Fishguard War Memorial, World War Two, 1939-1945
Arthur Charles George Avery, Serjeant, 13054975, Pioneer Corps. Arthur was the Son of Sidney Charles and Alice Louise Avery, and the Husband of Elizabeth Anne Avery, Of Fishguard. Nothing is known of Arthur's war service, except that he died on 13 May 1946, aged 34, and is buried at Wembley (Alperton) Burial Ground, Middlesex. Arthur is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Emlyn Owen Bevan, Able Seaman, D/SSX 17405, Royal Navy. Emlyn was the Son of Richard Edward and Margaret Bevan, Of Fishguard, and served in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Ardent. Ardent was an 'A' Class Destroyer, which was commissioned on 14 April 1930. On the outbreak of war she joined the flotilla at Portland to guard the first troop convoys to France. She sailed for Liverpool in January 1940 and was deployed in the Irish Sea and the South Western Approaches. In April she was transferred to the Home Fleet, after the German invasion of Norway, to carry out convoy escort duties. On 31 May 1940, Ardent formed part of an escort force which accompanied the Aircraft Carriers HMS Ark Royal and HMS Glorious to the Norwegian Coast to carry out air operations in support of the withdrawing Allied forces from Norway. On 8 June, Ardent joined HMS Acasta in escorting HMS Glorious back to Scapa Flow, when the ships were discovered by the German Battlecruiser's Scharnhorst and Gneisenau, and the Ardent and Acasta engaged the vastly superior German Battlecruiser's to allow the Glorious to escape. Sadly the Acasta and Glorious were sunk in the following battle, and the Ardent capsized, with the loss of over 152 men. One of these was Emlyn Owen Bevan, who was killed in action during the Battle, on 8 June 1940. He was just 22 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Sydney James Branchett, Civilian. Sydney was the Husband of Maude Emily Branchett, of 56 West Street, Fishguard. He died at 5, Powderham Terrace, Teignmouth, during an Air Raid on 10 January 1943. He was one of twenty people killed in the town during the raid that night. Sydney was 50 years old.
Tom Evans Brown, Trooper, 7962954, Royal Armoured Corps. Tom was the Son of James and Olwen Brown, of Fishguard, and served in the 12th (Prince of Wales' Royal) Lancers. When war was declared, the 12th Lancers were based at Aldershot. They landed in France in October 1939 as part of the BEF, equipped with armoured cars. After being evacuated from Dunkirk, and losing their armoured cars in the process, the Regiment became the Reconnaissance Regiment for the 1st Armoured Division, and moved to Egypt in November 1941. The Regiment fought throughout the Western Desert campaign, and in September 1943 moved to Italy as part of the 1st Armoured Division. They fought in Italy until the end of the war. Tom was killed in action in Italy on 6 July 1944, aged 21, and is buried in Ancona War Cemetery, Italy.
Alwyn Durrant Cornock, Guardsman, 2738554, Welsh Guards. Alwyn was the Son of James and Eva Cornock, of Llanychaer, Pembrokeshire. He served with the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, which was part of the 32nd Guards Brigade, Guards Armoured Division. After landing in Normandy in June 1944, the Welsh Guards fought during the break out from the beach-head, and in the drive through France and Belgium. By September the Welsh guards were fighting around Brussels. Alwyn was killed just after the liberation of the City, on 9 September 1944. He was 19 years old, and is buried at Brussels Town Cemetery, Belgium.
