemarck, then moved to Armentieres, where they remained from September 1917 until March, 1918 when the German Spring Offensive was launched. The British had been over-run on the Somme, and so in April the Division was moved south, taking up positions North of Albert, from where they weathered the storm of the coming months, until the war turned during the Battle of Amiens, on the 8th August, 1918. The Germans had now lost the upper hand, and the British regained the lost ground on the Somme after an attack which began on the 21st August, with the 38th Welsh in the midst of the attack during the Battle of Albert. Thomas was killed in action just 6 days into the attack, on the 27th August, 1918. He was 24 years old, and is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval.

Frederick George Hallett, Private, 3220, Welsh Guards. Frederick was born in Plymouth. He resided at Pembrey prior to the war, and enlisted at nearby Llanelli into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, attached to the 3rd 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 the 25th 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 in March, 1917 took part in the advance caused by the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line. Later that year they moved north to Ypres, where they fought at the Battle of Pilckem, and then at the Battle of the Menin Road, Battle of Poelcapelle and the First Battle of Passchendaele. November saw them move south again, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai. They remained in the area over the final winter of the war, and were stationed near Gouzeaucourt when the German Spring Offensive hit the area on the 21st March, 1918, at the Battle of St Quentin. The British retreated in the face of this onslaught, fighting at the First Battle of Bapaume, before the Guards Division retreated west and faced the Germans at the First Battle of Arras, 1918. After this, the German Offensive petered out on the Somme, and on the 8th August the Australian Corps advanced towards the town of Villers Brettoneux and won a mighty battle there against the Germans, thus turning the war. On the 21st August the British launched an attack on the Somme, and the Guards Division fought here at the Battle of Albert, and then pushed east, fighting at the Battle of Bapaume. From here on the Allies had the upper hand, and moved towards the Hindenburg Line, where the Guards Division fought at the Battle of Havrincourt and the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Frederick was killed in action here on the 27th September, 1918, and is buried at Louverval Military Cemetery, Doignies.

Alfred James Holt, Private, 32901, Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment. Alfred was born at Brixworth, Northants, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 8th Battalion, Kings Own Royal Lancaster Regiment, which was attached to the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. In 1916 the Battalion fought at the Actions of the Bluff, and at the St Eloi Craters. They were then moved south to the Somme, where they were to take part in the great Battle of the Somme, and fought there at the Battle of Albert, and at the Battle of Bazentin, where they captured Longueval. They then took part in the Battle of Delville Wood, and the Battle of the Ancre, before settling into another bleak winter in France. In May, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the First and Second Battles of the Scarpe, and at the Battle of Arleux and the Third Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Roeux. Again they moved, this time back to Ypres, where they fought in the Third Battle of Ypres, at the Battle of the Menin Road and the Battle of Polygon Wood. In November the Division moved south again, where they fought at the Battle of Cambrai, and they were in the area during March, 1918 when the German Spring Offensive swept through the British lines, at the Battle of St Quentin and the First Battle of Bapaume. They then fought at the First Battle of Arras, 1918 before being moved to Flanders to rebuild. However the Germans switched the focus of their offensive to Flanders, and the Division were caught up in the worst of the fighting there, at the Battle of Estaires, where Alfred was killed in action, on the 13th April, 1918. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Not on Memorial.

Evan Jones, Stoker, K/53294, Royal Navy. Evan was born in Aberystwyth, and was the late Husband of Violet White (formerly Jones), of 5, Council Houses, Ashburnham Road, Pembrey. He served with the Royal Navy at H.M.S. Vivid, which was the Naval Shore Establishment at Devonport. Evan died of pneumonia on the 17th September, 1918 aged 24, and is buried at Swansea (Danygraig) Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

