The Village of Penally is situated just a few miles along the south Pembrokeshire coast from Tenby. The village and surrounding area is rich with history, dating back to the Bronze Age, and was an important Medieval Manor. Recently, Penally has become more well known due to its military firing range, and the tourist industry. The War Memorial to the fallen of Penally Village in both World Wars takes the form of a granite block, set in a memorial garden, with a marble plaque affixed, listing the names of the fallen. Many thanks to Angela Jones for supplying the photographs of the War Memorial, and of the grave of Craftsman Skyrm.

Penally War Memorial

 

World War One, 1914-1918

Harold Berkeley Beynon, Private, 33181, Hampshire Regiment. Harold was the Son of Thomas and Laura Annie Beynon, of Holloway, Penally. He later resided at St. Johns Hill, Tenby. Harold served with the 10th Battalion, Hampshire Regiment, which was formed at Winchester in August 1914. The Battalion then became attached to 29 Brigade, 10th Division, and on 7 July 1915 sailed from Liverpool, arriving at Mudros 26 July 1915. The Battalion landed on Gallipoli on 6 August 1915, and fought there for a month before being sent to Salonika, where it joined 82 Brigade, 27th Division. Harold became ill with malaria while in Salonika and returned home for treatment. His service papers show that he was discharged in 1919 due to malaria. Sadly Harold died of malaria soon after, in June 1919. He was 21 years old. No more is known of where he was buried, as he is not commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission.

Charles Evans, Sergeant, 8439, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Charles was born in Penally in 1886, the son of James and Jane Evans, of Alma, Penally. He had married prior to the outbreak of the war, and lived with his wife Sarah H. M. Evans, at 34, Sunny Bank Street, Aberaman, near Aberdare. Charles enlisted at Cardiff into the Army, and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division had moved to France in the summer of 1915, and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. It moved to the Somme by the summer of 1916, and took part in the initial attack against the village of La Boiselle. The Division remained on the Somme throughout the battle, and sometime in October, Charles became wounded. He was evacuated to the military hospital at Abbeville for treatment, but sadly died of wounds there on 3 November 1916. Charles was 30 years old, and is buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

 

William John Evans, Private, 19094, South Wales Borderers. William was born in 1889, the Son of George and Martha Jane Evans, of Frankleston, Penally. He enlisted at St. Leonard's into the Army, and was posted to the 7th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was attached to 67 Brigade, 22nd Division. William landed in France on 5 September 1915, however it's stay in France was to be very short. On 27 October 1915 the Division, having been moved by train to Marseilles, began to embark for Salonika. It completed concentration there in November, and took part in the retreat from Serbia during December, 1915. It remained there for the duration of the war, fighting in several battles, there. It was during a later action, at the Battle of Doiran on 9 May 1917, that William was fatally wounded and died. He was 27 years old, and is buried at Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece.

John Lewis Jenkins, Gunner, 371277, Royal Garrison Artillery. John was born in Penally Village in 1899, the Son of Lewis and Selina Jenkins, later of Treberth Farm, Saundersfoot. He enlisted into the Royal Garrison Artillery, and was posted to their 409th Siege Battery, which was attached to the Third Army. John was wounded during Third Ypres, and brought to the Casualty Clearing Station at Vlamertinghe, where he died of wounds on 17 September, 1917 aged 19. He is buried there, at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery.

 

George Ernest Rees, Private, 55444, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. George was born at Llanboidy in 1896, the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Rees. The family later moved to Kiln Park, Penally. George enlisted at Tenby early in the war into the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry, with the service number 373. He was then transferred into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, and posted to their 16th Battalion, which was in France as part of 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. George joined the Division as one of a batch of reinforcements after the fighting at Mametz Wood in July 1916. The Division had then been pulled from the line, and took up positions in the line north of Ypres, at Boesinghe, where it was to remain for twelve months. George was killed in action at Ypres on 22 June 1917, while his Battalion was in the front line at the canal bank. He was 21 years old, and is buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.

