Neyland War Memorial
The Great War, 1914-1918
George Henry Archer, Battery Sergeant Major, 25269, Royal Garrison Artillery. George was the Son of Mr. and Mrs. Archer, of Kent, and was the husband of Mrs. E. B. Archer, of 23, Fredrick Street, Neyland. He landed in France on 2 June 1916, with 147th Siege Battery, RGA. George fought throughout the Somme Offensive, quickly rising from Sergeant to Battery Sergeant Major. He was killed at Arras on 7 July 1917, aged 30, and is buried at Barlin Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Thomas Henry Banner, M.I.D., Sergeant, 14242, Royal Engineers. Thomas was the Son of Thomas and Annie Banner, of Sea View, Llanstadwell, and had enlisted at Devonport into the Royal Engineers. He was posted to their 2nd Field Company, which was attached to the 8th Division. The 8th Division was formed during October 1914, by the bringing together of regular army units from various points around the British Empire. The Division moved to the Western Front in November 1914, a badly-needed reinforcement to the BEF which had been all but wiped out at Ypres. They saw their first major action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and then at the Battle of Aubers. They then saw further fighting at the Action of Bois Grenier, before moving to the Somme in 1916, where they fought at the Battle of Albert. In March, 1917 they followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, which is probably where Thomas was Mentioned in Despatches (Gazetted on the 18th May 1917). Later that year the Division moved to Ypres, fighting at the Battle of Pilckem, and the Battle of Langemarck. In March, 1918 the Division were on the southern end of the Somme, and here met the German Offensive head on, at the Battle of St Quentin. They were pushed back, fighting at the Actions at the Somme Crossings, the Battle of Rosieres, and the Actions of Villers-Bretonneux, before being withdrawn from the line to rest. However, the chosen rest area was soon to be hit by a German attack on their new positions on the Aisne, and fought at the Battle of the Aisne. Thomas was killed here on the 27th May, 1918. He was 38 years old, and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial, France.
John Bryan Bermingham, Engine Room Artificer 4th Class, M/12333, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Black Prince. John was the Son of Michael and Annie Bermingham, of 27, Kensington Rd., Neyland, and he served in the Royal Navy aboard the Duke of Edinburgh Class Cruiser, H.M.S. Black Prince. The Black Prince was attached to the First Cruiser Squadron during the Battle of Jutland, on the 31st May, 1916. She had become separated from the rest of the fleet when she was spotted by the German Battleship Thuringen, who trained her searchlights onto her, making her a sitting target for the rest of the German fleet. After a desperate 15 minute fight against the odds, the Black Prince blew apart and sank. John was killed aboard her that night. He was 22 years old, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
James Ethelbert Berry, Private, 1794, Berkshire Yeomanry. James was the Son of James William and Elizabeth Berry, of Marine Villa, Neyland, and he enlisted at Reading into the Berkshire Yeomanry. The Regiment formed part of the 2nd South Midland Mounted Brigade, 2nd Mounted Division and moved to Gallipoli during August, 1915. James was killed during the attack on Hill 60 on the 21st August, 1915. He was just 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.
Frederick Bevan, Driver, 91785, Royal Field Artillery. Frederick was born at Neyland. Very little is known of him, but he enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Royal Field Artillery, and was posted to their 'A' Battery, 66th Brigade, which was attached to the 13th (Western) Division. Towards the end of February the entire Division concentrated at Blackdown in Hampshire. On the 7th June, 1915 orders were received to prepare to move to the Mediterranean. On the 13th June, 1915 the first transports carrying the Division left port, and moved to Alexandria. By the 4th July, all units had moved to Mudros, preparatory for landing on Gallipoli. Between the 6th and 16th July, 1915 the Divisional infantry landed on Cape Helles and relieved the 29th Division. They left and returned to Mudros at the end of the month, and the entire Division landed at ANZAC Cove between the 3rd and 5th August, 1915, taking part in the Battles of Sari Bair, Russell's Top, and Hill 60, ANZAC. Soon afterwards the Division was transferred from ANZAC to Suvla Bay, and it was evacuated from Suvla on the 19th December 1915, whereupon the infantry moved after a weeks rest to the Helles bridgehead, where they faced the last Turkish attacks at Helles. On the 8th January 1916, the Division was evacuated from Helles, and by the 31st January was concentrated at Port Said, where they held forward posts in the Suez Canal defences. On the 12th February, 1916 the Division began to move to Mesopotamia, to strengthen the force being assembled for the relief of the besieged garrison at Kut al Amara. By the 27th March, the Division had assembled near Sheikh Saad and came under orders of the Tigris Corps, and then took part in the attempts to relieve Kut. Frederick died of sickness in Kut on the 24th June, 1916. He is buried at Amara War Cemetery.
