Short Biographies of the Carmarthen and Llanelli Men

William Arthur, Private, 8625, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. William was serving with the 1st Welsh when he became ill. He died in Hospital at Noupoort, on 18 June 1900, and is buried at Noupoort, Northern Cape

James Stanley Bagnall-Gething, Lieutenant, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. James was the son of James Edwards Gething and Maria Llewellyn Bagnall, of 47, Lancaster Gate, London. He was educated at Harrow, and commissioned into the South Wales Borderers in January 1900, being promoted Lieutenant January 1901. James volunteered for service in South Africa and sailed there with his battalion in February 1900. He served continuously up to the time of his death, when on 3 July 1901, at Taungs, he died of injuries received through falling off his horse on the previous day. James is buried at Vryburg. His mother Maria was the daughter of James Bagnall, of Castle Hill House, Carmarthen. His younger brother Hugh Bagnall Gething was born at Llanddarog, and killed during the Great War.

Harry Baskerville, Sapper, 4678, Royal Engineers Telegraph Section. Harry was born in Devon in 1868. He died of disease in hospital at Kaapsehoop on 5 May 1901. He is buried at Kaapschehoop, Mpumalanga.

F. J. Brown, Lance Corporal, 1585, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Killed in Action during the Battle of  Karee Sidings on 29 March 1900. He is buried at Karee, North West Province. The British lost 30 killed, 155 wounded and five missing in action that day, while the burghers lost three killed and 18 wounded.

C. Davies, Private, 8866, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in Action during the Welsh Regiment’s successful assault on the strongly defended Boer position at Driefontein on 10 March 1900. He is buried at Driefontein, Bosrand

Joseph Davies, Corporal, 2109, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Joseph was Killed in Action during the Welsh Regiment’s successful assault on the strongly defended Boer position at Driefontein on 10 March 1900. He is buried at Driefontein, Bosrand.

W. Davies, Lance Corporal, 2901, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Taken ill with Dysentery, and died in hospital at Woodstock, Cape Town on 28 April 1900. He is buried at Maitland, Cape Town.

W. D. Davies, Private, 2nd Brabants Horse. Died at Queenstown on 5 June 1902, a week after the Boer surrender was signed. He is buried at Queenstown, Eastern Cape.

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

William Logie Lloyd Fitzwilliams, Corporal, 7301, 1st Battalion, Argyll & Sutherland Highlanders (Princess Louise's). William was born on 5 August 1879 at Llandyfriog, the son of Charles Home Lloyd Fitzwilliams and Margaret Alice Crawford. He died in South Africa on 20 May 1901.

Henry George Hall, Private, 9th Battalion, 49th (Montgomeryshire) Imperial Yeomanry. Henry died of Disease at Springfontein on 2 February 1902. He is buried at Springfontein, Free State.

Richard Howell, Corporal, 248, Diamond Fields Horse. Richard was Killed in Action at Carters Ridge, Kimberley on 28 November 1899. He is buried at Kimberley, and commemorated on the Honoured Dead Memorial.

W. J. Jacobs, Private, 5892, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of Enteric fever at Ladysmith on 28 April 1900. He is buried at Thornhill, Ladysmith.

W. James, Private, 6161, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Died of Enteric fever at Krugersdorp on 13 April 1901. He is buried at Krugersdorp, Gauteng.

William James, Private, 5670, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. William died of Enteric fever at Kimberley on 20 January 1901. He is buried at West End Cemetery, Kimberley.

Dan Jones, Private, 1241, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Dan died of Disease at Bloemfontain on 8 May 1900. He is buried at Bloemfontein, Free State.

George Jones, Private, 6340, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. George died of Disease at Waterval Onder on 24 February 1901. He is buried at Waterval Onder, Mpumalanga.

John Jones, Private, 6633, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. John was Killed In Action at Modderfontein on 2 February 1901. He is buried at Potchesfstroom, North West Province.

William Frederick Jones, Corporal, Rhodesia Regiment. William died of Wounds at Gaberones Crocodile Pools on 13 February 1900. He is buried at Gaberones, which is today located in Botswana.

Frederick Lewis, Trooper, 24086, 1st Battalion, 1st (Wiltshire) Imperial Yeomanry. Frederick died at Harrismith. He is one of only three Wiltshire Yeomanry men to have died during the Boer War, all from disease, but the date of his death or place of burial is not known.

