Llandyfeisant is a parish just to the west of Llandeilo, which comprises part of the town. A sizeable part of the Parish was occupied by Newton Park, the property of Lord Dynevor, which contains his former residence, Newton House, now in the stewardship of the National Trust, and the ruins of Dynevor Castle. The Parish is catered for by the Llandyfeisant Church, which is being restored by a small group of enthusiasts. Within Llandyfeisant Church there was a War Memorial its three Parishioners who fell during the Great War. This memorial was removed from the church to St Teilo Church, Llandeilo for safe keeping.
The Great War, 1914-1918
Percy Frank Barnes, Private, 201692, Welsh Regiment. Percy was the son of George and Emily Sarah Barnes, of Kings Lodge, Llandeilo, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was a territorial Battalion, which formed part of South Wales Brigade. On the 17 April 1915 it was attached to 159 Brigade, 53rd Division and in July 1915, moved to Egypt, prior to landing at Suvla, Gallipoli on 8 August 1915. They remained here throughout a terrible campaign, which resulted in one stage of the Battalion being temporarily merged with the 1/5th Welsh due to the awful casualties suffered by both. In December 1915 they were evacuated to Egypt, where the rebuilding of the battalions began. The division remained in Egypt until early 1917, guarding the Suez Canal. Their next mission was the invasion of Palestine, but by now Percy had become ill and sadly died of sickness in Egypt on 8 July 1917, aged just 19. He is buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Alfred Parsons, Private, 200923, Welsh Regiment. Alfred was the son of George and Mary Minnie Parsons, of 18, New Road, Llandeilo, and enlisted at Llandeilo into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. On 17 April 1915 it was attached to 159 Brigade, 53rd Division and in July 1915, was shipped to Egypt, before landing at Suvla, Gallipoli on 8 August 1915. They remained here throughout a terrible campaign, which resulted in one stage of the Battalion being temporarily merged with the 1/5th Welsh due to the awful casualties suffered by both. In December, 1915 they were evacuated to Egypt, where the rebuilding of the Battalions began. The Division remained in Egypt until early 1917, guarding the Suez Canal. Alfred was Killed in Action during the initial offensive into Palestine, during the First Battle of Gaza, on 26 March 1917, aged just 20. He is buried in Gaza War Cemetery, Israel.
George William Wilson, Corporal, 267418, Seaforth Highlanders. George was the son of Mansel and Elizabeth Wilson, of Wyvern, Latimer Road, Llandeilo, and he enlisted at Ammanford into the army, and was posted to the 6th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders, attached to 152 Brigade, 51st (Highland) Division. At the end of April 1915, the Division crossed to France, and were moved to defend Ypres, where the Germans had attacked using Poison Gas for the first time. They fought here, at Second Ypres, until moving to Estaires on 19 May. They then fought at the Battle of Festubert, and also at Givenchy that year, and late in June moved to positions in the Somme Valley. They remained here for over a year, and took part in several of the Somme Battles of 1916, most notably capturing Beaumont Hamel during the Battle of the Ancre. They remained near Courcelette throughout the winter of 1916/17, and then moved to Arras, where they fought in the Battles of the Scarpe, and the Capture of Roeux. In June they moved north, back to Ypres, where they fought at the Battles of Pilckem, Langemarck and the Menin Road, and were then brought into action during the Battle of Cambrai in November, 1917 onwards. They remained here until 21 March 1918 when the German Spring Offensive swept through the area, and after suffering terrible casualties from a German Gas attack, retreated towards Bapaume. On 1 April 1918 the badly depleted Division were relieved, and moved to Bethune to recover, but the Germans attacked here on 9 April, during the Battle of the Lys, and George was Killed in Action the very next day, on 10 April 1918. He was just 20 years old, and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. His brother Henry also fell.