Ernest Sidney Blackmore, Private, 71225, Royal Army Medical Corps. Ernest was the Son of Walter John and Agnes Blackmore, of 16, Frederick Street, Neyland. Ernest originally served with the 124th Field Company, Royal Engineers, which was attached to the 38th (Welsh) Division. He transferred to No. 1 Company, Royal Army Medical Corps in September 1915, and served on HMHS Aquitania (a Hospital Ship) from 8 October 1915 until 4 December 1915, when he was hospitalised at Alexandria, suffering from enteric fever, and spent four months recovering before being invalided to England aboard the SS Dover Castle. Ernest survived the war, bad sadly became one of the many influenza casualties which marked the end of the conflict. He died at Aldershot Isolation Hospital on 22 November 1918, aged 23, and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Richard James Brown, Private, 536622, London Regiment. Richard was the Son of Richard and Caroline Jane Brown, of 18, High St., Neyland. He enlisted at Cardiff into the Army and joined the 15th Battalion (Prince of Wales Own Civil Service Rifles), London Regiment, which was part of the 140th Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. The Division moved to France between the 9th and 22nd March, 1915, and served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war. The new designation of the Division, its Brigades and other constituent units changed from the 2nd London to 47th in mid May 1915. The Division fought at the Battle of Aubers, and the Battle of Festubert during May, 1915 and in September fought at the Battle of Loos, and subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. They were north of Arras when the Germans attacked Vimy Ridge, and then moved south to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Le Transloy, where the Division captured Eaucourt l'Abbe, and took part in Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. Early in 1917 the Division moved north to Belgium, and took part in the Battle of Messines, and then in November, 1917 fought at the Battle of Cambrai. Richard was killed at Cambrai on the 6th December, 1917. He was 23 years old and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval.
Charles Augustus Button, Second Lieutenant, Royal Field Artillery. Charles was born in Llanstadwell, Pembrokeshire in 1884.By 1901, he is recorded as lodging at 23, Railway Terrace, Resolven, where he worked as a Railway Clerk. At some time prior to the war, Charles had moved to London, residing at 40 Gordon Avenue, St Margarets (near Twickenham) in 1911, where he worked as a Bank Clerk. Here he played rugby for the local team, Rosslyn Park. Charles enlisted at Twickenham into the Honorable Artillery Company, serving as a Bombardier, service number 624077. He arrived in France on 13 March 1917, where he was commissioned Second Lieutenant into the Royal Field Artillery, and was posted to their 45th Brigade, which had been in France since 1914 attached to the 8th Division. By the beginning of 1918 Charles was a section Commander in 5th Battery, 45th Brigade, RFA, and saw heavy fighting on the Somme in March and April 1918, during the German Spring Offensive. The battered Division was then moved southwards, to the Aisne, where it was intended for it to rest and rebuild strength. However, the Germans launched a fresh offensive on the Aisne during May 1918, and Charles' Battery were caught up in terrible fighting again, during the Battle of Bois de Buttes on 27 May 1918. Facing a numerically superior enemy force, the 8th Division suffered a large amount of casualties that day, with Charles' 5th Battery putting up a stout resistance throughout the night until, at about 6.30am the enemy appeared on the battery position. Many guns, however, had been put out of action by direct hits before being overhauled. Charles himself was killed just after destroying important maps and documents, and was last seen lying dead in the trenches. He was awarded the French Croix-de-Guerre for his bravery, and is commemorated on the Soissons Memorial to the missing. His medals were sent to his brother M. E. Button, at 4, Great Eastern House, Neyland, Pembrokeshire. Many thanks to his Great Nephew, James Button, for the extra information, and the photograph of Charles.
Thomas Issac Charles, Engineman, 2716/ES, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Trawler, Dragoon. Thomas was the Husband of M. A. Davies (formerly Charles), of 8, Church Lake Terrace, Neyland. He served aboard the Trawler Dragoon, which was a 30 ton smack. On the 20th August, 1916 the Dragoon was captured by the German submarine UC10, who sank it by means of a bomb, about 36 miles North-East of Gromer. Thomas survived, probably being taken prisoner, but was sent home when he was taken ill, and died on the 29th November, 1917. He was 30 years old and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Albert Osman Cole, Sapper, 82555, Royal Engineers. Albert was born in Neyland, and was the Husband of Sarah Jones (formerly Cole) of 3, New Chapel St., Treorchy (Rhondda), Glamorgan. He enlisted at Maesteg into the Royal Engineers, and joined their 34th Signal Company, at Fenny Stratford. The Company was attached to the 34th Division, which moved to France between 7th and 15th January 1916, and saw its first major action on the Somme, during the Battle of Albert, where it suffered very severe casualties during its part in the attack on La Boisselle. It then took part in the Battle of Bazentin, Battle of Pozieres and the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Albert was wounded on the Somme, and brought back to Hospital in Birmingham for treatment. Sadly he died of his wounds on the 27th October, 1916 and is buried at Birmingham (Lodge Hill) Cemetery.
