Letterston War Memorial

World War One, 1914-1918

David John Davies, Mate, Mercantile Marine. David was the on of Henry Morgan Davies and Elizabeth Davies (nee Richards), of White Gate, Trecwn, Letterston, Pembrokeshire. Born at Haverfordwest, he enlisted into the Mercantile Marine, and was a Mate aboard the S.S. "Holmtown" (London) when he died, aged just 19, on the 6^th February, 1918. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. (Not on Letterston Memorial)

David John Evans, Gunner, W/829, Royal Field Artillery. David was born in Letterston to James and Rachel Evans, of Green Plain Cottage, Letterston. He enlisted at Bridgend into the 54th Battery, 39th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. This was a regular Army Battery, attached to the 1^st Division, and they had been in France since the retreat from Mons in August, 1914. He was Killed in Action during the Battle of the Somme, on the 13th August 1916, aged 22. David was buried in Quarry Cemetery, Montauban, in Grave IV. H. 10.

Samuel Henry Evans, Private, 25083, Welsh Regiment. Samuel was born in Letterston, the son of James and Rachel Evans, of "Blonfair," West St., Newport. He enlisted at Bridgend into the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, part of the 114^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division. Samuel must have been taken Prisoner of War at some time, as he Died in Germany, aged 21, on the 21^st July, 1918. Samuel is buried in Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany, in Grave V. F. 4.

William Griffiths. Guardsman, 2141, Welsh Guards. William was born in St. Issell’s, the brother of John Griffiths, of Jeffreston, Pembrokeshire.  He enlisted at Pembroke into the 1^st Battalion of the Welsh Guards, part of 3^rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The Welsh Guards were formed in France during August 1915, and were blooded at the Battle of Loos in September 1915. They moved to the Somme, and took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, where the famous photo of a Mark I tank rolling through the main street of Flers was taken. (This was the first time a tank was ever used in Battle). William was Killed in Action on the 10^th September, 1916, and is buried at London Cemetery & Extension, Longueval, in Collective Grave IX. E. 10-15.

William Meurig Harries, Private, 13746, Welsh Regiment. William was born in Llanrhian, to Mr. and Mrs. William Harries, of Torbant, Croesgoch, Letterston, Pembrokeshire. He was educated at St. David's County School, and joined the 8th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment in September 1914. The C.W.G.C. show that he had transferred into the 8^th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment, but they formed part of a Division that didn’t go to Gallipoli, so there is a possible error in their database. William was Killed in Action at Gallipoli on the 10^th August, 1915, aged just 20. He is remembered on the Helles Memorial, on Panel 35 to 37. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

William Howells, Gunner, 102610, Royal Garrison Artillery. William was born at Llanfairnnanty, Pembrokeshire, and was the husband of Charlotte Howells, of Llanfair Cottage, Trecwn, Letterston. William enlisted at Letterston into the 2^nd (London) Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. William was Killed in Action during the Battle of Passchendaele on the 22^nd August, 1917, aged 37, and is buried in Ypres Town Cemetery Extension. The exact location of his grave is unknown, and so he is remembered on Special Memorial 6, inside the Cemetery. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

John Hughes, Private, 54156, Welsh Regiment. John was born at Porthgain, near Llanrian, Pembrokeshire, and resided at Letterston with his sister prior to the war. Their father had moved to Pembrokeshire from North Wales, where he worked as a Slateworker, and met and married their mother locally. John enlisted at Swansea, into the 13^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 114^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December, 1915 and moved to positions in the 'Nursery Sector' near Fleurbaix. In June they marched south, and took up positions on the Somme, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The first attack went in on the 7th July, and it was several days later that the wood finally fell to the Welsh, after they had sufffered terrible casualties. The British High Command were unhappy at the time taken by the Division to capture the Wood, and so they were removed from the line and sent to Ypres to rebuild and train. John was Killed in Action while the Division were in reserve at Ypres, on the 4^th December, 1916. He is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, in Grave III. F. 27. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

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William Charles Henry Jeavons, Bombardier, 72383, Royal Garrison Artillery. William was born in Letterston, the son of Thomas John and Elizabeth Jeavons, of Liverpool. He was the husband of Dorothy Hallam Fitzpatrick (formerly Jeavons), of 60A, Anson Rd., Tufnell Park, London. William was a travelling man, who enlisted at Leicester into the 60^th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. He must have taken ill in France, as he Died of Sickness at home on the 11^th March, 1918, aged 32. He is buried in Garston (St. Michael) Churchyard. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

David James John, Private, 45356, Lancashire Fusiliers. David was born in Letterston to James and Susan John, of Midland, Letterston.  He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 19th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, who eventually became the Pioneer Battalion to the 49^th (West Riding) Division.The Division were pushing the German’s back to the Selle River when David was Killed in Action on the 13th October 1918, aged only 20. Born David is buried in Haspres Coppice Cemetery, Haspres, Northern France, in Grave A. 33.

Stephen James John, Private, 54267, Welsh Regiment. Stephen was born in Letterston, to John and Sophia John, of Yetyrhug, Letterston. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 114^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division. The Division had suffered catastrophic losses on the Somme, at Mametz Wood, and weren’t used in action for another year, taking part in the Battle of Passchendaele, notably the Battle of Pilckem Ridge. The Division attacked the strongly fortified German positions North of Ypres, and despite the terrible conditions they succeeded in their objectives. Sadly Stephen was Killed in Action on the 1st August 1917, aged 30. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, on Panel 37.

