Carew War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
William Thomas Arthur, Private, 54130, Welsh Regiment. William was born in 1896, the son of George and Martha Arthur, of White Hill, Carew. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. In 1915 the Battalion became part of the 114th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, and moved to the Western Front in December, 1915, taking up positions near Fleurbaix. They fought with distinction at Mametz Wood the following year, and in 1917 played a major part in the capture of the Pilckem Ridge during Third Ypres. They were rushed to the Somme in spring 1918 to help stem the German push towards Amiens, and then took part in the great offensive of August, 1918, where they forded the flooded River Ancre on the night of the 22nd August, 1918 which began the great drive to victory. The Division pushed steadily through Pozieres and Longueval, capturing the village of Morval, which is where William was killed on the 1st September, 1918. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Morval British Cemetery, France.
Sir Thomas Carew Trollope (Baron Kesteven), Captain, Lincolnshire Imperial Yeomanry. Thomas was born in May, 1891, the only son of Honorable Robert Cranmer Trollope and Mrs. Trollope, of Crowcombe Court, Taunton. He was educated at Eton, and succeeded to the Baroncy after the death of his Uncle in July, 1915. Thomas joined the Lincolnshire Yeomanry in 1908, when his Uncle was Lieutenant-Colonel of the Battalion, and at the outbreak of war was Gazetted Captain, moving to France attached to the Jacob’s Horse, Indian Cavalry. He returned to Britain after receiving the Baroncy, and was posted to the Balkans. Thomas was wounded aboard the S.S. Mercian, when she was shelled on the 3rd November, and sadly died as a result in Hospital, at Oran, Algiers on the 5th November, 1915. His body was brought home for burial at the Trollope family’s ancestral vault at Crowcombe (Holy Ghost) Church in Devon. He was just 24 years old, and being unmarried, the title of Lord Kesteven died with him.
Charles Llewellyn Cole, Private, 19664, York and Lancaster Regiment. Charles was the son of Benjamin and Louisa Cole, of Carew Mountain, Cresselly, Kilgetty, Pembrokeshire, and enlisted at Neath into the Army. He joined the 10th Battalion, York and Lancaster Regiment, which was attached to the 63rd Brigade, 21st Division. The Division crossed to France between the 2nd and 13th September, 1915, and its first experience of battle was truly appalling. Having been in France for only a few days, lengthy forced marches brought it into the reserve for the British assault at Loos. GHQ planning left it too far behind to be a useful reinforcement on the first day, but it was sent into action on 26th September, whereupon it suffered over 3,800 casualties for very little gain. They moved to the Somme in 1916, and fought at the Battle of Albert, going over the top on the opening day of the battle, on the 1st July, 1916. Charles was one of almost 20,000 men who died on that first day of the fighting; the worst disaster in the history of the British Army. He was 22 years old, and like so many others who died in that terrible battle, he has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Osbourne W. Griffiths, Private, 13425, Coldstream Guards. Osbourne was the son of George Llewhellin Griffiths and Edith A. Griffiths of Carew, and he enlisted at Hayward’s Heath into the Coldstream Guards. The Battalion he served in is unknown at present, but both Battalions of the Coldstream Guards moved to France at the outbreak of war, and fought from the opening Battle of Mons, through the retreat south to the Aisne. The Guards were at the forefront of the fighting in France, and it was most probably during the Battle of Loos that Osbourne was wounded and returned home for treatment. Sadly he died of his wounds on the 16th November, 1915 aged 34, and is buried at Carew (St. Mary) Churchyard.
Arthur Lloyd Grote, Captain, Royal Engineers. Arthur was the son of George Whitcombe Grote, M.D. and his wife Mary. He was the husband of Nina Patricia Grote, and the father of Shelagh, of 12, Evelyn Court, Cheltenham. At the outbreak of war, Arthur was serving as a Lieutenant with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He was commissioned into the Royal Engineers, was made Temporary Captain in January, 1915, serving as a Brigade Musketry Instructor. He was promoted to full Captain on the 7th March, 1917, and attended the Inland Water Transport branch of the Royal Engineers. Arthur died on the 9th July, 1918 in Basra, aged 45, and is buried at Basra War Cemetery, Iraq.
Thomas O. Harries, Private, 36255, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment. Thomas was the son of John and Sarah Harries, of Little Freestone, Milton, Pembroke. He enlisted at Cardiff into the Army, and joined the 2nd Battalion, Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, which was part of the 232nd Brigade, 75th Division. The Division served in Egypt and Palestine, taking part in the Third Battle of Gaza (in which the Division played a part in the Capture of Gaza). They then fought at the Capture of Junction Station, the Battle of Nabi Samweil, the Battle of Tell'Asur, the Battle of Berukin, and the Battles of Megiddo (in which the Division took part in the Capture of Sharon). They remained in Palestine for the duration of the war. Thomas was one of a batch of reinforcements for the Division, and had sailed on board the Transport Ship Transylvania, bound for the Middle East. On the 4th May, 1917 the Transylvania was torpedoed and sank with the loss of more than 400 lives, one of whom was the 36 year old Thomas. He is commemorated on the Savona Memorial, Italy.