Thomas George Davies, Engineman, 1620/ES, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Trawler, Othonna. Thomas was serving aboard His Majesty's Trawler Othonna as an Engineman. The Othonna was sunk when she struck a mine off Fife Ness on the 20th April, 1917 which had been laid by UC41 just a day earlier. All hands were drowned, but some of the mens bodies were washed ashore, and so afforded burial. One of these was Thomas George Davies. He is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Thomas Henry Davies, Private, 60663, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born at Jordanston Hill, and enlisted at Cardiff into the Welsh Regiment. He joined the 24th Battalion, which had been formed in 1917 by the merging of the Pembroke & Glamorgan Yeomanry, and were attached to the 231 Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division had formed in Egypt in January, 1917 and had fought through the Palestinian Campaign, at the Battles of Gaza and the Battle and capture of Jerusalem. Thomas was killed in action during the Third Battle of Gaza, on 27 December 1917. He is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
William James Edwards, Private, 91139, Machine Gun Corps. William was the Son of James and Mary Edwards, of 13, Frederick St., Neyland, and he enlisted at Pembroke into the Army. He was posted to the 24th Company, Machine Gun Corps, which was attached to the 24th Brigade, 8th Division. The 8th Division had been formed during October 1914, by the bringing together of regular army units from various points around the British Empire. The Division moved to the Western Front in November 1914, a badly-needed reinforcement to the BEF which had been all but wiped out at Ypres. They saw their first major action at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle, and then at the Battle of Aubers. They then saw further fighting at the Action of Bois Grenier, before moving to the Somme in 1916, where they fought at the Battle of Albert. In March, 1917 they followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and later that year moved to Ypres, fighting at the Battle of Pilckem, and the Battle of Langemarck. William was killed in action at Ypres on the 24th November, 1917. He was just 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial.
John G. Elliot, Sapper, 58446, Royal Engineers. John was the Son of John Henry and Annie Elliott, of Hazelbeach, Neyland. He enlisted at Pembroke into the Royal Engineers, and was posted to the 79th Field Company, based at the 'E' Training Centre. The company was attached to the 18th (Eastern) Division, which landed in Boulogne in May 1915, and didn't see it's first major action until July, 1916 when it took part in the Battle of Albert. They then fought at the Battle of Bazentin, where they captured Trones Wood, and moved on to the Battle of Delville Wood. In October they took part in the Battle of the Ancre Heights, and captured Schwaben Redoubt, and helped capture Regina Trench. They then fought at the Battle of the Ancre, and during the subsequent Operations on the Ancre, before spending the winter on the Somme. John was wounded on the Somme and sent home for treatment, but he sadly died of his wounds on the 4th February, 1917 aged just 20, and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Henry James Escott, Private, 16619, Royal Irish Regiment. Henry was from Neyland, and enlisted at Milford into the Army. He was posted initially to the Royal Dublin Fusiliers, but transferred to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Irish Regiment, which was attached to the 188th Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Division moved to France, arriving at Marseilles between the 12th and 23rd May, 1916 and moved to positions on the Somme, where it took part in the Battle of the Ancre, and the resulting Operations on the Ancre. In April, 1917 the Division were at Arras, and fought at the Second Battle of the Scarpe, where they captured Gavrelle. They then fought at the Battle of Arleux, before moving north to Ypres, where they took part in the Second Battle of Passchendaele. Their next major action was at Cambrai, during the Action of Welch Ridge, and they were still in the area when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive, and fought at the Battle of St Quentin, and then the First Battle of Bapaume. In August, the Division took part in the Battle of Albert, which marked the beginning of the great offensive which was to end the war. They then fought at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant, and the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Henry was killed in action during the terrible fighting around the Hindenburg Line positions on the 27th September, 1918. He is buried at Queant Road Cemetery, Buissy.
Albert Heber Evans, Private, 31413, Welsh Regiment. Albert was the Son of Thomas Henry and Hester Evans, of Bungalow, Church Lakes, Neyland, and enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Welsh Regiment. He was posted to the 19th Battalion, which was the Pioneer Battalion of the 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres. In June they marched south to the Somme, where they were tasked with the capture of Mametz Wood. The attack on the wood began on the 7th July, but met with fierce resistance, and it took until the 14th July to clear the wood. The Division suffered terrible casualties at Mametz, and were taken out of the line, and moved to Ypres to rebuild. Albert was wounded at Mametz Wood, and evacuated to the Hospital at Rouen for treatment, but he sadly died there on 28 July, 1916. Albert was just 19 years old, and is buried at St. Sever Cemetery, Rouen.