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Thomas John, M.M., Private, 22217, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born in Letterston, the son of James and Mary John, of Charles Court, Letterston. He enlisted at Maesteg into the 13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, who were originally attached to 129th Brigade, 43rd Division, but on 28th April 1915 the formation became the 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division were attacking toward the Hindenburg Line during the later stages of the war, pushing the German Army back around the Epehy area, when Thomas was Killed in Action on the 8th October 1918. He was aged 26, and is buried in Unicorn Cemetery, Vend'huile, in Grave IV. H. 3.

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Ernest Lawrence, Private, 10500, London Regiment (Artists Rifles). Not much information can be found on Ernest, but he enlisted in London into the 1/28^th Battalion, the London Regiment (Artist’s Rifles), which formed part of the 63^rd Royal Naval Division. The Artist’s Rifles were an elite Battalion, with many of their men being commissioned as Officers into other Battalions of the British Army. Ernest Died at home on the 10^th February, 1917, and is buried in Letterston (Saron) Baptist Cemetery, to the right of the entrance.

William Benjamin Lewis, Sergeant, G/25075, Duke of Cambridge's Own (Middlesex) Regiment. William was born at Marloes, but enlisted at Letterston into the 13th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, which formed part of the 73^rd Brigade, 24^th Division. The Division were in the St. Quentin sector when the German Offensive (Kaiserschlacht) began on the 21st March, 1918. The British and Allied Armies mounted a desperate defensive action over the whole of the Western Front, with many units being totally annihilated by the German Stormtroopers. The first few weeks of the offensive were total chaos for the British, and William was Killed in Action on the 28th March 1918. His body was lost on the battlefield, and so William is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, Panel 61.

William Bowen Lewis, Private, 50106, Welsh Regiment. William was born in Camrose, but resided in Letterston. He was the brother of Mr. D. A. Lewis, of 9, Bridge St., Cardigan. William enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 3^rd Brigade, 1^st Division. This was a regular Army Division that had been in France since the Battle of Mons, and had fought through almost every major campaign of the Great War. The Division were in French Flanders during the middle of 1918, when they were still in the midst of the epic struggle to hold the German Offensive. William was Killed in Action on the 6th June 1918 and is buried in Sailly-Labourse Communal Cemetery Extension, Grave K. 8.

Francis John Lloyd, Gunner, 161161, Royal Garrison Artillery. Frank was born at St. Dogmael’s, and resided at Letterston. He was the husband of Annie Lloyd, of "Glyn View," Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire. Francis enlisted at Llanelli into the 76th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery. Francis Died of Wounds aged 24 on the 20^th September 1918 and is buried in Sunken Road Cemetery, Boisleux-St-Marc in Grave II. D. 16.

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William Thomas Morris, Private, 25282, Welsh Regiment. William was born at Letterston, the son of Griffith and Emma Morris. After Griffith died, Emma became Mrs. James Gambold, of Charles Court, Letterston, Pembrokeshire. William enlisted at Bridgend into the Welsh Regiment, but was transferred into the 114^th Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), part of the 38^th (Welsh) Division. William had survived Mametz, but was Killed in Action just prior to the Battle of Pilckem, on the 4th June 1917. He is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, in Grave III. G. 5.

William James Phillips, Private, 210432, Welsh Regiment. William was born at Trevine, but resided at Letterston. He was the son of John and Mary Phillips, of Barry Terrace, Trevine. William enlisted at Mathry into the 1/4^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the 159^th Brigade, 53^rd (Welsh) Division. William survived the Winter fighting at Gallipoli that killed so many of his compatriots, but Died of Sickness in Mesopotamia on the 10^th October 1917. He is buried in Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery, in Grave XXI. V. 12. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

William Price, Private, 282278, Lancashire Fusiliers. William was born at Llanfair, Pembroke, and resided in Letterston. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2/7^th Lancashire Fusiliers, 197^th Brigade, 66^th Division. The Division fought through Passchendaele, but were decimated during the German Offensive of March 1918, and were forced to be disbanded. It was on the first day of ‘Kaiserschlacht’ that William was Killed in Action. He is remembered on the Pozieres Memorial, on Panel 32 to 34. (Not on Letterston Memorial).

David Richards, Driver, 25259, Royal Field Artillery. David was born at Haverfordwest, and was the husband of Eleanor Richards, of 6, Edgware Rd., Uplands, Swansea. David enlisted at Cardiff into the 115^th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. The Battery was present at the retreat from Mons in August, 1914, and it was sometime during this epic fighting withdrawal that David was Wounded in Action. He was transported to the Military Hospital at Boulogne, where he Died of Wounds on the 15^th November, 1914, aged 31. David is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, in Grave III. A. 44.

Thomas Henry Thomas, M.M., Private, T/F/291824, Middlesex Regiment. Thomas was born at Letterston but enlisted at Marylebone, into the 2/10^th Battalion, the Middlesex Regiment. They formed part of the Welsh Border (160th) Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The 53^rd Division landed on Gallipoli on the 9^th August, 1915, and after suffering terrible losses on the Peninsula, were moved to Egypt. There, they fought in Palestine, capturing the Holy City of Jerusalem between the 7^th and 9^th December, 1917. Thomas was Killed in Action on the 12^th December, 1917, and is buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, in Grave S. 96.

Walter Price Williams, Private, 201509, Welsh Regiment. Walter resided in Letterston prior to enlisting at St. David’s into the 14^th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment, part of the 114^th Brigade, 38^th (Welsh) Division. Walter was another Letterston man who survived Mametz Wood, only to be Killed in Action at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, on the 5^th August, 1917. He is buried in Welsh Cemetery (Caesar’s Nose), in Grave I. B. 5.