Hywel Davies, Mess Room Boy, Merchant Navy. Hywel was the Son of William and Maria Davies, of Llanelli, and resided in Fishguard, where he served aboard the S.S. St. Patrick (London). She was a Cross Channel ferry that worked the Fishguard to Rosslare route. In 1940 she was attacked by the Luftwaffe while on route, but escaped with no damage. On 13 June 1941 she had left Rosslare, and was passing Strumble Head when she was discovered by German Dive Bombers. The first clutch of bombs went straight through the bridge, and set the ships oil tanks on fire. She sank some time afterwards, with the loss of seventeen crew, a Gunner and twelve passengers. The remainder were rescued and landed at Milford Haven. Hywel died aboard the ship that day, aged just 18, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William Shatto Davies, Quartermaster, Merchant Navy. William was the Son of James Francis and Martha Jane Davies, and the Husband of Gertrude Davies, of Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard the S.S. St. Patrick (London), which was a Cross Channel ferry that worked the Fishguard to Rosslare route. In 1940 she was attacked by the Luftwaffe while on route, but escaped with no damage. On 13 June 1941 she had left Rosslare, and was passing Strumble Head when she was discovered by German Bombers. The first clutch of bombs went straight through the bridge, and set the ships oil tanks on fire. She sank some time afterwards, with the loss of seventeen crew, a Gunner and twelve passengers. The remainder were rescued and landed at Milford Haven. William was one of the unfortunate men who lost his life that day. He was 39 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Oliver James Edwards, Mate, Merchant Navy. Oliver was the Son of Mr. And Mrs. D. Edwards, Of Newport, Pembrokeshire, and the Husband of Edith Mary Edwards, Of Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard the S.S. Greenawn (Goole). Greenawn was a cargo ship, which had set sail from London on 25 March 1941 bound for Invergordon. The ship went missing on the voyage, and was declared a 'War Loss' on 3 April 1941. Oliver disappeared with the ship on 3 April 1941. He was 37 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Kenneth Evans, Private, 14623403, the Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Kenneth was the Son of Benjamin and Martha Anne Evans, of Durnbach, Pembrokeshire. He served with the 1st Battalion. The Queen's Royal Regiment, which was in India at the outbreak of war. For over a year from October 1940, it was deployed on the North-West Frontier in operations against the tribes and then in 1942 it joined the 7th Indian Division. The Division was deployed in the Arakan in Burma in September 1943 and the Battalion saw some hard fighting through the winter months inflicting the first reverses on the Japanese. In May 1944 the Battalion was flown up to Kohima to help relieve the gallant 4th Queen's Own Royal West Kent's who were holding out alone against the main Japanese attempt to invade India. In the battle for Jail Hill, Kohima, the 1st Battalion played a major part in bringing about the defeat of the Japanese. This action was considered the turning point of the War in Burma: thereafter the Japanese were always in retreat. Kenneth was killed in action here, on 11 May 1944, aged just 19. He is buried in Kohima War Cemetery, India. Kenneth is not commemorated at Fishguard.
James Faraday, Master, Merchant Navy, S.S. St. Patrick (London). James was the husband of Mrs. Florence Emily Faraday, of Cairniehill, Goodwick. He served in the Merchant Navy, as Master of the S.S. St. Patrick (London), which was a Cross Channel ferry that worked the Fishguard to Rosslare route. In 1940 she was attacked by the Luftwaffe while on route, but escaped with no damage. On 13 June 1941 she had left Rosslare, and was passing Strumble Head when she was discovered by German Dive Bombers. The first clutch of bombs went straight through the bridge, and set the ships oil tanks on fire. She sank some time afterwards, with the loss of seventeen crew, a Gunner and twelve passengers. The remainder were rescued and landed at Milford Haven. James was one of the unfortunate men who lost his life that day. He was 63 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Not on Memorial. Two of his sons also died during the war. John, below, had been on the St. Patrick with his father when it was attacked.
John Michael Faraday, Civilian, S.S. St. Patrick (London). John was the Son of Mr. James and Mrs. Florence Faraday, of Cairniehill, Goodwick. He had decided to accompany his father on a voyage to Rosslare, and back to Fishguard aboard the S.S. St. Patrick, when it was sunk by a German Dive Bomber on 13 June 1941. John was killed alongside his father that day, and was just 19 years old. As far as is known, John is not commemorated anywhere. John is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Owen Patrick Faraday, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), 128067, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Owen was the Son of Capt. James Faraday and Florence Emily Faraday, and the elder brother of John above. After the death of his father and brother at the hands of the Luftwaffe, Owen requested a transfer to the Royal Air Force from the Army, so that he could exact revenge. Owen served with 501 Squadron, which was a Fighter Squadron equipped with the Hawker Hurricane. The Squadron fought through the Battle of Britain, and later re-equipped with the Spitfire in spring, 1941, flying with it throughout the rest of the war, based in the UK and then in France. Owen died on 29 September 1944, aged 31, and is buried at Burnham-on-Crouch Cemetery, England. Owen is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Albert Edward Gillard, Able Seaman, C/SR.67717, Royal Navy. Albert was the Son of John Henry and Mary Gillard, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Barsound. Barsound was a Boom Defence Vessel, based at Aultbea in the North West Highlands of Scotland. Albert died in Scotland on the 1st December, 1941 aged 23, and is buried at Sandwick Cemetery, Ross and Cromarty, Scotland.
