Whitland Grammar School War Memorial

Harry Leonard Anthony, MID, Captain, Royal Army Veterinary Corps. Harry was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John Anthony, of Kidwelly. He had served in the South African campaign of 1901 to 1902, and after returning home served as Veterinary Surgeon to the Tredegar Iron and Coal Company. At the outbreak of the Great War Harry rejoined the Colours, serving with the Pembroke Yeomanry. Harry then served with the 1/1st Lancs Mobile Section, Royal Army Veterinary Corps, which was attached to the 66th (2nd East Lancs) Division, arriving in France on 10 March 1916. By 1917 the Division was stationed around Arras, and took a leading role in the Battle of Arras. On 2 May 1917 Harry was stationed at Arras, when he was killed by a bomb dropped by a German aeroplane. He was 40 years old, and was buried with full military honours at Faubourg D’Amiens Cemetery, Arras, France. Harry was one of six brothers who served during the Great War; two of his brothers, Jack and Ivor, had won the Grand National; Jack being a three time winner as a rider in 1911, 1915 and 1920, and Ivor a two times winner as a trainer. Harry is commemorated at Llangendeirne.

John Bowen, Private, 59427, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. John was born in Llanboidy, the son of Thomas and Mary Bowen, later of Maes-y-Bryn, Clynderwen. John probably worked at Pontardulais, as he enlisted there into the army. He was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who had been in France since 11 August 1914, probably joining them at Arras early in 1917. The battalion was then attached to 19 Brigade, 33rd Division, with whom they fought during the Somme Battles of 1916, The Battles of Arras in 1917, and during the Battle of Third Ypres, or Passchendaele. On 6 February 1918 the Battalion again transferred, this time to the 115 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. It was with the Welsh Division that the 2nd RWF took part in the major British offensives of 1918, after the German armies had burnt themselves out with their desperate Spring offensive of 1918. The Division fought over the old Somme Battlefield, pushing the Germans back toward the Hindenburg Line, and took part in the Battle of Havrincourt on 12 September 1918, when the battalion took up positions in the front near Gouzeaucourt. John was sadly killed in action that day, aged only 22. He is buried at Gouzeaucourt New British Cemetery, France. John is commemorated in the Memorial Hall at Whitland, at Pontardulais, and also on the Llandysilio Memorial.

David John Evans, Private, 2459, Welsh Guards. David was born on 27 February 1896, the son of Job and Sophia Evans, of Fronfelin, Cwmbach. Educated at Cwmbach Council School and at Whitland, David had gained employment at Porth with a firm of General Merchants. He enlisted at Porth on 18 December 1915 into the 1st Battalion of the newly formed Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards had been formed in February 1915, and on 17 August 1915 embarked at Southampton for France, and they arrived at Le Havre that day. On 27 September the Battalion left Le Havre for Loos, as part of 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. They fought during the Battle of Loos, before moving to Ypres in June 1916. David joined the Battalion at Ypres in June 1916. In September they moved to the Somme, where they remained until the end of November. After a spell in reserve, they moved north to Ypres again, and they fought at Third Ypres before moving to take part in the Cambrai Offensive. David was Killed in Action at Cambrai on 1 December 1917, and was buried by his comrades at Gouzeaucourt. A Cross was erected to mark his grave. Sadly the grave was lost during the continued fighting in the area, and so David is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.