Robert Jones, Private, 20187, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was born at Pembrey, and enlisted at Llanelli into the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The Battalion was attached to the 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, which had landed in France during December 1915, spending 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 the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. Robert was killed in action at Mametz on the 11th July, 1916. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Montague Stanley Melliss, Major, Cameronians. Montague had served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Highland Light Infantry prior to the war, and then served with the 5th Battalion, Cameronians, who were attached to the 19th Brigade, 33rd Division. The Division moved to France during November, 1915, and saw its first major action during the Battles of the Somme, from July, 1916 onwards. They then fought at the Battle of the Scarpe and at Bullecourt, before heading to Ypres, and fighting at the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood. They were still in Flanders when the German Spring Offensive hit, and fought at the Battle of Messines, the Battle of Hazebrouck and the Battle of Bailleul, where the Division played a part in the Defence of Neuve Eglise. They then took part in the First Battle of Kemmel, and recaptured of Ridge Wood, before being sent to the St. Quentin area. Here they took part in the great offensive which was to end the war, fighting at the Battle of the St Quentin Canal, and the Battle of Cambrai, before moving north east and fighting at the Pursuit to the Selle and the Battle of the Selle. The Division was relieved on the 26th October after capturing Englefontaine, on the southern edge of the Forest of Mormal. Back in action on the 5th November it advanced through the forest and crossed the Sambre. It was near Leval in the Sambre valley on the 11th November, 1918. The Division proceeded to concentrate around Berlaimont, and on the 15th November moved to Montigny near Le Cateau, then on the 6th December to Hornoy, west of Amiens. Here it demobilised. The Division ceased to exist on the 30th June 1918. It had suffered casualties of 37,404 killed, wounded and missing during the course of the Great War. Montague sadly died at Swansea Hospital of sickness on the 4th March, 1919, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. Not on Memorial.

Griffith John Owen, Private, 229407, Monmouthshire Regiment. Griffith was born at Pembrey, and served with the 1st Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, which was stationed at Newport at the start of the war, as part of Welsh Border Brigade, Welsh Division. In February 1915 the Battalion left the Division and moved to France, where they were attached to 84th Brigade, 28th Division. The Division landed at Le Havre and moved to the Western Front, where it saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Ypres. Following serious casualties at Ypres, a Composite Brigade was formed, composing of the 2nd Battalion, the Buffs, 2nd Battalion, the Cheshire’s, 1st Battalion, the Welsh, and 1st Battalion, the York and Lancaster. It was dissolved on the 19th May 1915, and the formation assumed its normal configuration, taking part in the Battle of Loos. On the 3rd September, 1915 the Battalion transferred as Pioneers to 46th (North Midland) Division, and saw action at the Battle of Loos. On the 23rd December, 1915 the Division was ordered to proceed to Egypt, leaving the Divisional Ammunition Column (for the 55th Division), the Divisional Train (with the 56th Division) and the Mobile Veterinary Section. Most units reached Egypt via Marseilles by the 13th January, 1916. However on the 21st January, 1916 the move of the Division was countermanded and the units were returned to France, whereupon the other units rejoined. Here the Division took part in the Attack on the Gommecourt Salient, which was a diversionary attack on the 1st July, 1916 intended to draw attention away from the main attack on the Somme, but the Division again suffered large numbers of casualties during the attack. They rested for several months at Arras, and at the end of 1916 took part in Operations on the Ancre. During March, 1917 the Division followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and then fought in the Battle of Arras, taking part in the Battle of Hill 70. In 1918 the Division were still in the area, when they were hit brought into action to attempt to stop the German Offensive. Griffith was killed in action during the desperate battle on the 12th April, 1918 and is remembered on the Arras Memorial, France. Not on Memorial.

William Richard Rees, Gunner, 215412, Royal Field Artillery. William was the Son of William and Ann Rees, of "Gwernfa," Pembrey, and enlisted at Llanelli into the Royal Field Artillery. He was posted to the 107th Battery, 21st Brigade, attached to the Indian Army. William died of sickness in India on the 23rd October, 1918 aged 23, and was buried there at Quetta Government Cemetery. He is now remembered on the Delhi Memorial (India Gate), India.

Owen Richards, Private, M/416802, Royal Army Service Corps. Owen was born at Craig-y-Deilo, Llanddowror on the 22nd of May 1890 and educated there at the Church School. He joined the Army Service Corps, Motor Transport, as Private on November 4th 1918 and was drafted to Woolwich Dockyard, Regimental Number M/416802. He was however taken ill with influenza and bronchial pneumonia a few days after he joined up and died at the Davidson Road War Hospital, Carydon on November 22nd 1918. Owen was 28 years old, and was brought to Pembrey for burial at Pembrey (Bethel) Calvinistic Methodist Churchyard.