John Henry Gillard, Greaser, Merchant Navy. John was the Husband of F. A. Gillard, of Boston, Lincolnshire. He served aboard the S.S. St. Patrick (London), which was a Cross Channel ferry that worked the Fishguard to Rosslare route. In 1940 she was attacked by the Luftwaffe while on route, but escaped with no damage. On 13 June 1941 she had left Rosslare, and was passing Strumble Head when she was discovered by German Dive Bombers. The first clutch of bombs went straight through the bridge, and set the ships oil tanks on fire. She sank some time afterwards, with the loss of seventeen crew, a Gunner and twelve passengers. The remainder were rescued and landed at Milford Haven. John was one of the unfortunate men who lost his life that day. He was 60 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Clifford John Owen Griffiths, Petty Officer Stoker, D/KX80363, Royal Navy. Clifford was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. John Griffiths, and the husband of Betty Griffiths, of Trethomas, Monmouthshire. He served in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Sultan I, which was the Shore Base for the Royal Navy at Singapore at the outbreak of war. Many of the crew of HMS Sultan were survivors of the Force Z catastrophe, the crews of HMS Repulse and HMS Prince of Wales. Clifford died on 24 December 1941 and was buried at sea. He was 29 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Thomas James Harries, Marine, PLY/X 101137, Royal Marines. Thomas was the Son of Mr. And Mrs. T. Harries, Of Dinas Cross, Pembrokeshire, and the Husband of Gladys Mary Harries, Of Fishguard. He served with the 11th Battalion, Royal Marines and died on 14 September 1942. Thomas was 28 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon. Thomas is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Joseph Harvard, Master, Merchant Navy. Joseph was the Master of the S.S. Henri Mory (Swansea). Very little is known of Joseph, or of the ship, except that it was torpedoed and sunk by a German U-Boat on 26 April 1941. Joseph is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Frederick Charles William Harwood, Colour Serjeant, PLY/X 2685, Royal Marines. Frederick was the Son of Arthur and Grace Harwood, and the Husband of Dorothy May Harwood, Of Fishguard. He served in No. 40 Royal Marine Commando, which had been formed in 1942, to run in conjunction with the Army Commandos. On 19 August 1942, No. 40 R.M. Commando took part in the Raid on Dieppe, the objective of which was to take and hold a Port for a short period, as an experiment prior to planning the Normandy Landings. The raid turned out to be a complete disaster, and the only lesson learnt was not to attempt a head on assault on a heavily defended Port again. Frederick was killed in Action during the raid that day, aged 22, and is buried at Calais Canadian War Cemetery, Leubringhen, France. Frederick is not commemorated at Fishguard.
J. Hodges. Is commemorated on the War Memorial within St. Mary's Church. He cannot be positively identified.
Oliver Paul Hodges, Assistant Steward, Merchant Navy. Oliver was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. William P. Hodges; husband of Hannah Hodges (nee Llewellyn). He served aboard the S.S. St. Patrick (London), and was killed aboard her on 13 June 1941 when she was sunk by a German Bomber. Oliver was 42 years old and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
John Emlyn Howells, Craftsman, 10579887, Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers. John was the Son of Mr. And Mrs. B. Howells, Of Fishguard. Nothing is yet known of his wartime service, except that he died on 2 March 1944, and is buried at Fishguard (Tabernacle) Congregational Chapelyard.
William Norton James, Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), 1338403, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son of William S. and Florence James, of Dinas Cross. He served in the RAFVR, with 61 Squadron, which was reformed in 1937 and attached to RAF Coastal Command. On 1 February 1944, the Squadron moved to RAF Coningsby, flying the Lancaster and attached to RAF Bomber Command. On the night of 30 March 1944 a massive formation of 795 RAF Bombers left Airfields around the UK, bound for Nuremberg. The German Fighter Command had forecast the route the bombers would take, and that night over 95 bombers were lost, the biggest loss of the war for Bomber Command. One of the Lancaster's lost contained William, who was only 20 years old when his plane came down on the morning of 31 March 1944. He is buried alongside his crew in Heverlee War Cemetery, Belgium.