Thomas Lewis, Private, 7158, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was the son of James and Sophia Lewis, of 13, North Brewery Street, Pembroke Dock. He had enlisted into the Welsh Regiment at Cardiff, and was posted to the 3rd (Reserve) Battalion, which was at the time based at Maindy Barracks, Cardiff. Thomas died in Cardiff of sickness on the 7th September, 1915 aged 39, and is buried at Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery.
John Austin Llewhellin, Private, 320266, Welsh Regiment. John was the only Son of George and Mary Llewhellin, of Stephens Green, Milton, Pembroke. He had originally served with the Pembroke Yeomanry, but in early 1917 the Regiment was merged with the Glamorgan Yeomanry in Egypt to form the 24th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. The Battalion was attached to the 231st Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division, and saw its first action during the march into Palestine in 1917, fighting in the Battle of Gaza. It was later in the year, during the Third Battle of Gaza, that John was wounded, and as a result died on the 2nd November, 1917. He was just 22 years old, and is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.
George Edward Pask, Shoeing Smith, 696146, Royal Field Artillery. George was born at Devonport, and enlisted at Weeton Camp, Yorkshire into the Royal Field Artillery. He was attached to the 57th Division Ammunition Column, which was a Territorial Division, raised in Lancashire in 1915. The Division moved to France between 7th and 22nd February 1917, and moved to positions near Ypres, where they took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele, which is where George was wounded. He died as a result on the 20th October, 1917 and is buried at Cement House Cemetery, Belgium.
Alfred Perkins, Private, 19894, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Alfred was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Evan Perkins, of Freestone Cross, Cresselly, Kilgetty. He enlisted at Maesteg into the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was a Regular Army Battalion that had been in France since the outbreak of war. In 1916 the Battalion was attached to the 22nd Brigade, 7th Division, and had been moved to the Somme after taking part in the Battle of Loos. It was just two months into the Somme offensive that Alfred was killed at Delville Wood on the 3rd September, 1916. He is buried nearby, at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval.
William Scourfield, Private, 29530, South Wales Borderers. William was the son of John and Catherine Scourfield, of Cresswell Quay, Cresselly, Killgetty, and had served with the 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers on Home Service. He died at home of sickness on the 26th February, 1917 aged just 18, and is buried at Pisgah Baptist Chapelyard.
World War Two, 1939-1945
Anthony Froude Trollope-Bellew, Lieutenant, 222332, Rifle Brigade. Anthony was the nephew of Lord Kesneven, and the son of Colonel Froude D. Trollope-Bellew, D.S.O., M.C., and the Hon. Mrs. Nesta Trollope-Bellew, of Crowcombe, Somerset. Anthony served as a Lieutenant in the 2nd Battalion, Rifle Brigade, which moved to North Africa as part of the British 7th Motor Brigade. The Battalion fought with great distinction during the Second Battle of El Alamein at the end of 1942, which is where Anthony was killed on the 2nd November, 1942. He was just 20 years old, and is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery, Tunisia.
Stanley George Boswell, Corporal, 3957794, Royal Hampshire Regiment. Little is known of Stanley, but he served with the 7th Battalion, Royal Hampshire Regiment. The Battalion was a Territorial unit, and was sent to Normandy as a reinforcing unit after D-Day, landing on the 22nd June, 1944 at Le Hamel attached to the 130th Brigade. On the 10th July 1944 the 7th Battalion attacked Maltot, supported by tanks of 44th RTR. The village was defended by Waffen SS troops supported by Tiger tanks, and the Battalion suffered severe casualties, but was back in the line two days later. On the 30th July 1944 the 7th Battalion attacked the village of Cahagnes, fighting in typical ‘bocage’ countryside, but after the initial attack by the brigade ran into difficulties, 7th Battalion deployed from reserves and captured Cahagnes, beating off several German counter-attacks. On the 2nd August the 7th Battalion moved up to Jurques, and after a short stiff fight advanced to “Point 132”, close to Mount Pincon. On the 6th August the 7th Battalion put in a deceptive attack on Mount Pincon, making a diversion whilst 129th Brigade made a flank attack. During heavy fighting, “C” company lost many casualties, including all the officers. Following the successful flank attack by 129th Brigade, the 7th Battalion mopped up and concentrated near Mauny by 10th August. Stanley was killed in action on the 9th August, 1944 aged 30. He is buried at Bayeux War Cemetery, France.