W. Morgan, Lance Corporal, Midland Mounted Rifles. Killed in Action near Waterkloof, Mortimer on 20 June 1901. He is buried at Cradock, Eastern Cape.

Thomas Morris, Lieutenant, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers). Thomas was born in May 1879, the only son of Thomas Morris, Esq., of Coomb, Llangynog, Carmarthenshire,. He was educated at Cheltenham, before gaining his commission into the South Wales Borderers, and in October 1899 joined the 6th Dragoon Guards, after passing second on the Cavalry List, and was promoted Lieutenant May 1900. Thomas volunteered to serve in the Boer War, and took part in the advance on Johannesburg and Pretoria, the subsequent engagements around Belfast and Machadadorp and the advance to Baberton.  On 26 January 1902, Thomas had been called on to surrender after a brief melee against a Boer force near Oshoek. On refusing, he was shot dead, and was buried by the Boers in a farmyard at Oshoek, Transvaal. Thomas was just 22 years of age.

Tom Owens, Private, 5509, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Tom was killed in Action at Paardeberg Drift on 18 February 1900, during the retreat from Kimberley. He is buried at Vendusi Drift, Paardeberg.

Thomas Parry, Private, 33761, 11th Battalion, 34th (Middlesex) Imperial Yeomanry. Thomas was Killed in Action at Groenkop on 25 December 1901. He is buried at Town Cemetery, Harrismith.

T. L. Richards, Private, 5666, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in Action near Elandshoek on 20 May 1901. He is buried at Barberton, Gauteng Province.

Samuel Smedley, Private, 2664, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Samuel was Killed in Action at Driefontein on 10 March 1900. He is buried at Bosrand, Driefontein. The Smedley family lived at Llanelli, and suffered more pain in the summer of 1900, when twin girls, Gladys Pretoria and Sybil Mafeking Smedley were born, but sadly died within weeks of each other.

Thomas Thomas, Private, 5729, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was Killed in Action at Frederikstad on 25 October 1900. He is buried at Potchesfstroom, North West Province.

John Wales, Trooper, 3672, 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers). John was Killed in Action near Klipstapel on 23 April 1901. He is buried at Ermelo, Mpumalanga.

Ernest Robert Webb, Trooper, 23361, 9th Battalion, 30th (Pembrokeshire Yeomanry) Company. Ernest died of Disease at Harrismith on 29 May 1901. He is buried at Harrismith Town Cemetery.

S. Williams, Shoeing Smith, 9th Battalion, 88th (Welsh Yeomanry) Company. Died of disease in South Africa. Nor more is currently known of him.

Stanley Williams, Trooper, 23174, 21st/83rd Sharpshooters, Imperial Yeomanry. Stanley was Killed In Action near Sanderton on 22 August 1901, during the siege of the garrison town. He is buried at Standerton, Mpumalanga.

William Arthur Glanmor Williams, Lieutenant, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. William was born on 18 September 1873, the Son of Hugh Williams and Elizabeth Anthony, of Cobden Villa, Ferryside, Carmarthenshire. He was educated at Clifton College, then went straight to Sandhurst and was commissioned in the 2nd Battalion the South Wales Borderers in May 1893. William served with distinction with the Royal Niger Company, in West Africa, and was awarded the Distinguished Service Order. When the Boer War broke out he volunteered for active duty and arrived in South Africa in February 1900 where he was attached to the 8th Mounted Infantry as staff officer. On 6 November 1900, a force including the 8th Mounted Infantry surprised a large Boer encampment outside Bothaville, in the Orange Free State. The Boer Commander De Wet and President Steyn of the Orange Free State managed to escape. During the battle Colonel Ross, William’s commander, came under heavy sniper fire, which wounded Ross. William ran out under heavy fire and dragged his commander to safety, but was hit several times, and died shortly afterwards. In the despatch of Lord Kitchener of 8 May 1901, the death of William is mentioned, and another report stated that had William survived, he would have been recommended for the Victoria Cross. William is buried within the Garden of Rememberance at Bothaville. The inscription on the gravestone reads; ‘In Memory of Lieut. William Arthur Glanmor Williams DSO., 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers. Who fell in Action near this spot, November 6th 1900. Aged 27 years.’ William was also Mentioned in Despatches for his gallantry, on 10 September 1901.