Archibald Jenkins, Gunner, 4205561, Royal Artillery. Archibald was the Son of David and Margaret Jenkins: Husband of Olivia Jenkins, Of Fishguard. He served in the Royal Artillery, with 116th Light Anti Aircraft Regiment. The Regiment was attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Division, and had landed as part of the reinforcing troops on Normandy at the end of June 1944. Archibald must have been wounded in Normandy, and returned home for treatment, and he died on 17 August 1944, aged 33. Archibald is buried at Fishguard (Hermon) Baptist Burial Ground.
David Gwyn George Jenkins, Private, 5392152, Oxford and Bucks Light Infantry. David was the Son of David Gwynne Jenkins and Maud Jenkins, Of Fishguard. He served in the 7th Battalion, Ox & Bucks Light Infantry, which was part of the 167th Infantry Brigade which had fought in Tunisia, and had landed at Anzio during the invasion of Italy. David was killed in action in Italy on 25 September 1943. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Salerno War Cemetery, Italy.
Arthur Gwyn Jones, Flying Officer (Pilot), 169021, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Arthur was the Son of Capt. Richard Thomas Jones and Margaret Jones, and the Husband of Menna Matthias Jones, Of Fishguard. Arthur served prior to the war with the C.I.D., Special Branch, and volunteered for service in the RAFVR, training as a Pilot. Nothing is yet known of his service, but he died on 6 October 1944, aged 31, and is buried at Fishguard (Hermon) Baptist Burial Ground. Not on Memorial.
Daniel Morgan Rhys Jones, Captain, 67597, Royal Artillery. Daniel was the Son of Owen Davies Jones and Mary Anne Jones, and the husband of Mary Jones, of East Croydon, Surrey. He served as Captain in the 445th Battery, 65th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, which fought in the Western Desert during the Battle of El Alamein, attached to the 44th Division. They landed on Italy, and fought alongside the American 5th Army at Salerno, where Daniel was killed in action on 16 October 1943, aged 32. He is buried at Minturno War Cemetery, Italy.
Ronald Leslie Jones, Sergeant (Nav./W.Op.), 1282497, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Ronald was the Son of Thomas L. Jones, And of Ada Daisy T. Jones of Lower Fishguard. He served with the RAFVR in 157 Squadron, which was the first RAF Night Fighter Squadron to be equipped with the De Havilland Mosquito. Ronald was killed when his mosquito crashed over Germany on a night time intruder mission on 3 August 1943. He was 29 years old, and is buried at Hanover War Cemetery, Hannover, Germany. Ronald is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Henry Howard Lewis, Ordinary Telegraphist, D/JX. 196384, Royal Navy. Henry was the Son of William and Elinar Lewis, of Fishguard, and the Husband of Mair Lewis, of Fishguard. He served in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Nighthawk, which was a Royal Naval base at Drem, Scotland. Henry died on 27 October 1945, aged 26. He is buried at Fishguard (Hermon) Baptist Burial Ground. Henry is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Leslie Walter Lewis, Storekeeper, Merchant Navy. Leslie was the Son of Walter William and Louisa Lewis, Of Manor Park, Essex. He served aboard the SS Khedive Ismail (London), which was a 7,500 ton steamship, which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty in WW2 for use as a troopship. On 6 February 1944, she was part of Convoy KR-8, which sailed from Mombasa, Kenya to Colombo. Early in the afternoon of 12 February 1944, the Japanese Submarine I-27 attacked the Convoy south-west of the Maldives, and fired two torpedoes at the Khedive Ismail, sinking her in less than two minutes, with nearly 1,500 people on board. The Submarine dived and hid beneath the survivors of the sinking, but was forced to the surface by one of the escorts, HMS Petard. HMS Saladin saw the submarine surface, and rammed her, with a torpedo from the Petard finally destroying the submarine. The survivors were rescued by the two destroyers, but 1,297 people had lost their lives in the sinking, including Leslie. He was 29 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William Lewis, Cook, Merchant Navy. William was the Husband of Florence Anne Lewis, and served aboard the S.S. St. Patrick (London). He was killed when the Ferry was sunk by German Bombers on 13 June 1941 aged 61, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. William is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Wilkin Thomas Lewis, Boatswain, Merchant Navy. Wilkin was the Son of Thomas Davies Lewis, And of Ethel May Lewis of Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard S.S. Brandenburg (Leith). On 2 February 1941, Brandenburg left Gibraltar as part of Convoy HG-53, and gallantly stopped to pick up survivors of the torpedoed SS Courland on 9 February. The following day, she was herself torpedoed by the U-37, and sank with the loss of all bar one of the people on board. Wilkin went down with the ship on 10 February 1941. He was 28 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