Benjamin George Evans, Artificer Engineer, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Queen Mary. Benjamin was the Son of William Evans, of Martell Factory, Little Newcastle, Pembrokeshire. He was the Husband of K. S. Evans, of 31 Laburnum Grove, North End, Portsmouth, and served in the Royal Navy aboard the Battlecruiser H.M.S. Queen Mary. She was launched in 1912, becoming part of the 1st Battlecruiser Squadron, and took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight in 1914. She was taking part in the Battle of Jutland on the 31st May, 1916 when she was involved in a ferocious battle with two German Battleships, the Derfflinger and the Seydlitz, but she exploded when she was hit after sustaining direct hits, and sank with the loss of over 1,200 men. Benjamin was one of the lost men. He was 34 years old, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
Sidney Picton Evans, Lance Corporal, 488, Royal Engineers. Sidney was born in Llanelli, the son of David and Amelia Evans of Glanmor Road, and enlisted at Neyland into the 1/1st Welsh Field Company. He landed in Gallipoli on the 2nd August, 1915 and was sadly killed in action soon after, on the 21st August, during the Defence of Helles. Sidney is buried at Green Hill Cemetery, Gallipoli.
J. Galloway. Cannot presently be identified.
Thomas George Gee, Lance Corporal, 24/1654, Northumberland Fusiliers. Thomas was born at Neyland, the Son of Robert and Mary Gee, later of Newcastle-on-Tyne. He married Annie Gee of Newcastle-on-Tyne prior to the war, and enlisted there into the Northumberland Fusiliers, being posted to the 11th Battalion, attached to the 68th Brigade, 23rd Division. Between the 21st and the 26th August, 1915 the Division landed in Boulogne and proceeded to the Western Front, initially concentrating near Tilques. They saw their first major action at the Battle of Albert, where they captured Contalmaison, and then fought at the Battle of Bazentin, the Battle of Pozieres, the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the Battle of Morval and the Battle of Le Transloy, where they captured Le Sars. They then moved to Ypres, which is where Thomas was killed on the 5th January, 1917. He was 38 years old and is buried at Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium.
Benjamin Thomas Halliday, Rifleman, Y/631, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Benjamin was the son of Joseph Halliday, a Railway Engine Driver from Durham. Ben had been born in September, 1890 in Glamorgan, and resided in Neyland prior to the war. Benjamin was a pre-war regular in the Army, serving with the 4th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, which was in Gharial, India at the outbreak of war. They were rushed home where they became attached to the 80th Brigade, 27th Division. The 27th Division was formed in England in October-November 1914, from regular units returning from India, Hong Kong and Canada. On the 21st December 1914 it landed in France and proceeded to the Western Front, where it fought at the Action of St Eloi, and at The Second Battle of Ypres. In November, 1915 the Division moved to Salonika, where it remained for the duration of the war. Benjamin though was wounded in France during the early battles of 1915. He returned home for treatment, but sadly died on 30 August 1915. He is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Thomas Hare, Deck Hand, 691DA, Royal Naval Reserve, H M. Trawler Amy. Thomas was the Husband of Elizabeth Hare, of 12, James St., Neyland. He was a native of Dover, but had moved to Milford as he worked as a Deck Hand on the trawler Amy. In August 1914 Amy was requisitioned by the War Ministry for minesweeping duties, and it was while minesweeping off Le Havre on 11 April 1917 that she struck a mine and sank with the loss of her skipper and eight ratings, including Thomas. He was 40 years old, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Percival Arthur Vaughan Harries, Private, 21952, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. Percival was the Son of John and Lilly Harries, of Penbryn, Hazel Bank, of Neyland. He had been called up and joined the Training reserve Battalion of the Welsh regiment, before being posted to the 1/4th Battalion, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry, which had returned from duty in Singapore, joining the 56th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division in France in June, 1917. The Division was by that time at Ypres, where they had taken part in the Battle of Messines. They fought on the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood, before moving up to Broodseinde, Poelcappelle and Passchendaele Village itself. In 1918 they were caught up in the German Spring Offensive near St. Quentin, where they suffered terrible casualties, and fought at the Battle of Bapaume. They moved to Ypres, but were caught up in the German attack at Messines, and at Bailleul, and Kemmel. After suffering terribly again, they moved South to the quieter French sector to rebuild, but were caught up in the German offensive on the Aisne, and fought during the Battle of the Selle, Valenciennes, the Sambre and the Passage of the Grand Honelle. Percival was wounded during the final battles of the war, and returned home for treatment. Sadly he died of his wounds on 11 March 1919 aged just 20, and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Arthur John Henderson, Engineman, 294ES, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.P.M.S. Lady Ismay. Arthur was an engineman aboard the paddle-steamer Lady Ismay, which was a 220 foot ferry, which had sailed the Cardiff to Weston route prior to the outbreak of war. She was then requisitioned by the Admiralty, and sent to the Thames on war service as a minesweeper, but sunk near Longsand Lightship on 21st December 1915 after she struck a mine which had been laid by the German Submarine UC3. Arthur was lost aboard her, and so he is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial.
