The War Memorial for the men of Llanddewi Velfrey who died in the Great War takes the form of a carved Celtic Cross, which sits beside the main road to Haverfordwest. On the Memorial are the names of the seven men of the area who gave their lives in the Great War. These men are remembered below. Many thanks to Les Nixon for his photographs of the War Memorial.

                                                            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, Gloucestershire Regiment. The Battalion was raised at Bristol on 30 August 1914, and by June 1915 had moved to Wensleydale, joining 95 Brigade, 32nd Division. The Division landed in France on 21 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 2 October 1917. His body was lost in the mire of the Flanders battlefield, and so Arthur is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.


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 army. He was posted to the 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which had been formed in Egypt during February 1917, from two dismounted Regiments; the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry and the Glamorganshire Yeomanry. They formed part of 231 Brigade, 74th Yeomanry Division, and were sent to France in May 1918, landing at Marseilles on 7 May 1918. The Division was 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 21 September 1918. His body was lost on the battlefield, and so William is remembered on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, France.

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, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The 10th RWF were originally formed at Wrexham during September 1914, forming part of 76 Brigade, 25th Division. The Division moved to France , landing at Boulogne on 27 September 1915. It is uncertain when Albert joined the Battalion, but he was with them during the Battle of Passchendaele, when he was mortally wounded. He Died of Wounds, aged 25, on 30 September 1917, and was buried in Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium. Many thanks to Les Nixon and Tudor Eynon for the photo of Albert.

 

 

Willie James Eynon, Private, 302364, Manchester Regiment. Willie was born in Llanddewi, to Anne Eynon, of 1, Llandaff Row. He enlisted in nearby Narberth into the army, and was posted to the 2/8th Battalion of the Manchester Regiment. The 2/8th Manchesters were formed at Ardwick during August, 1914, and became part of 199 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 4 August 1917. He was 24 years old, and was buried in Coxyde Military Cemetery, Belgium. Many thanks to Les Nixon, and to Tudor Eynon, for the photo of Willie.

 

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, South Wales Borderers, which formed part of 58 Brigade, 19th Western Division. The Division played a large part in the Great War, fighting in all the major actions on the Western Front, since moving to France during July 1915. They 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 20 October 1918. He was buried in St. Aubert British Cemetery, France.
 

Henry John, Private, 202910, South Lancashire Regiment. Henry was born near Clynderwen to Mr. and Mrs. T. John, of Brynhill. He enlisted at Nantwich into the army, and was posted to the 2/4th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment, which formed part of 172 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 7 June 1917, and was buried in Longuenesse (St. Omer) Cemetery, France.



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 army, and was posted to the 2/7th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which formed part of 197 Brigade, 66th Division. The Battalion landed at Havre on 28 February 1917, moving North of Ypres by 26 June 1917. William was killed in action aged just 21, on 18 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, France. Many thanks to Narberth Museum for the photo of William below.