William Thomas Lewis, Private, 5184222, Gloucestershire Regiment. William was the Son of James and Mary Lewis, Of Fishguard. He served with the 1st Battalion, Gloucester Regiment, which fought in Burma as part of Force 9. At the beginning of 1942, the British Army in Burma was in retreat. William was killed in action during the withdrawal through Burma on 17 April 1942. He was 24 years old, and is remembered on the Rangoon Memorial, Myanmar. William is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Morgan Llewellyn, Cook, Merchant Navy. Morgan was the Son of Mary Jane Llewellyn, Of Fishguard, and the Husband of Nora Eleanor Llewellyn, Of Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard S.S. St. Andrew (London), which operated from Fishguard to Rosslare as a Passenger Ferry. During the evacuation of Dunkirk in 1940, all manner of ships were requisitioned, and used, one of which was the St. Andrew. She also served in the Landings at Anzio, where she suffered damage from German bombs while picking up survivors from the S.S. St. David. Morgan was probably injured in the bombing, and returned home, where he died on 25 July 1945, aged 42. He is buried at Fishguard Church Cemetery. Morgan is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Thomas Evan Llewellyn, Greaser, Merchant Navy. Thomas was the Husband of M. Llewellyn, Of Fishguard, and possibly the father of Morgan above. He served aboard the S.S. St. David (London), which was a Passenger Ferry, used on the Fishguard to Rosslare route. Thomas was killed when the S.S. St. David, which was serving as a Hospital Ship, was bombed and sank off Anzio on 24 January 1944, with 224 people on board. Thomas was 62 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Edward Henry Long, Civilian. Edward was the Husband of Phoebe Maud Long, of 1, Goodwick Bridge, Fishguard. He died at 32, High Street, Penge, in London when his street was struck by a German V1 'Doodlebug' rocket on 18 June 1944 at 03.20. Edward was 48 years old.
James Harries Manning, Assistant Cook, Merchant Navy. James was the Son of Alfred and Martha Ann Manning, and the husband of Catherine Berry Manning, of Goodwick. He served as Cook aboard the Fishguard Ferry, SS St. Patrick. The St Patrick had left Rosslare for Fishguard early on the morning of 13 June 1941, and was about 12 miles from Strumble Head when she was attacked by German dive bombers. The first bomb struck her between the bridge and the funnel, penetrating the oil tanks and setting them on fire, sinking the ferry within an hour. The majority of the passengers and crew managed to get off the ship, and were rescued and brought to safety at Milford Haven, but James was one of seventeen who died that day. He was 34 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
John Robert Miles, Master, Merchant Navy. John was the Son of Benjamin and Anne Miles of Fishguard, and the Husband of Marion Miles, Of Fishguard. Little is known of him, but he served during WW2 with the Merchant Navy, and died on 6 December 1945 aged 52. John is buried at Fishguard (Hermon) Baptist Burial Ground. John is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Percy George Miles, Aircraftman 1st Class, 927599, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Percy was the Son of George Henry and M. Miles, of Lower Town, Fishguard. He served with the RAFVR, but sadly little is known of him, except that he died on 6 July 1941, aged 21, and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial.
David John Morris, D.S.C., Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve. David was the Son of Thomas and Ann Morris, and the Husband of Nancy Olwen Morris, Of Fishguard. He served in the RNR, at H.M.S. Baldur, which was the Royal Naval Base at Iceland. On 1 October 1943 David was gazetted with the Distinguished Service Cross, for ' courage and skill in many successful minesweeping operations in Mediterranean-waters, while serving in H.M. Ships Negro, Elbury, Achroite and Triton, and H.M. Motor-Minesweepers 47, 68, 80 and 171'. David was then posted to Baldur in Iceland, but sadly died there on 10 November 1944, aged 38. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
Richard John Nichols, Civilian. Richard was the Son of A. R. and S. B. Nichols, of Stratheden, West Street, Fishguard. He worked at Swansea Docks, and was mortally injured there during an air raid on 10 July 1940. Richard died the same day at Swansea Hospital, aged 23.