Thomas James Hire, Stoker 1st Class, 292159, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Valiant. Thomas served throughout the war as a Stoker aboard H.M.S. Valiant, which was the smaller of the Queen Elizabeth class of Battle ships. She took part in the Battle of Jutland with all her sister ships, but escaped unharmed due in part to her superior speed. In 1916 she collided with Warspite, which put her out of action for a while, but came back into active service within a year. After the war ended she joined the Atlantic Fleet, and survived until 1947 when she was finally scrapped. Thomas served aboard her until taking ill towards the end of the war, and he died at home on 23 November 1918. He was 40 years old, and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Thomas Henry James, Rifleman, A/186, Kings Royal Rifle Corps. Thomas was the Son of John James, of Houghton Post Office, Neyland. He had worked for the Great Western Railway before the war, and enlisted at Llanelli into the Army, joining the 8th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, attached to the 41st Brigade, 14th (Light) Division. The Division was to see it's first action during the Action of Hooge, where the Division were the first to be attacked by the German use of flamethrowers. It was probably during this action that Thomas was wounded. He died of wounds on 5 August 1915, but sadly his grave was lost during later fighting, and so he is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. He was just 20 years old.
William Thomas John, Private, 54265, Welsh Regiment. William was born at Neyland, the Son of Mrs. Hester John, later of 56, Portfield, Haverfordwest. He enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Welsh Regiment, and was posted to the 9th Battalion, attached to the 58th Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division assembled around Bulford during September 1914. Divisional training was completed near Tidworth, from March 1915, and the Butterfly Division crossed to France between the 11th and the 21st July 1915, and moved to positions near Loos. The Division fought during the opening attack of the Battle of Loos, and then moved to the Somme, where they took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on the 1st July, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battles of Pozieres and the Ancre in 1916. They then moved North to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, and then moved north to Ypres itself, where it fought on the Menin Road. William was killed in action here on the 20th September, 1917 aged only 19. He has no known grave, and so is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
Henry Lee, Private, 285355, Welsh Regiment. Henry was born at Wrexham, but resided in Neyland prior to the war. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Army, joining the Monmouthshire Regiment, but later transferred into the 1/6th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, which was attached to the 1st Division as Pioneers. The Division had been one of the first to arrive in France, fighting at the Battle of Mons, and taking part in the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved North to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they fought during the Battle of Loos, and the action at the Hohenzollern redoubt. Again they were required for a major offensive, moving South to the Somme, where they fought during the opening of the Somme Offensive at the Battle of Albert, then at Bazentin, Pozieres, Flers-Courcelette and Morval. They followed the German retreat to the Hindenburg Line in early 1917, and were then briefed for an operation on the Flanders Coast, and moved there during the Summer of 1917. While training on the coast, the Battle of Third Ypres had stalled in the mire, and the Division were recalled to Ypres, where they fought at the Second Battle of Passchendaele. After spending another Winter in Flanders, they were near Estaires when the German Spring Offensive caught them, fighting through the Battle of Estaires. Henry was killed around this time, on the 16th April, 1918. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Wynford Llewellyn, Private, 4954, Pembroke Yeomanry. Wynford was born at Church Lakes, Llanstadwell, and enlisted at Haverfordwest into the Pembroke Yeomanry. The regiment formed in Tenby at the outbreak of war, joining the 1st Mounted Division. In September, 1915 the front line units of the division moved to Egypt, joining the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force. The second line unit of the Pembroke Yeomanry moved to Ireland, as part of the force sent to quell the Easter Uprising, and it was here that Wynford was shot by republicans, and died at Grangegorman Hospital on 29 April, 1916. He is buried at Grangegorman Military Cemetery, in the Republic of Ireland.
H. E. Moore. Cannot presently be identified.
D. J. Nicholas. Cannot presently be identified.
James Henry Palmer, Trimmer, 2216TS, Royal Naval Reserve, H.M. Trawler Fulmar. James was the Son of William and Margaret Palmer, of 6, West Lane, Honeyborough, Neyland, and was a fisherman prior to the war. When war broke out, the Admiralty took over the fishing fleet, and so James became a Trimmer in the Royal Naval reserve aboard the Trawler Fulmar. Fulmar was a Grimsby registered vessel, built in 1899 and taken on by the Admiralty in May, 1915. She was sunk by a mine on 17 January 1916 in the Gulf of Sollum, going down with all hands, including James. He was just 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