William John Howells, Captain, Welsh Regiment. William was born in White Lion Farm, Eglwys Cummin, in 1888. His Grandfather was Ben John of Brook, who William was living with before he enlisted. William was educated at Tremoilet School and Whitland Grammar Schools, before gaining a BA with Honours at Aberystwyth University. He then moved on to work in Lampeter University before the war broke out. William enlisted into the Welsh Regiment at the outbreak of hostilities, and was commissioned into the 8th Battalion, the Welsh regiment as a Lieutenant. The 8th Battalion formed at Cardiff during August 1914 as part of K.1. They were then attached to 40 Brigade, 13th Western Division. The Division assembled at Salisbury Plain, and then moved to Chiseldon and Cirencester in September 1914. Toward the end of February 1915, the entire Division concentrated at Blackdown in Hampshire. On 7 June 1915 orders were received for the Division to move to the Mediterranean, then by 4 July from Alexandria to Mudros-preparing for the landing on Gallipoli. On 4 July 1915 the Division landed on Cape Helles and relieved the 29th Division. From there, the Division took part in several actions, most notably The Battle of Sari Bair between 6-10 August 1915 and the Battle of Russell’s Top on 7 August 1915. The Battalion War Diary for the period from 8 August 1915 shows that they had moved up to positions around Chunuk Bair, in support of the Gloucester’s and the Wellington Battalion. The fighting was ferocious and the diary shows that on that one day, the 8th Battalion suffered 4 Officers and 4 Other ranks killed, 9 Officers and 154 Other Ranks wounded, and 4 Officers and 266 Other Ranks missing in action. One of the wounded officers was Captain William John Howells. William was evacuated from Gallipoli, but died of his wounds on 10 August 1915 aboard the Hospital Ship HMHS Valdivia. William was buried at sea, so he is commemorated on the Helles memorial, Turkey, on Panel 140-144.

Wynne Glynne Odyerne Hulm, Lieutenant, Devonshire Regiment. Wynne was born on 8 August 1888, the son of Wynne Patrick Hulm and Elizabeth Hulm, of 124, Finborough Road, West Brompton, London. His father was from Saundersfoot and Wynne attended Whitland for a period when the family lived in Pembrokeshire before returning to London. Wynne joined the Artists Rifles in 1908, and after the outbreak of the Great War received a commission into the Devonshire Regiment. He was promoted Lieutenant in 1915 and posted to the 8th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, which was attached to 20 Brigade, 7th Division. They had landed in France on 26 July 1915 and had been attached to this already battle-hardened Division to train. Wynne was mortally wounded and fell about ten yards from the German lines during his battalions charge on the German lines on the 25 September 1915, the first day of the Battle of Loos. He was carried back to Lapugnoy by his men but died later that day, aged 27. He is buried at Lapugnoy Military Cemetery. The memorial shows Captain G. Hulm, Royal Engineers.

Clifford Jones, Lieutenant, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Clifford was born in Whitland, the only son of Rev. Daniel Jones (Baptist Minister, Whitland) and Mrs. E. A. Jones, of Bodlondeb, Whitland. Clifford was an Honours Graduate of Wales and Oxon, and was commissioned into the 15th (London Welsh) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which formed part of the 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division embarked for France from Folkestone on 5 December 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held the line in the Armentières sector, and at the end of May, 1916 moved South with the remainder of the 38th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme. After surviving the Battle of Mametz Wood, Clifford moved with the Battalion to reserve in the Ypres sector, and the Division didn’t fight again for almost twelve months, until they were brought into the line north of Ypres, tasked with the taking of the village and strongpoint of Pilckem. Clifford was Killed in Action three days into the Battle of Pilckem, on 2 August, 1917, aged 25. He is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial.

John Charles Lewis, Captain, Monmouthshire Regiment. John Charles Lewis was the son of John and Alice Lewis, of Troedybryn, St. Clears. He was enlisted into the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps, with the Army Number 8113. From here he was commissioned into the 1st Battalion, the Monmouth Regiment, as a 2nd Lieutenant. John was subsequently attached to the 6th Battalion, KSLI from 21 January 1917 onwards, serving with the Battalion on the Somme during the Winter of 1916/17, then with the Battalion at Third Ypres (Passchendaele). The Battalion moved South on 1 October, entraining at Proven for Bapaume. John was promoted Captain, taking over Command of ‘A’ Company, 6th KSLI. They took over the front line trenches at Villers Plouich on 20 October, and took part in the attack on Welsh Ridge, during the Battle of Cambrai, on 20 November 1917. John was mortally wounded whilst gallantly leading his Company into action that day. He was 30 years old. His body was lost in the coming battles in the area, and he is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval. John is commemorated on the St. Clears War Memorial.