Walter Webber, Private, 45452, Welsh Regiment. Walter was born at Bristol, and enlisted at Pembrey into the 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The Battalion was formed in Cardiff during August, 1914, and became attached to the 67th Brigade, 22nd Division. The Division crossed to France in early September 1915, with all units being concentrated near Flesselles by the 9th of the month. However it's stay in France was to be very short, as on the 27th October, 1915 the Division, having been moved by train to Marseilles, began to embark for Salonika. It completed concentration there in November, although the final artillery units were still coming in as late as the 13th December 1915. It remained in the theatre for the rest of the war, taking part in the Retreat from Serbia during December, 1915. Between the 10th to the 18th August 1916 they fought at the battle of Horseshoe Hill, then between the 13th to the 14th September 1916 at the battle of Machukovo. Between the 24th-25th April and the 8th-9th May, 1917 the Division fought at the battle of Doiran, and then on the 18th September 1918 at the Second Battle of Doiran, where Walter was killed in action that day. He is buried at Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. Not on Memorial.

John Edward Zachariah, Private, 56682, Welsh Regiment. John was the Son of Henry and Margaret Zachariah, of 3, Vernon Place, Briton Ferry. John had been born at Pembrey, and had enlisted at Cardiff into the 18th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 119th Brigade, 40th (Bantam) Division. This Division was formed between September and December 1915, composed of bantam units and others which had a mixture of regulation-height and shorter men. Weeding out of very under-sized or unfit men delayed the training programme, and it was not until late spring 1916 that the Division was ready to proceed on active service. The Division moved to France between the 1st and 9th June, and moved to the front near Loos. Late in 1916 they moved south to the Somme, and fought at the Battle of the Ancre, and remained in the area over the winter. In March, 1917 the Germans withdrew to their shortened line, called the Hindenburg Line, and the 40th Division were one of the Divisions that followed the withdrawal. Later in the year they took part in the Battle of Cambrai, playing an important role in the attack on Bourlon Wood. John was killed in action at Cambrai on the 24th November, 1917. He was 25 years old, and has no known grave, and so he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.

 

Pembrey War Memorial

World War Two, 1939-1945

Spencer Rhys Bevan-John, Pilot Officer, 81933, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Spencer was the Son of Rhys Bevan John, B.A., M.R.C.S., L.R.C.P. and Katharine Bevan John, of Pembrey. He was a Scholar of Brasenose College, Oxford, when he volunteered into the RAFVR, and trained as a Pilot. Spencer was posted to 53 Squadron, which flew the Bristol Blenheim IV, based at Thorney Island. Soon after the outbreak of war 53 Squadron moved to France to undertake strategic reconnaissance duties. The Squadron returned to the UK in May 1940 to fly reconnaissance missions from south-east England and in July began bombing sorties. Spencer must have been wounded on one of these sorties, as he died at home on the 30th September, 1940 aged only 19. He is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard. Spencer’s brother D.R.S. Bevan-John was captured by the Italians when he was a crew-member aboard a Sunderland of 228 Squadron, that was shot down in the Mediterranean on the 6th August, 1941.

 

Brinley Colwill, Third Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Brinley was the Son of Leonard Henry and Margaret Elizabeth Colwill, of Pembrey, and served in the Merchant Navy aboard the S.S. Treverbyn (St. Ives). Brinley was killed when serving as the 3rd Engineer on the SS Treverbyn, when she was sunk by the German Submarine U-82, en-route from Russia to Manchester in Convoy SL-89, with a cargo of iron ore on the 21st October, 1941. He was 23 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Evan Arthur Davies, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), 101537, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Evan was the Son of Evan Jenkin and Catherine Davies, and the husband of Elizabeth Lilian Davies, of Pembrey. He served with 50 Squadron, RAF, which flew the Avro Lancaster I, based at Skellingthorpe. In 1942 No. 50 Squadron converted to Avro Manchesters, then to Avro Lancasters, and in October of that year contributed twelve Lancasters to No. 5 Group's celebrated low-Ievel dusk raid on the Schneider works at Le Creusot. In 1943 it took part in the first shuttle-bombing raid (when the targets were a radar factory at Friedrichshafen and the Italian naval base at Spezia), and the epic raid on the German V-weapons experimental establishment at Peenemunde. On the night of the 13th February, 1943 Evan and his crew took off from Skellingthorpe, and formed part of a massive 466 bomber raid on Lorient. Evan’s Lancaster was sadly one of just two that were intercepted and shot down on the outward flight, and it cam down in France. Evan was killed in the crash, aged 32, and is buried at Gavres Communal Cemetery, France. Not on Memorial.