D. J. Petherick. Cannot presently be identified.
Stephen Arla Phillips, Armourer, 340270, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Aboukir. Stephen was the Son of the late Thomas Phillips, of Cresswell Quay, Begelly, and the husband of Hannah Phillips, of Black Tar, Llangwm. He served in the Royal Navy as a regular, and at the outbreak of war was an Armourer aboard the armoured cruiser H.M.S. Aboukir. Aboukir had been launched in 1900, and at the outbreak of war was sent along with her sister ships Bacchante, Euryalus, Hogue and Cressy to patrol the North Sea. At around 6 am on 22 September the three cruisers were steaming at 10 knots in line ahead and they were spotted by the U-9, commanded by Lt. Otto Weddigen. Although they were not zigzagging, all of the ships had lookouts posted to search for periscopes and one gun on each side of each ship was manned. Weddigen ordered his submarine to submerge and closed the range to the unsuspecting British ships. At close range, he fired a single torpedo at the Aboukir. The torpedo broke the back of the Aboukir and she sank within 20 minutes with the loss of 527 men. The captains of the Cressy and Hogue thought the Aboukir had struck a floating mine and came forward to assist her. They stood by and began to pick up survivors. At this point, Weddigen fired two torpedoes into the Hogue, mortally wounding that ship. As the Hogue sank, the captain of the Cressy realised that the squadron was being attacked by a submarine, and tried to flee. However, Weddigen fired two more torpedoes into the Cressy, and sank her as well. The entire battle had lasted less than two hours, and cost the British three warships, 62 officers and 1,397 ratings. One of the dead was the 45 year old Stephen Arla Phillips. He is commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
George Sidney Plane, Sapper, 9047, Royal Engineers. George was the Son of William and Margaret Plane, of 80, Cambrian Road, Neyland and he enlisted at Andover into the Royal Engineers. George was posted to the 26th Field Company, which was attached to the 1st Division, which had been in France since the outbreak of war. After fighting through all of the major battles of the war, the 1st Division had taken part in the great advance of 1918, and had taken part in the Battle of the Sambre just before George was killed in action, sadly just a week before the Armistice, on the 4th November, 1918. He was 37 years old, and is buried at Mazinghien Communal Cemetery.
Benjamin John Richards, Carpenter Lieutenant, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Terrible. Benjamin was the Son of Thomas Richards of Neyland, and the husband of Helen Richards of 58A London Road, Portsmouth. He was an experienced sailor, having been a regular in the Royal Navy since before the Boer War, and by 1914 was a Carpenter Lieutenant aboard H.M.S. Terrible, an ancient armoured cruiser. She had seen action on the China Station, and during the Second Boer War, but was laid up afterwards, being brought back into service as a troopship at the outbreak of the Great War. Benjamin sadly died of illness at Portsmouth on the 2nd May, 1917 and is buried at Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery. He was 58 years old.
Peter Roberts, Private, 42720, Machine Gun Corps. Peter was born at Neyland, the Son of Peter and Lilian Roberts, later of 48 Rawson Road, Seaforth, Liverpool. He enlisted at Glasgow into the Highland Light Infantry, but later transferred into the 140th Company, Machine Gun Corps, attached to the 140th Brigade, 47th (2nd London) Division. The Division moved to France between the 9th and 22nd March, 1915, and served with distinction on the Western Front throughout the war. The new designation of the Division, its Brigades and other constituent units changed from the 2nd London to 47th in mid May 1915. The Division fought at the Battle of Aubers, and the Battle of Festubert during May, 1915 and in September fought at the Battle of Loos, and subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. They were north of Arras when the Germans attacked Vimy Ridge, and then moved south to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Le Transloy, where the Division captured Eaucourt l'Abbe, and took part in Attacks on the Butte de Warlencourt. Early in 1917 the division moved north to Ypres, and it was here, soon after the move north, on the 1st February, 1917 that Peter was killed. He was just 19 years old, and is buried at Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
William George Roberts, Private, 35322, Kings Shropshire Light Infantry. William was born at Neyland, and enlisted there into the Army, joining the Training Reserve Battalion. From there he was posted to the 7th Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry, which was attached to the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. The division had been in France since the outbreak of war, and had fought at most of the major battles that followed. In November 1917 the Division fought at the Battle of Cambrai, and they were in the area during March, 1918 when the German Spring Offensive swept through the British lines, fighting at the Battle of St Quentin and the First Battle of Bapaume. William was killed on the second day of the fighting, on the 22nd March, 1918. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
William Robinson, Private, 200343, Essex Regiment. William was born at New Milton, the son of William and M. Robinson, later of 41, Parkside, Woodford Green, Essex. He served with the 4th Battalion, Essex Regiment, and was killed during the First Battle of Gaza on the 26th March, 1917. William was 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
K. R. Roper, Private, PO/18905, Royal Marine Light Infantry, H.M.S. Colleen. Very little is known of Private Roper, but he served at H.M.S. Colleen, which was the name of the Royal Naval Depot at Queenstown in Southern Ireland. He died at Queenstown on the 10th November, 1918 and is buried at Cobh Old Church Cemetery, the same cemetery in which many of the dead who were washed ashore after the Lusitania sinking were buried.