J. O'Sullivan. Is commemorated on the War Memorial within St. Mary's Church. He cannot be positively identified.
Evan William Owens, Master, Merchant Navy. Evan was the Son of William and Emily Owens, and the Husband of Elizabeth Anne Esmond Owens, Of Fishguard. He was the Master of the Ferry S.S. St. David, which was requisitioned by the Admiralty at the outbreak of war. She served at Dunkirk, taking evacuees of the beach, and was then converted into a Hospital Ship. The St. David had sailed for many thousands of nautical miles, and had seen thousands of wounded soldiers treated aboard her, when she was sent to Anzio, as one of three Hospital Ships, to evacuate wounded soldiers off the beaches. She was attacked by a radio controlled German bomb on 21 January 1944, and sank within minutes, taking Evan with her. He was 49 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. His gallant command of the ship during the war had seen Evan awarded the Lloyd's War Medal for Bravery At Sea, and the King's Commendation for Brave Conduct.
Stephen Phillips, Sailor, Merchant Navy. Stephen was the Son of Griffith and Phoebe Phillips, Of Lower Town, Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard S.S. Norman Monarch (Glasgow). The Norman Monarch had left Halifax, Nova Scotia on 10 May 1941, as part of Convoy HX-126, bound for Liverpool. Mid-way across the Atlantic the Convoy was sighted by a U-Boat Pack, and the Norman Monarch was torpedoed on 20 May 1941. The crew of the Norman Monarch were rescued by the S.S. Harpagus (London), but the Harpagus was to become another U-Boat victim that same day, and so Stephen was drowned during his second encounter with a U-Boat, on 20 May 1941, aged 24. He is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
S. G. Roach. Is commemorated on the Cenotaph. He cannot presently be identified.
William Sydney Sedgeman, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve. William was the Son of E. A. Sedgeman, of Shirley House, Victoria Avenue, Fishguard. He served in the RNR, aboard HMS Vyner Brooke, which had been requisitioned by the Admiralty for troop carrying. When the Japanese invaded Singapore, Vyner Brooke was ordered from Singapore, carrying Nurses and evacuees. She sailed on the night of 12 February 1942, but on entering The Banka Straits was attacked by nine Japanese planes at 1pm. Vyner Brooke was hit repeatedly, with the Bridge being totally destroyed, and the steering gear out of order, so with the ship also on fire Captain Borton gave orders for the ship to be abandoned. In just over twenty minutes Vyner Brooke sank. Most of the survivors landed on a beach near Muntok where they set up a camp and commenced tending the wounded. A couple of days later, on 16 February 1942, they were discovered by a Japanese patrol which consisted of ten men and an Officer. Those that could walk including Chief Officer William Sydney Sedgeman and Second Engineer J.J. Miller were marched round a small headland lined up and shot, those who were lying wounded were bayoneted to death, only one survived the bayoneting. The nurses were then ordered to walk into the sea, on reaching waist height the Japanese commenced to machine gun them and all were killed save one. William was 27 years old, and is now remembered on the Singapore Memorial.
Howard Garfield Sturgess, Petty Officer Supply, D/MX 67824, Royal Navy. Very little is known of Howard, but he served in the Royal Navy, aboard HMS Isis, which was an Intrepid Class Destroyer. Isis had served during the evacuation of the British from Greece in 1941, and sustained damage when hit by German Aircraft off Beirut, after the Battle of Crete. She had to be towed to Palestine for repairs, before seeing service during the Normandy Invasion in June 1944. The Isis was on patrol off the Western Sector, guarding the Normandy Invasion force when she struck a mine on 20 July 1944 and sank off Arromanches. Howard was one of the unfortunate men to die aboard her, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Richard Slimings, Sergeant, 1026301, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Richard was the Son of George Mark and Beatrice Constance Maud Slimings, and the Husband of Katie Slimings, Of Lower Fishguard. He served with 104 Squadron, RAF, which was equipped with the Vickers Wellington based in the UK. In October 1941 a detachment was sent to Malta, and Richard went with them. From here they flew missions over North Africa and Italy, and then moved to Egypt in January 1942, and flew night assault missions throughout the Western Desert Campaign. Richard was killed during one of these missions, on 13 June 1942. He was 30 years old, and is remembered on the Alamein Memorial, Egypt. Richard is not commemorated at Fishguard.
