Johnston War Memorial, World War Two, 1939-1945
Frederick Graham Davies, Corporal, 4198739, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Frederick served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, which was a Territorial unit, attached to 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division landed as a reinforcing unit in Normandy in June 1944, and took part in the break out from the beach-head. Frederick was killed in action in Normandy on 19 July 1944. He is buried at Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, France.
Ronald John Davies, Private, 3976301, The Welch Regiment. Ronald was the Son of William George and Beatrice Alice Davies, of Johnston, Pembrokeshire. He had enlisted into the local Territorial Army battalion, the 4th Battalion, Welch Regiment, which was attached to the 160 Infantry Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The division trained in the UK for most of the war, and was landed on the Normandy Beaches at the end of June 1944, as part of the reinforcing troops for the beachhead. Over the coming days, 160 Infantry Brigade moved into positions around Soubles, near Bayeux, and it was during this initial move into position that Ronald was killed on 1 July 1944. He was 23 years old and is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, France. Many thanks to the local Air Cadets for the photograph.
William Lloyd Davies, Aircraftman 1st Class, 1411952, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son Of William George And Beatrice Alice Davies of Johnston. Very little is known of him due to the unavailability of WW2 service papers, but he died on 15 February 1942 aged 21, and is buried at Johnston (Horeb) Baptist Chapelyard.
Leonard Edward Frank Green, Warrant Officer (Pilot), 1317497, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Leonard was the Son of Frank and Mary Green, of Johnston, Pembrokeshire. He served in 12 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which was a heavy bomber squadron, and flew the Avro Lancaster, based at RAF Wickenby. Leonard was Pilot of Lancaster DV241 PH-F, which crashed after returning from a raid on Berlin on 1 September 1943. Leonard was killed in the crash. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, England.
William Stanley Griffiths, Serjeant, 872260, Royal Artillery. William was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Griffiths, of Johnston, and the husband of Renee Griffiths, of Macclesfield. Cheshire. He served with the Royal Artillery, and had been attached to 301 Field Regiment, East African Artillery. The unit had fought at Madagascar since 1942, and in February 1944 were at sea, aboard the transport ship SS Khedive Ismail, bound to join the 11th East African Division. The ship was carrying over 1,500 passengers, including almost 1,000 men of 301 Field Regiment, when it was sunk by the Japanese Submarine I27 on 12 February 1944. William was drowned in the sinking of the ship, along with 1,343 others. He was 25 years old and is commemorated on the East Africa Memorial. The I27 was sunk by the British Destroyers HMS Petard and Paladin.
William Peter Hayman, Sergeant, 1584209, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. William was the Son Of Frank J. And Elsie G. Hayman, Of Tenby. He served with 185 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which was based in the Mediterranean, equipped with the Supermarine Spitfire. At the beginning of 1945 the Squadron was based at Villafranca, Italy, and it was here that William was killed on 4 April 1945. He was 22 years old and is commemorated on the Malta Memorial, Malta.
Daniel Phillips, Gunner, 1737835, Royal Artillery. Daniel was the Son of Jack and Anna Phillips, of Haverfordwest, and the husband of Gladys Phillips, of Haverfordwest. He served with 130 Battery, 23 Light Anti Aircraft Regiment, Royal Artillery, which was stationed on the South Coast. Daniel was possibly killed here during an air raid on 22 June 1941. He was 34 years old, and is buried in Southampton (Hollybrook) Cemetery, Hampshire.
William Edward Summons, Signalman, 2325585, Royal Corps of Signals. William was the Son of William and Martha Summons, of Johnston, Pembrokeshire. He was an Army regular, serving with the Royal Corps of Signals, and was based in North Africa at the outbreak of war. Sadly William died soon after war erupted, on 24 October 1939. He was just 20 years old and is buried at Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