William James Russan, Shipwright 1st Class, 342323, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Lavender. William was the Husband of Mary Ignatius Russan, of 11 Hawthorne Terrace, Queenstown, Co. Cork. He was a pre-war regular in the Royal Navy, and served aboard H.M.S. Lavender, which was a Flower Class Minesweeper, that had been launched in 1915. She was on active service when she was torpedoed and sunk in the English Channel on the 5th May, 1917 by UC75. William died in the sinking of the ship that day. He was 36 years old, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
George Ernest Trevor Saunders, Sapper, 496759, Royal Engineers. George was the husband of Hannah Saunders, of Ioa, Whiteladies Road, Clifton, Bristol. He enlisted at Neyland into the Royal Engineers, and was posted to their 457th Field Company, attached to the 62nd Division. The Division concentrated on the Western Front by 18th January 1917, and saw their first action during the Operations on the Ancre. They then followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, before taking part in the Flanking Operations Round Bullecourt, which is where George was killed on the 16th April, 1917. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery, France.
Oliver James Scurlock, Private, SE/31763, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Oliver was the Son of William H. and Jane Scurlock, of Church Road, Hazelbeach, Neyland. Very little is known of him, but he served with the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, at No. 2 Veterinary Hospital, Longmoor. He died at home on 29 November 1918, aged just 19 and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
Richard Charles Scurlock, Private, 226554, Monmouthshire Regiment. Richard was born at Neyland, the Son of Richard and Lettice Scurlock. He became the husband of Lily Scurlock, of 71 Charles Street, Abertysswg, Cardiff, and joined the Army at Newport, Monmouthshire, where he was posted to the 1st Battalion, Monmouth Regiment, which was the Pioneer Battalion to the 46th (North Midland) Division. The Division moved to France between the 23rd to the 28th February 1915, and saw its first action at the Hohenzollern Redoubt near Loos. The Division suffered large numbers of casualties during the attack, which was its first large-scale action. On the 23rd December, 1915 the Division was ordered to proceed to Egypt, leaving the Divisional Ammunition Column (for the 55th Division), the Divisional Train (with the 56th Division) and the Mobile Veterinary Section. Most units reached Egypt via Marseilles by the 13th January, 1916. However on the 21st January, 1916 the move of the Division was countermanded and the units were returned to France, whereupon the other units rejoined. Here the Division took part in the Attack on the Gommecourt Salient, which was a diversionary attack on the 1st July, 1916 intended to draw attention away from the main attack on the Somme, but the Division again suffered large numbers of casualties during the attack. They rested for several months at Arras, and at the end of 1916 took part in Operations on the Ancre. During March, 1917 the Division followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and then fought in the Battle of Arras, taking part in the Battle of Hill 70. They then moved to Ypres, which is where Richard was killed on the 24th June, 1917. He was 30 years old, and is buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
William John Sobey, Able Seaman, 238301, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Indefatigable. William was from Neyland, and served as a pre-war regular aboard the Battle Cruiser H.M.S. Indefatigable. As part of the 2nd Battlecruiser Squadron, under the command of Captain C. F. Sowerby at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May 1916, she was hit by a salvo of 11 inch shells from S.M.S. Von der Tann. She was hit first by two shells in the "X" magazine area, blowing out her bottom and causing her to fall out of formation, sinking by the stern. Following more hits in the area of 'A' turret, the forward magazine exploded, and the ship sank quickly, killing all but three of her crew of 1,017. William went down with his shipmates that day, and is commemorated alongside them on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Thomas Stewart, Private, 15416, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was born at Neyland, and enlisted at Swansea into the Army. He was posted to the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to the 76th Brigade, 3rd Division. One of the first Divisions to move to France, the 3rd Division remained on the Western Front throughout the war, and fought during the opening Battle of Mons, and in the epic retreat, from the Rearguard Action of Solesmes, through the Battle of Le Cateau, and down to the Marne, where the German Offensive was stopped. They followed the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line, where they met them in battle, and stopped the advance on Paris. The Division then moved north to Flanders, and took part in the Battle of La Bassée, and at the Battle of Messines, which were a prelude to the First Battle of Ypres. They took part in the famous Christmas Truce on the 25th December, 1914 and remained at Ypres throughout the winter. In 1915 the Division saw action at Bellewaarde and Hooge, and took part in the Second attack on Bellewaarde, and in 1916 fought at the Actions of the Bluff, and at the St Eloi Craters. Thomas was killed at Ypres on the 17th February, 1916, and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Emlyn Cyril Langham Thomas, Private, 70433, Kings Liverpool Regiment. Emlyn was the Son of William and Ann Thomas, of 7, Frederick Street, Neyland. He initially served with the King's Liverpool regiment, but after suffering from being gassed on the Western Front, he was medically downgraded, and joined the Labour Corps. Emlyn died at home as a result of being gassed, on 1 July, 1921. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Honeyborough Cemetery, Neyland.