Benjamin George Stretch, Flight Sergeant (W.Op./Air Gnr.), 550584, Royal Air Force. Benjamin was the Son of Thomas George Stretch, And of Mary Stretch (Nee Protheroe), Of Fishguard. He served with 106 Squadron, RAF, which flew the Manchester Bomber for a short period at the start of 1942, but soon converted to Lancaster's, flying as part of RAF Bomber Command. On the night of 15 October 1942 a large bomber force was ordered to bomb Cologne. The mission was a disaster, due to adverse weather conditions, and 18 aircraft were lost, including Benjamin's aircraft, Lancaster W4302. He was 24 years old when his Lancaster crashed on the night of 15 October 1942, and is buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Kamp Lintfort, Nordrhein-Westfalen, Germany, alongside his fellow crew members.
Benjamin Charles Thomas, Chief Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Benjamin was the Son of Benjamin and Ann Thomas, and the Husband of Mary Elizabeth Thomas, Of Fishguard. He served in the Merchant Navy, aboard S.S. Havre (London). The Havre was torpedoed by a German U-Boat on 10 June 1942, and Benjamin was drowned. He was 49 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
Eddie Gwynfor Thomas, Ordinary Seaman, D/JX 208246, Royal Navy. Eddie was the Son of Ben and Kate Thomas, Of Fishguard. He served in the Royal Navy, and was posted to the French Ship Medoc, which was a cargo ship that had been seized by the British in Aboukir when France surrendered to Germany. On the afternoon of 26 November 1940, Medoc was leaving Britain with a cargo of ammunition. She had just passed the Eddystone Reef when she was attacked by a German aircraft. She survived the attack, but a few hours later the aeroplane returned and torpedoed the Medoc, and she sank with all of her 39 crew, including Eddie. He was 21 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
John Thomas, Sergeant (Nav./Bomber), 1650201, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the Son of Charles Henry and Mary Anne Thomas, Of Fishguard. He served during WW2 with the RAFVR, but that is all that is known at present, except that John died on 1 November 1944, aged 22, and is buried at Fishguard (Hermon) Baptist Burial Ground.
W. E. Thomas. Is commemorated on the War Memorial within St. Mary's Church. He cannot be positively identified.
Clifford James Walters, Flying Officer, 52672, Royal Air Force. Clifford was the Son of James Walters and Edith Emily Walters, of Tolworth, Surbiton, and the husband of Edna May Walters. He served with 226 Squadron, RAF, which was a regular RAF Squadron, which had been in France at the outbreak of war, equipped with the already obsolete Fairey Battle. In May, 1941 the Squadron re-equipped with Bristol Blenheim's, flying in minor operations in North-West Europe. They converted to Mitchell's in August, 1943 and took part in the D-Day landings in Normandy, and operated in close support of the Allied Army's. Clifford died on 30 September 1944, probably of wounds suffered during an operation. He was 30 years old, and is buried at Surbiton Cemetery, Surrey.
John Price Williams, Aircraftman 1st Class, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the Son of Henry and Eleanor Williams, Of Fishguard. He was recruited into the RAFVR, and embarked upon the troopship S.S. Anselm at Gourock, bound for Freetown. On 5 July 1941, Anselm was 300 miles north of the Azores, when she was spotted by the German Submarine U-96. She was torpedoed and sank within minutes, taking down 430 men, including 174 RAF personnel. One of these was John, and he is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.
William John Williams, Lance Serjeant, 3957562, Welch Regiment. William was the Son of William Henry and Mary Anne Williams of Durnbach, Fishguard. William's father was sadly killed in action in 1917 near Bapaume, and so the family later moved to Llanteg, Puncheston, Pembrokeshire. William served in the 4th Battalion, the Welch Regiment, which was a Territorial Army unit that was attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division landed during the end of June 1944 in Normandy as part of the reinforcements to the invasion force, and subsequently fought their way out of Normandy, north through France and Belgium, and into Holland. After a hard campaign through Holland, the British crossed the border into Germany, and fought at the Reichswald Forest, where William was killed in action on 25 February 1945, aged 32. He is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany. William is the man stood up in the centre of the photograph below. Many thanks to his niece, Jennifer Lewis for the photograph. William is not commemorated at Fishguard.