Vincent Howell Davies, Fusilier, 4198779, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Vincent was the Son of Stephen and Sarah Davies, and served with the 1st Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers. In 1942 the Battalion sailed for the Far East, and arrived in India at the end of May, 1942. They fought during the campaign in Burma against the Japanese, which is where Vincent was killed, during the Battle of Kohima, on the 6th May, 1944. He was 26 years old, and is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial.

William David Davies, Able Seaman, D/JX 291205, Royal Navy. William was the Son of David and Sophia Jane Davies, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy at H.M.S. President III. President was a Naval Shore Base, and William had been attached from there to serve on the S.S. Solon II, which was a French ship that had been seized from the Vichy French, and pressed to use with the British Merchant Navy. She was torpedoed and sank off Brazil on the 2nd December, 1942. William was killed with the sinking of the ship that day. He was just 21 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

Lawrence Winson Gange, Private, 3970535, Welch Regiment. Lawrence was the son of Charles and Harriet Gange, of Burry Port, and the husband of Margaret Gange. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welch Regiment, which was in Palestine at the outbreak of war. They served in the Western Desert before being moved to Crete, where they were virtually annihilated, before the survivors were evacuated to North Africa. Here they again suffered badly, and were rebuilt before taking part in the Invasions of Sicily and then Italy, which is where Lawrence was killed on the 19th September, 1944. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Gradara War Cemetery, Italy.

Frederick Gravell, Able Seaman, D/JX 165666, Royal Navy. Frederick was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Gravell, of Pembrey, and served with the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Gloucester. In September 1939, Gloucester was flagship of the 4th Cruiser Squadron, serving in the East Indies and spent the rest of that year patrolling the Indian Ocean. In December, she was moved to Simonstown, South Africa where she was used, unsuccessfully, against German raiders. She was transferred again in May 1940, this time to the Mediterranean, where she experienced plenty of action. She was involved in Malta convoys and the Battle of Calabria on 9 July 1940. An Italian air attack on 8 July had hit the ship's bridge killing or wounding most of the bridge personnel, including the Captain. The second half of 1940 was spent in the eastern Mediterranean and in the Aegean. On the 11th January 1941, while supporting Operation Excess (several coordinated convoys), Gloucester was hit by a bomb which failed to explode. In March, she was at the Battle of Matapan and, in April, performed several bombardments along the North African coast. A second bomb hit caused minor damage. Gloucester formed part of a naval force acting against German military transports to Crete, with some success. On the 22nd May, 1941, while in the Kithera Channel, about 14 miles north of Crete, she was attacked by German Stuka dive bombers and sank, having sustained at least four heavy bomb hits and three near-misses. 723 lives were lost, with just 82 survivors. Her sinking is considered to be one of Britain's worst wartime naval disasters. Frederick was one of the poor souls lost aboard the Gloucester that day. He was 33 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

Benjamin Griffiths, Private, 3963640, Welch Regiment. Benjamin served with the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment, which was the local Territorial Battalion for West Wales. Very little is known of him, but he died at sea on the 2nd July, 1940 and is remembered on the Brookwood Memorial, Surrey. He was 33 years old. Two steamships were sunk that day. The Aeneas was bombed and sank by German Aircraft off Plymouth, and the Arandora Star was torpedoed off the Northwest coast of Ireland by the U-47, commanded by Gunther Prien. Over 600 Italian and German detainees who were being transported to Canada were lost in the sinking of the Arandora Star. Benjamin was probably aboard one of these ships.