Edwin Cook, Private, 4031749, King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Edwin was born in Carew, the son of George Thomas Cook, and Mary Ann Cook. He was the husband of Ada Cook, of Altrincham, Cheshire, and served in the 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The Battalion was based on the Maginot Line at the outbreak of World War Two, and it was here that Edwin was killed, on the 21st May, 1940. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Froyennes Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Corlis St. Leger Hawkes, Pilot Officer, 128712, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Corlis was the son of Son of Lt.-Col. Corliss St. Leger Gillman Hawkes and Eleanor Muriel Hawkes, of Milton, Pembrokeshire. He was a Pilot with 267 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which On had reformed in August 1940 from the Communications Unit, Heliopolis, for local transport duties in Egypt. It used a variety of types for transporting passengers, mail and freight between Egypt and outlying bases. Larger aircraft were acquired by the end of 1941 and by August 1942, operations extended throughout the Mediterranean area and its role included the movement of personnel and equipment, casualty evacuation and occasional supply-dropping missions to guerilla bands in Italy and the Balkans. Corlis was killed in Greece on the 22nd August, 1942 aged only 21, and is buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery, Greece.
Ronald George Hay, Petty Officer Stoker, D/KX 83607, Royal Navy. Ronald was the son of James and Inez Hay. He was also the husband of Gwendoline Avesnes Hay, of Milton, Pembrokeshire, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Jackal. HMS Jackal (F22) was a J-class destroyer of the Royal Navy laid down by John Brown and Company, Limited, at Clydebank in Scotland on 24 September 1937, launched on 25 October 1938 and commissioned on 31 March 1939. She was attacked by enemy German Ju-88 bombers of Lehrgeschwader 1 north-west of Mersa Matruh in Egypt on 12 May 1942 and severely damaged, and scuttled by HMS Jervis. Ronald was killed by the bombing on the 12th May, 1942, aged 29. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Howard Stanley John, Able Seaman, D/SSX 28198, Royal Navy. Howard was the son of William Alfred and Mary Jane John, of Cresselly, Pembrokeshire, and served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Repulse. Repulse had been built in World War One, and was a lightly armoured Battlecruiser. She was refitted and modernised in 1938, and operated with the Home Fleet in the North Sea and Atlantic during the first two years of the Second World War, taking part in the pursuit of the German battleship Bismarck in May 1941. Later in the year she was sent to the Far East, accompanying the new battleship Prince of Wales. The two ships arrived at Singapore just before Japan began the Pacific War. As soon as hostilities commenced, both steamed northwards to intercept a reported invasion force. While returning to Singapore on the 10th December 1941, Repulse and Prince of Wales were attacked by Japanese high-level bombers and torpedo planes. Repulse was moderately damaged by bombs early in the action and was later hit by several torpedoes. After receiving this heavy underwater damage, she sank rapidly, followed less than an hour later by the Prince of Wales. Howard went down with the ship that day. He was only 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Thomas Melgwyn Neale, Fusilier, 4208890, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Thomas was the son Of Edwin And Mary Neale, of Redberth, Pembrokeshire, and the husband Of Annie Mary E. Neale, of Narberth. He served with the 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, which was part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division that landed on Normandy at the end of June, 1944. Thomas was killed during the fighting in the Bocage on the 17th July, 1944. He was 24 years old, and is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial, France.
George Richard Phelps, Flight Lieutenant (Pilot), 150236, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. George was the son of Joseph George and Phebe Jane Phelps, of Pembroke. He served with the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, in 166 Squadron, which was a heavy bomber Squadron, flying Lancaster bombers after 1943. George was killed when his aircraft was shot down over Germany on the 1st March, 1945. He was just 22 years old, and is buried at Durnbach War Cemetery, Germany.
Colwyn Scourfield, Trooper, 7933318, Royal Armoured Corps. Colwyn was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Scourfield, of Milton, Pembrokeshire, and served with the 50th Royal Tank Regiment of the Royal Armoured Corps. They saw action in the Western Desert and North Africa, including El Alamein, Mareth and Sfax, and then Sicily, and Italy, which is where Colwyn was killed on the 19th July, 1943. He was 27 years old, and is commemorated on the Cassino Memorial, Italy.
David Norman Williams, Lance Corporal, 4199432, The Royal Welch Fusiliers. Little is known of David, but he served with the 4th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division landed on Normandy at the end of June, 1944 and fought throughout the campaign in Normandy, which is where David was killed on the 17th July, 1944. He was 27 years old, and is buried at St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheux, France.
Wilfred John Williams, Driver, 219123, Royal Army Service Corps. Wilfred was the son of Thomas and Mary Ann Williams, of Milton, Pembrokeshire. He served with the Royal Army Service Corps in North Africa, and was killed there on the 2nd July, 1942 aged 32. Wilfred is buried at Tripoli War Cemetery, Libya.