Lampeter Velfrey War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
Edward Arnold Frederick Allen, Private, 6386, Royal Fusiliers. Edward was born at Foochow, China, the Son of Edward Launcelot Baugh Allen and Blanche Adelaide Allen, of Blackhaldern, Narberth. He enlisted into the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which were attached to the 54th Brigade, 18th (eastern) Division. The 10th RF were also known as the Stockbrokers Battalion, due to their main bulk being made of of City businessmen. They transferred to the 111th Brigade, 37th (London) Division before moving to France at the end of July, 1915, and saw their first major attack during the attack on Gommecourt, which was a diversionary attack for the main Somme Offensive. During the first couple of days of the Somme Offensive, another Division, the 34th, had suffered terrible casualties, and so Edward was transferred to the 34th Division temporarily, along with the other men of the 111th Brigade. They then fought at the Bazentin, Pozieres and Flers-Courcelette, before returning to their own Division, when they fought at the Battle of the Ancre. Edward was wounded at the Ancre, and was transferred to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station at Varennes, where he Died of Wounds aged just 22 on the 21st November, 1916. Edward is buried at Varennes Military Cemetery.
Harry Montague Allen, Private, 20965, Welsh Regiment. Harry was born in Prendergast, Haverfordwest, in 1896, the eldest son of Thomas & Edith Allen. Thomas had been born in Amroth, and his wife Edith in Haverfordwest, and they had four other children. Ellen Allen, Frederick, Thomas and Edwin Jack Allen, who were born in Neyland. Thomas was a Plumber with Great Western Railway, and he was transferred to their Depot at Whitland, where the family made their home at 3, Glendale Terrace. Harry followed his father into the Railway, becoming a Carpenter at the Llanelli Depot. At the outbreak of War, Harry was enlisted into the Army, entering the 15th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. Raised as part of the Welsh Army Corps, the Carmarthenshire Battalion fought in some of the major actions of the war. The Battalion was first raised in Swansea during October and November, 1914, by the Carmarthenshire County Committee, attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division, and was composed at first of men recruited from Lancashire. Recruiting in Lancashire was stopped at the end of 1914, and all subsequent recruiting was carried out in Carmarthenshire and South Wales. The preliminary training of the battalion was carried out at Rhyl. From 28th April, 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, part of K4. In the summer of 1915 the Battalion moved with the remainder of the Welsh Division to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester, where it completed its training and equipping, and embarked for France from Folkestone on December 5th, 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held nearly every section of the British line from Givenchy on the La Bassée Canal to Laventie, about six miles South of Armentières. At the end of May, 1916, the Battalion moved South with the remainder of the 38th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme, which commenced on July 1st 1916. The 38th Division were tasked with the taking of the infamous Mametz Wood. The first attack on Mametz Wood was on 7th July, when the division lost heavily in 'Death Valley' during the advance on the 'Hammer Head'. The next attack went in on the 10th, and by 14th July the wood was cleared - but at the cost of over 5,000 casualties in the 38th (Welsh) Division. It was during the first attacks on the wood that Harry Montague Allen was mortally wounded. He was shot in the chest by a German sniper, and brought back by rail to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly, in the Somme valley. Harry Allen died of his wounds on the 11th July, 1916, and was laid to rest in Heilly Station Cemetery, in grave II.A.35.
Richard Lancelot Baugh Allen, Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery. Richard was the Son of His Honour Judge Wilfred Baugh Allen, of Irosemount, Tenby, and resided at Cilrhiw, Lampeter Velfrey. He had received a commission into the Royal Field Artillery, and was posted to the 67th Brigade, RFA, which was attached to the 13th (Western) Division. The Division moved to Mudros in July, 1915 and from there moved to Gallipoli between the 6th to the 16th July, landing at Cape Helles. The Division then moved to the ANZAC sector, and fought at the Battles of Sari Bair, Russell’s Top, and Hill 60. They moved again, to Suvla, and on the 15th October, 1915 the 67th Brigade, RFA joined the 10th Division in Salonika. They remained in Salonika until early September, 1917 when they moved to Egypt. They then spent the remainder of the war fighting in Palestine, until then end of the war, when they moved back to Cairo. Richard Died of illness here on the 27th December, 1918 aged 31, and is buried at Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Lionel Raymond Whateley Allen, Lieutenant, South Wales Borderers. Lionel was the younger brother of Edward, and was also born in China, the Son of Edward Launcelot Baugh and late Blanche Adelaide Allen, of Blackadern, Narberth. Lionel had received a commission and served in the 9th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which had been founded at Pembroke Dock in October, 1914 and was used as a Training Battalion. Lionel would have been attached to another Battalion in France, but as yet the unit is unknown, and he was Killed in Action at the Battle of Bapaume on the 27th March 1918, aged 21. Lionel is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial.
James Beynon, Private, 13097, Welsh Regiment. James was born in Robeston Wathen, the son of Alfred and Sarah Beynon, and the family later moved to Whitland, residing at Gorse Farm. James enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Division were one of the first to arrive in France, and fought during the epic retreat from Mons to the Aisne, where the German advance was stopped before moving to Ypres, where again they helped stop the Germans taking the ancient city. After a hard winter at Ypres, the Welsh fought at the Battle of Aubers, which was the first major Allied offensive of the war. James was Killed in Action here, on the 3rd May, 1915 aged only 20. He is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg-L’Avoue.
George William Henry Bodman, Private, 2060, Welsh Guards. George was born in Narberth, but resided in Velfrey Road, Whitland prior to the war. George enlisted at Cardiff into the newly formed Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards were raised under a blaze of publicity after the Royal Warrant on 26th February, 1915. After being formed, they became part of the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, which was formed in France in August, 1915. Their first taste of battle was at Loos, before being brought south to the Somme in 1916. During the Somme Offensive the Division fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and this is where George was Killed in Action on the 16th September, 1916. George’s body was lost on the battlefield and never recovered, and so he is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial.
Cecil Frank Bye, Private, STK/923, Royal Fusiliers. Cecil was born at Lampeter Velfrey, the Son of John and Sarah Ruth Annie Bye, later of School House, Rotherwick, Basingstoke, Hants. He enlisted in London into the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which were also known as the ‘Stockbrokers Battalion’, which formed part of the 111th Brigade, 37th Division. In late July, 1915 the Division landed in France, and moved to positions north of the Somme, at Gommecourt. They took part in a diversionary attack on Gommecourt on the 1st July, 1916 and suffered terrible casualties. The 111th Brigade were then attached to the depleted 34th Division, and fought with them at the Battles of Albert and Bazentin Ridge, where Cecil was Killed in Action on the 15th July, 1916. He was 25 years old, and is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial. Not on Memorial.
James Verdi Davies, Private, 13116, Welsh Regiment. James was born at Norton, Lampeter Velfrey, the Son of Mrs. Elizabeth Davies, later of Lowmead House, Whitland. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment which formed part of the 3rd Brigade, 1st Division. The Division were one of the first to arrive in France, and fought during the epic retreat from Mons to the Aisne, where the German advance was stopped before moving to Ypres, where again they helped stop the Germans taking the ancient city. After a hard winter at Ypres, the Welsh fought at the Battle of Aubers, which was the first major Allied offensive of the war. Here James fought alongside his friend James Beynon who he had enlisted with, and was Killed in Action just two weeks later, on the 25th May, 1915. James is remembered alongside James Beynon on the Le Touret Memorial.
Arthur George Jacobs, Lance Corporal, 12338, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. George was born at Whitland, and enlisted at Llanelli into the 8th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which formed part of the 40th Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. The Battalion moved with the Division to the Med, arriving at Mudros by July 1915, before landing on Gallipoli that month. On Gallipoli the Division saw more than their fair share of fighting, taking part in the Battles of Sari Bair, Russells Top and Hill 60, before moving to Suvla Bay where they withheld the Turkish attacks on January 7th, 1916. After evacuating to Egypt the Division moved to Mesopotamia, where they attempted the relief of Kut. George Died of Wounds in Mesopotamia on the 26th January, 1917 and is buried at Amara War Cemetery.
Herbert Benjamin Thomas Lewis, Corporal, 16292, Northamptonshire Regiment. Herbert was born in Lampeter Velfrey on the 22nd March, 1879, the son of Robert and Mary Lewis, late of Waunfaur Farm. The family moved to Hackleton, Northampton, which is where Herbert enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on the 31st October, 1914. He transferred into their 2nd Battalion, part of 24th Brigade, 8th Division. Herbert arrived in France on the 2nd March, 1915 and fought in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, and was Killed in Action during the Battle of Aubers Ridge on the 9th May, 1915 aged 37. In a letter to Mary after the battle, his Lieutenant Haldane wrote- ‘I am sorry to say that details as to what happened on 9th May are very hard to get, but I do know that Herbert B T Lewis advanced with his company in the attack. They were the leading company, and he with many of his company members were caught with machine gun fire.’ Not on Memorial.
John Lloyd, Private, Canadian Pioneers. Born at Meline. Cannot presently be identified.
L. O. Morgan, Private, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Ael Y Bryn, Lampeter Velfrey. Cannot presently be identified.
William John Phillips, Private, 53991, Welsh Regiment. William was born at Blaengwaith Noah, Lampeter Velfrey, the Son of David and Elizabeth Phillips, later of 5, Slade Lane, Haverfordwest. William had enlisted at Narberth into the 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 115th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division landed in France in December, 1915 and moved to positions in ‘The Nursery Area’ near Armentieres. After several months here, they moved south in June, 1916 to take part in the Battle of the Somme. Their task was to capture the formidably fortified Mametz Wood. The first attack went in on the 7th July, but was repelled with heavy casualties, and it was over a week later that the Wood fell. The terrible casualties incurred by the Division here forced them to be pulled from the line, and moved north to Ypres to rebuild. It was at Ypres that the Division took part in the Battle of Third Ypres, or Passchendaele. The Welsh fought at the Battles of Pilckem Ridge, and at Langemarck, where William was Killed in Action on the 27th August, 1917 aged just 19. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
David Pugh, Lance Corporal, 3278, South African Expeditionary Force. David was born at Velfrey Road, Whitland. Not much is known of him, but he emigrated to South Africa, possibly even staying on there after the Boer War, and he enlisted on the 17th August, 1915 for service in the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force. David was sent to France, as a member of the 4th (Scottish) South African Infantry Regiment, part of the 9th (Scottish) Division, and fought during the Battle of the Somme, where David was Killed in Action on the 10th July, 1916. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing.
Levi Thomas, Private, 8226, South Wales Borderers. Levi was born in Plasnewydd, Whitland, and enlisted at Pontypridd into the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, part of the 87th Brigade, 29th Division. The 2nd Battalion had a very interesting war to say the least. They were based in Tientsin in China at the outbreak of war, where they aided the Japanese army to force the German garrison from Tsingtao. They embarked from Hong Kong on the 4th December 1914 for Plymouth. Once back on British soil, they joined the 87th Brigade, 29th Division at Rugby, and this is where Thomas Jackson joined his Battalion. On the 17th March 1915 they sailed from Avonmouth on the SS Canada for Alexandria, and on the 25th April 1915 they landed at Gallipoli. Levi was Killed in Action during the landings on Gallipoli that Day. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial to the missing.
David Arthur Williams, Private, 45980, South Lancashire Regiment. David was born at Ivy Cottage, Lampeter Velfrey, the Son of John & Ruth Williams later of Coxlake, Narberth. He enlisted at Narberth into the 4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, who were attached as Pioneers to the 55th Division. The Division had formed in France in January, 1916 and took up positions near Arras. On the 25th July they moved south, and fought in the latter stages of the Somme Offensive, at the Battles of Guillemont, Ginchy, Flers-Courcelette and Morval. In October, 1916 the Division moved north, and took up positions east of Ypres at Railway Wood, and they remained in the area until the following year, when they took part in the Battles of Third Ypres, or Passchendaele. They fought at the Battles of Pilckem and the Menin Road, but then moved again, this time to take part in the Battle of Cambrai. After a hard winter at Cambrai, they moved to Festubert in February, where they came under attack by the German Offensive. They fought at the Battle of Estaires, and at Hazebrouck, and then in the final fighting of the war, during the Offensive in Artois. At some time in the beginning of 1918 David had returned home, due to illness. He Died on the 29th June, 1918 aged just 18, and is buried at Lampeter Velfrey (Bryn Sion) Congregational Chapelyard.
Lampeter Velfrey War Memorial
World War Two, 1939-1945
Dalis George Davies, Pilot Officer, 48776, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Dalis was the Son of Benjamin and Annie Davies, of 12, Velfrey Road, Whitland. Dalis was sent to Canada to undergo Pilot training, through the British Commonwealth Air Training Plan. This scheme in Canada produced thousands of well trained aircrew, more than enough to keep the various air forces of the Commonwealth supplied with men throughout the course of the war, but thousands died whilst training in Canada, and one of these unfortunate men was Dalis, who died on the 8th September, 1942, aged 24. He is buried at Caron Municipal Cemetery, Ontario.
Thomas Eric Davies, Leading Aircraftman, 1832131, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Thomas was the Son of John Albert & Mary Davies of 4, Brynvale, Lampeter Velfrey. Not much is known of him, but he served in the R.A.F.V.R., and died at home on the 6th July, 1943 aged only 19. He is buried at Lampeter Velfrey, in Bryn Sion Congregational Chapelyard.
Gilbert Ronald Lewis, Sergeant, 980451, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Gilbert was the Son of Joseph Walter and Elizabeth Mabel Lewis, of Manchester House, Lampeter Velfrey. He had enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, and was posted to 236 Squadron. On the 31st October 1939, No 236 Squadron reformed at Stradishall in Fighter Command and received Blenheim fighters in December. It moved to North Coates at the end of February 1940 to join Coastal Command, but reverted to Fighter Command in April on arrival at Speke. During May and June the squadron flew defensive patrols over shipping in the English Channel and on 4th July rejoined Coastal Command for fighter and reconnaissance duties. A detachment was based in Northern Ireland from 18th September, which became No.272 Squadron on 19th November, but the bulk of the squadron's operations were flown from Cornwall and Pembrokeshire until 9th February 1942, when it moved to East Anglia and became a cadre unit, its Beaufighters having been withdrawn from service with other squadrons. It became operational again on 15th March with Beaufighters, which it used for escort and shipping reconnaissance missions. In July 1942 it began taking part in attacks on enemy shipping off the Dutch coast, while detachments flew patrols over the Bay of Biscay to protect Coastal's anti-submarine aircraft from enemy fighters. Gilbert was Killed in Action during one such raid, on the 24th July, 1942 aged 25. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
David Parry Thomas, Fusiliers, 4097613, Royal Welch Fusiliers. David was the Son of John and Esther Thomas, of 14, Velfrey Road, Whitland. He served in the 1st Battalion, R.W.F., which was posted to the Far East in March 1942, serving in India and Burma. At the end of the War in the East, the RWF moved back to India on Garrison duties, and David died in India on the 9th December, 1945 aged 28. He is buried in Kirkee War Cemetery.