Gwynfryn James Griffiths, Civilian. Gwynfryn was the Son of William J. and Louisa Griffiths, of 4 Block, Penybedd, Pembrey. He worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory at Pembrey, which made TNT for use in shells. On the 10th July, 1940 the factory was bombed by the Luftwaffe, and Gwynfryn was one of many injured men brought to the Llanelli Hospital for treatment, but he sadly died that same day. He was just 19 years old, and is buried at Llanelli Rural District Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

James Havard, Police Sergeant. James was a Policeman, of Ashburnham Road, Pembrey, who was on duty at the Pembrey Royal Ordnance Factory on the day of the 10th July, 1940 when it was bombed. He was badly injured, and taken to Llanelli Hospital, but sadly died there the following day, of the 11th July, 1940. James was 64 years old, and is buried at Llanelli Borough Cemetery. Not on Memorial.

David Alan Vaughan John, Sergeant (Pilot), 1385838, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. David was the Son of Arthur S. and Ethel E. John. He served with 35 Squadron, RAF, which was re-formed in November, 1940 for the express purpose of introducing the new Handley Page Halifax into operational service. It flew its first sorties on Halifaxes on the night of 11/12th March 1941, when the target was Le Havre. During the rest of 1941 the squadron bombed a variety of targets in Germany and occupied France, some of the raids being undertaken in daylight. In July No. 35 made its first raid on Berlin, and in September made the 1,700-mile trip to Turin in Northern Italy. In February 1942, it was one of the squadrons which attempted to stop the German warships Scharnhorst and Gneisenau during their escape dash from Brest to North German ports. April saw two unsuccessful attacks on the Tirpitz lying near Trondheim fjord, and at the end of May the squadron contributed 18 Halifaxes to the historic 1,000-bomber raid on Cologne. When the Pathfinder Force was formed in August 1942, with the object of securing more concentrated and effective bombing by marking targets with incendiary bombs and flares dropped from aircraft flown by experienced crews, using the latest navigational equipment, No. 35 was one of the five squadrons selected to form the nucleus of the new force. The first Pathfinder Force attack was against Flensburg on 18/19th August 1942, and the new technique soon proved its value. David was killed when his Halifax was brought down over Holland on the 28th August, 1942. He is buried at Flushing (Vlissingen) Northern Cemetery.

Henry James Jones, Sick Bay Assistant, D/MX 80956, Royal Navy. Henry was the Son of Abraham and Edith Jones, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Jaguar. HMS Jaguar was a J class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by William Denny, Brothers and Company, Limited, of Dumbarton in Scotland on the 25th November 1937, launched on the 22nd November, 1938 and commissioned on the 12th September, 1939. Jaguar participated in Operation Abstention in February and the Battle of Cape Matapan in March 1941. Jaguar was struck by two torpedoes fired by the enemy German submarine U-652 and sank off Sidi Barrani in Egypt on the 26th March 1942 with the loss of 190 of her crew. Henry was one of the men lost that day. He was 21 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

William Thomas Jones, Gunner, 1063392, Royal Artillery. William was the Husband of Gladys May Jones, of Pembrey and served with the 563rd Coastal Regiment, Royal Artillery. This was an Anti-Aircraft unit that had been formed at Deal in April, 1941, but little else can be found of them. William died on the 11th October, 1943 aged 37, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard.

John C. Knowles, Fourth Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. John was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Reginald Knowles, of Pembrey and served in the Merchant Navy aboard the M.V. Darlington Court (London). Darlington Court was a British Motor Cargo Vessel of 4,974 tons built in 1936. On the 20th May 1941 when on route from New York via Halifax to Liverpool in Convoy HX-126, and carrying a cargo of 8,116 tons of wheat and aircraft, she was torpedoed by German submarine U-556 when 126 miles south of Cape Farewell. The master Charles Hurst, ten crew members and one gunner from the Darlington Court were picked up by the rescue ship Hontestroom and landed at Reykjavik on the 27th May. 22 crew members, three gunners and three passengers were lost, one of which was the 20 year old John Knowles. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial.