 

William John Williams, Stoker 2nd Class, K/23943, Royal Navy. William was born at Penally in 1898, the son of James and Mary A. Williams, of East Lodge, Penally. He served as a Stoker in the Royal Navy, and was stationed at the Royal Naval Barracks at HMS Vivid II, Portsmouth, when he took ill and died on 9 October 1915. William was 18 years old, and is buried at Penally Congregational Chapelyard.

World War Two, 1939-1945

James William Douglas Armstrong, Major, 149357, East Surrey Regiment. James was the Son of Leslie Douglas Armstrong, and of Mary Anne Armstrong, of New Malden. He was the husband of Gwendolene Edna Armstrong, and they lived at Penally. James served as a Major with the East Surrey Regiment, and was attached to the Durham Light Infantry when he died on 22 February 1945. He was 25 years old, and is buried at Malden (St. John the Baptist) Churchyard, England. He was probably wounded in Italy or France, but further details are not known.

Edmund David James, Captain, 85626, South Wales Borderers. Edmund was the Son of Augustine Edmund Lee James and Ella Maxton James, of Penally Abbey. He had risen through the ranks of the South Wales Borderers, before joining the special forces. It is not known whether or not Edmund first served with the Commandos, but he later served with the Headquarters staff of 4th Parachute Brigade, Army Air Corps. After the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944, General Montgomery realised that the war could quickly be won if the British could swiftly force a passage over the River Rhine into Germany. After the British had pushed their way through northern France and Belgium into Holland, an airborne assault was launched on the Dutch town of Arnhem, with the aim of capturing the Rhine crossings. The airborne forces were to hold the bridges until being relieved by a ground force, XXX Corps, which was to push north through occupied Holland, with the help of American Airborne brigades, and relieve the British paratroopers at Arnhem. Edmund jumped into Arnhem with 4th Parachute Brigade on 17 September 1944. After an initial success, the paratroopers came under heavy fire from the German defenders of the town, which included an SS Panzer Division which British intelligence had not known of. Heavy fighting ensued, under desperate circumstances, with the paratroopers totally surrounded by Germans, with vastly superior firepower and numbers of men. On the third day, 4th Parachute Brigade led an attempt to break through the German lines north of Oosterbeek, but were held up, with heavy losses. On 20 September 1944, the fourth day of a planned two day defence, Edmund was killed during a gallant attempt to reach Oosterbeek to reinforce the beleaguered force which was holding the bridge, under the command of Colonel Frost. Edmund was 26 years old, and is buried at Arnhem Oosterbeek War Cemetery, Netherlands.

 

Ellis Trevor Skyrm, Craftsman, 7596453, Royal Electrical And Mechanical Engineers. Ellis was the Son Of Richard And Priscilla Skyrm, Of Penally, and the Husband Of Mary Mildred Skyrm. Very little is known of him, but he died on 15 November 1942 aged 25, and is buried at St. Nicholas Churchyard, Penally.

 

Charles George Smith. One of five men of the same name.

William Henry Stubbs, Petty Officer, D/JX. 130395, Royal Navy. William was the Son Of William Henry And Elizabeth Ann Stubbs, Of Tenby. He had married prior to the outbreak of war, and lived with his wife Nancy Stubbs, at Penally. William served with the Royal Navy, as a Petty Officer, aboard HMS Cattistock, a Type I 'Hunt' Class Destroyer. Cattistock had been launched on 22 February 1940, and took part in the evacuation of troops from Le Havre during August 1940, receiving heavy damage. Little is known of William, but he died on 29 August 1944, aged 32, and is buried at St. Mary Church Cemetery, Tenby.

Edward George Vare, Serjeant, 7880459, Royal Armoured Corps. Edward was the Son of Percy and Elizabeth Mary Vare of Penally. He had married prior to the war, and lived with his wife Maud Vare, at Waungilwen, Cardiganshire. Edward served with the 12th Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, which fought in North Africa, before taking part in the invasions of Sicily and Italy. Edward was killed in action in Tunis on 6 May 1943. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Massicault War Cemetery, Medjez-el-Bab, Tunis.