George Tomkins, Private, 54284, Welsh Regiment. George was the Son of Thomas and Sarah Tomkins, and the husband of Emily Tomkins, of 3, Church Lakes Terrace, Neyland. He serevd with the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthen Pals Battalion, attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division landed in France in December 1915, and was posted to the front at Fleurbaix, where it gained valuable trench experience, before marching to the Somme in June 1916, where it fought at Mametz Wood. After a mauling at Mametz, the Division was posted to a quieter sector at Boesinghe, north of Ypres, where it was to remain for the coming fourteen months. On 30 April 1917 the 15th Welsh set out on a massive raid on the German lines at the Mortjelde Estaminet, with 7 officers and 180 men. The raid was a success, but George was killed while in the German trenches, and left behind to be buried by the Germans. After the war his body was moved, and he now lies in Perth Cemetery (China Wall), Belgium. He was 21 years old.
Joseph Bowen Vaughan, Able Seaman, 196437, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Defence. Joseph was the Son of W. H. Vaughan, of 15, Frederick St., Neyland, and served as a regular in the Royal Navy, aboard the Minotaur Class Armoured Cruiser, H.M.S. Defence. Defence had been built at the nearby Pembroke Dockyard, and was launched in 1907. At the outbreak of war she was in the Mediterranean, and took part in the pursuit of the Goeben and Breslau. She was the flagship of Rear Admiral Sir Robert Arbuthnot at the Battle of Jutland on 31 May, 1916 when she was hit by a salvo from nearby German Battlecruisers, and blew up and sank immediately, taking with her the entire complement of 903 men. One of these was Joseph Bowen Vaughan. He was 33 years old, and is commemorated alongside his former ship-mates on the Plymouth Naval Memorial.
Charles Edward Warlow, Leading Carpenter's Crew, 345941, Royal Navy, H.M.S. Invincible. Charles was the Son of William and Lettice Warlow, of Neyland, and was a regular in the Royal Navy, serving aboard the Battlecruiser H.M.S. Invincible. She was the first Battlecruiser ever built, and was launched in 1907. At the beginning of the war she took part in the Battle of Heligoland Bight, and was then sent to the South Atlantic, where she took part in the Battle of the Falklands. At the Battle of Jutland on 31 May, 1916 she was the Flagship of the 3rd Battlecruiser Squadron, where she was struck by a shell from Lutzow which penetrated her Q-Turret, igniting a flash down to the magazine, which blew her apart. Only six men out of a crew of 1,021 survived the explosion. Charles Edward Warlow was one of the dead. He was 33 years old, and is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
A. Webb. Cannot presently be identified.
Edwin Frank Wood, Private, 67459, Cheshire Regiment. Edwin was the Son of Mrs. Mary Isabella Wood, of 41, Charles St. Neyland, He had worked in the mines at Pantyffynon early in the war, and enlisted at Llandeilo into the army. Edwin was posted to the 11th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment, which was part of the 75th Brigade, 25th Division. The Division landed in France on the 26th September, 1915, and were posted to the Vimy area, where they defended Vimy Ridge against a German attack in May 1916. They then moved to the Warloy area and attacked on the 3rd July near Thiepval. They fought throughout the Battle of the Somme, and then moved to Ploegsteert, where they held the line for the months leading up the Battle of Messines in June, 1917. After fighting at Messines, the Division moved north, and fought at Pilckem, before moving south again, where they took up positions around Bullecourt in reserve. Here the Division was used to reinforce the badly depleted British units that were hit in the area by the German Spring Offensive. They moved north to Flanders on the night of the 30th March, where they took up positions at Ploegsteert again, where they received reinforcements, and rebuilt. However, on the 9th April the Germans launched an offensive on the Lys, and the Division was caught up in the terrible fighting here, at the Battles of Estaires, Bailleul, Messines and Kemmel. The Division withdrew to Abeele on the 17th April, but on the 25th was ordered back into the line, and took part in the Second Battle of Kemmel. On the 9th May the Division moved to Fismes, 20 miles SE of Soissons in the Champagne, to give it a chance to rest and rebuild again. However, on the 26th May they took up positions south of the Aisne, to guard against a predicted German Offensive. On the 27th May the attack hit them, and during the coming days the Division was virtually annihilated. Edwin was captured during this period, and was sent to a Prisoner of War Camp in Poland. Sadly he became ill and died there on 4 November, 1918 and is now buried at Poznan Old Garrison Cemetery, Poland. He was just 19 years old.