John Mansel-Lewis, Flying Officer (Pilot), 42248, Royal Air Force. John was born on the 11th October, 1920, the Son of Archie and Muriel Mansel-Lewis, of Cliff Cottage, Pembrey. He was educated at Larbrook, Bracknell and at Stowe, and joined the RAF in May, 1939. John was posted to 27 Squadron, which flew the Bristol Blenheim IF, based at Kallang in Malaya. When the Japanese invaded Malaya, the Squadron virtually ceased to exist. John was killed there on the 4th April, 1941 aged just 20, and is buried at Kranji War Cemetery, Singapore.

John S. Moss, Gunner, 1761124, Royal Artillery. John was the Son of Charles and Martha Moss, of Pembrey, and served with the 56th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery. The Regiment had served during the Battle of Norway, and after evacuation had moved to North Africa, taking part in the Campaign in the Western Desert. They then took part in the invasion of Italy, where John was killed on the 13th November, 1944. He was 37 years old, and is buried at Florence War Cemetery, Italy.

William Richard Rees, M.I.D., Staff Sergeant, 7608876, Royal Army Ordnance Corps. William was the Son of John and Gwenllian Rees, of Pembrey, and served with the Royal Army Ordnance Corps. William had been Mentioned in Despatches at some time during the war, and died in Egypt on the 9th January, 1944 aged 25. He is buried at Kantara War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.

David Edward Reynolds, Private, 14206549, The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). David was the Son of Frederick and Dorcas Reynolds, of Pembrey, and served with the 2/7th Battalion, the Queen’s Royal Regiment. The Battalion had been in France with the BEF in 1940, and had been evacuated from Dunkirk. They then joined the 8th Army in the Western Desert, and fought throughout the campaign there, and at the invasion of Italy, at Salerno and Anzio. David was killed in Italy on the 29th January, 1945. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Forli War Cemetery, Italy.

William Leyson Rhys, Sergeant (Pilot), 1380898, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son of Tudor Leyson Rhys and Miriam Rhys, of Pembrey. There is very little information available about William, except that he died on the 31st October, 1942 aged just 20, and is buried at Pembrey (St. Illtyd) Churchyard.

Alexander Macdonald Smith, Second Lieutenant, 99738, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. Alexander was the Son of Alex and Ada Macdonald Smith, of Pembrey, and served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Northumberland Fusiliers. The Battalion served as a Machine Gun unit, attached to the 51st (Highland) Division, which was stationed in France on the Maginot Line in 1940. They had thus escaped being encircled with the rest of the BEF at Dunkirk, and was then pulled back to the west of Northern France, where it was attached to the French 10th Army. For some time, it was forced to hold a line four times longer than that which would normally be expected of a division. During this period, the 154th Brigade was detached and withdrawn successfully. However, the 152nd Brigade and 153rd Brigade were trapped at Saint-Valéry-en-Caux, and surrendered on the 12th June, 1940. Alexander was killed that very day of the surrender of the Battalion. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Houdetot Churchyard, France.

Gordon Ashton Twyford, Writer, D/MX 64722, Royal Navy. Gordon was the Son of Christopher B. and Mary Twyford, of Pembrey, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Lively. She was an L-Class Destroyer, and had seen much service in the North Atlantic, and during the Battle of Norway, before being moved to the Mediterranean, where she took part in the Malta Convoys. On the 10th May, 1942 the Lively was sent as part of a small task force to intercept a German Convoy on passage to Benghazi between Crete and North African coast. The force had been warned that there was limited air cover, and to return to Gibraltar if any enemy aircraft were spotted, but the following day they were spotted and attacked by Dive Bombers, and the Lively was sank very quickly in a position 100 miles NE of Tobruk with heavy loss of life. Gordon lost his life aboard her that day. He was 25 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

Thomas Henry Williams, Signalman, 2342946, Royal Corps of Signals. Thomas was the Son of David and Harriet Williams, and the husband of Marion Kathleen Williams, of Burry Port. He served with 5 Air Formation Signals, Royal Corps of Signals, which served in the Middle East, in support of the Royal Air Force. They had been formed in Cyprus on the 21st February, 1942, and had moved to Palestine by 1943. Thomas was killed there, sometime between the 26th and 27th August, 1943. He was 24 years old, and is buried at Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel.