Llanddewi Velfrey Great War Memorial
Arthur Ethelred Evans, Private, 260436, Gloucester Regiment. Arthur was born at Llanddewi. He enlisted at Fishguard, into the 12th (Bristol City) Battalion of the Gloucestershire Regiment. The 12th Battalion were raised at Bristol on the 30th August, 1914, and by June 1915 had moved to Wensleydale, joining the 95th Brigade, 32nd Division. The Division landed in France on the 21st November, 1915, and fought on the Somme later in 1916. During October, 1917, the 12th Gloucesters were fighting at Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Passchendaele, and it was here that Arthur was killed in action, on the 2nd October, 1917. His body was lost in the mire of the Flanders battlefield, and so Arthur is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, on Panels 72 to 75.
William Henry Evans, Private, 61652, Welsh Regiment. William was born in Llanddewi, the son of Mrs Theodosia Evans, of Plaindealings, Llanddewi, and enlisted at Llanelli into the 24th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment. The 24th Welsh were formed in Egypt during February, 1917, from two dismounted Regiments- the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry and the Glamorganshire Yeomanry. They formed part of the 231st Brigade, 74th Yeomanry Division, and were sent to France in May 1918, landing at Marseilles on the 7th May. The 74th Division were fighting in the Battle of Epehy in September, 1918, and the 24th Welsh were tasked with the capture of the German stronghold of Gillemont Farm. The Farm formed part of the Outpost Defences of the Hindenburg Line, and the Welsh suffered terrible casualties here. One of them being William Evans, who was killed in action, aged just 21, on the 21st September, 1918. His body was lost on the battlefield, and so William is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, on Panel 7.
Albert Victor Eynon, Private, 15052, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Albert was born in Llanddewi to Thomas and Mary Eynon, of Henllan Lodge. He enlisted at Tonypandy, into the 10th Battalion, the Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The 10th RWF were originally formed at Wrexham during September, 1914, forming part of the 76th Brigade, 25th Division. The Division moved to France , landing at Boulogne on the 27th September, 1915. It is uncertain when Albert joined the Battalion, but he was with them during the Battle of Passchendaele, when he mortally wounded. He Died of Wounds, aged 25, on the 30th September, 1917, and was buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, No. 3, in Grave I. J. 33.
Willie James Eynon, Private, 302364., Manchester Regiment. Willie was born in Llanddewi, to Anne Eynon, of 1, Llandaff Row. He enlisted in nearby Narberth, and became a Private in the 2/8th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. The 2/8th Manchesters were formed at Ardwick during August, 1914, and becae part of the 199th Brigade, 66th Division. The Division concentrated on the Western Front during March, 1917, taking part in actions on the Flanders Coast, before moving to Ypres. At Ypres, they fought in the Battle of Poelcappelle, where Willie was Killed in Action on the 4th August, 1917. He was 24 years old, and was buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Grave II. D. 13.
Gad Griffiths, Private, 28946, South Wales Borderers. Gad was born near Narberth, the son of Thomas and E. Griffiths, of Carminefawr, near Clynderwen. He enlisted at Narberth into the 5th Battalion of the South Wales Borderers, which formed part of the 58th Brigade, 19th Western Division. The 19th Division were to take a large part in the Great War, fighting in all the major actions on the Western Front, and were taking part in the advance on the Hindenburg Line, fighting in the Battle of the Selle, when Gad was Killed in Action, aged 25, on the 20th October, 1918. He was buried in St. Aubert British Cemetery, Grave IV. C. 7.
Henry John, Private, 202910, South Lancashire Regiment. Henry was born near Clynderwen to Mr. & Mrs. T. John, of Brynhill. He enlisted at Nantwich into the 2/4th Battalion of the South Lancashire Regiment, which formed part of the 172nd Brigade, 57th Division. The Battalion were in the trenches at Armentieres, in Northern France, in mid 1917, and it was here that Henry suffered serious wounds. He Died of Wounds, aged 32, on the 7th June, 1917, and was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Cemetery, in the burial ground of the Military Hospital there, in Grave IV. C. 14.
William Bowen Stephens, Private, 282274, Lancashire Fusiliers. William was born in Llanddewi, to Catherine Stephens, later Catherine Thomas of the Parkylan Inn, Llanddewi. William enlisted at Cardiff, into the 2/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which formed part of the 197th Brigade, 66th Division. The Battalion landed at Havre on the 28th February, 1917, the Division moving North of Ypres by the 26th June 1917. William was killed in action aged just 21, on the 18th April, 1917. His Battalion must have been involved in trench familiarisation in the Loos area before the move to Flanders. He is remembered on the Loos Memorial, Panel 45 & 46. Many thanks to Narberth Museum for the photo of William below.