Thomas George Lewis, Gunner, 100593, Royal Garrison Artillery. Thomas, or George as he was better known, was born in Cilfynydd. The family came to live in St. Mary Street, Whitland, and George attended Whitland Council and County Schools, before taking up a post at Lloyd’s Bank in Llandovery. George was engaged to a Miss Thomas, and he enlisted at Llandovery into the Royal Garrison Artillery, being posted to their 48th Heavy Battery, part of the 3rd Brigade, R.G.A. Not much is known of where George fought except that during the spring of 1918 he was at Ypres. The German offensive of Spring 1918 had been launched on 21 March, and they turned their attentions to Flanders a month or so later. George was Killed in Action at Ypres on 30 May, 1915 and is buried at Canada Farm Cemetery. Some time later, his mother received a letter from a Welsh Chaplain who was attached to the Brigade- ‘This is a great shock to you, and I hasten to convey to you personally, and on behalf of the battery to which your son was attached, our greatest sympathy. I understand that he was greatly respected, and that his loss will be felt by all…’ Thomas is commemorated in the Memorial Hall at Whitland, and also on the Llandovery Memorial.

Dan Phillips, Corporal, 40214, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Dan was the son of William and Anne Phillips, of Blaenhiraeth, Henllan, Whitland. He was educated at Whitland Grammar School and was a student at the South Wales Training College at Carmarthen when he enlisted there into the army and was posted to France in 1916, joining the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 76 Brigade, 3rd Division, and had suffered heavy casualties during its first major action, at the St. Eloi craters, south of Ypres. The division moved south to the Somme, entraining at St. Omer on 1 July 1916 and reached Carnoy on 13 July, while the Welsh Division was moving away from the same area following its assault on Mametz Wood. By now Dan had been promoted to Acting Corporal. The 3rd Division moved into the line on 14 July in order to take part in the assault on Delville Wood, Longueval and Bazentin le Grand. The 10th RWF remained in reserve for the initial attack, but would soon be thrown into the fray as on 20 July was given the task of entering Delville Wood and clearing along Princes Street. The battalion suffered heavily before reaching the wood, where South African scouts met them and the 10th RWF advanced into a fierce fight which earned the battalion two Victoria Crosses. The 10th RWF, relieved from Breslau Trench on 25 July, did not go back into action until moving back into the front, reaching Talus Wood on 14 August, and its officers reconnoitred the Casement, Dublin and Chimpanzee trenches in front near Guillemont before taking them over on 15 August and spent much of the day consolidating them, suffering three men killed and four wounded. On the following day the battalion attacked Lonely Trench, but were beaten back, suffering five officers and 116 men killed between 16 and 19 August. Dan was posted as missing during the initial attack on Lonely Trench on 16 August 1916. He was later found to have been killed in action that day. He was 25 years old and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Dan is also commemorated in the Memorial Hall in Whitland and at Henllan Amgoed.

William John Thomas, Private, 65267, Welsh Regiment. William was born at St. Clears, and enlisted at Swansea into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. In July 1915 the Division landed at Havre, and moved to Flanders. They saw action in the Neuve Chappelle area, and then moved to Loos, where they fought in the Battle of Loos. They saw considerable action on the Somme in 1916, and were caught up in the German Spring Offensive of 1918, suffering terrible casualties. William joined the Army in May 1917, made a short visit home on leave in February 1918 before joining the Battalion in France. Sadly he was Killed in Action during the early stages of the Spring Offensive, at the Battle of Kemmel, on 29 April 1918 aged 19. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial. William is commemorated on the St. Clears Memorial.

Willie Morris Thomas, Private, 73210, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Willie was the son of William and Martha Thomas, of Brynawel, Henllan Amgoed, Whitland. He enlisted at Carmarthen originally into the South Wales Borderers, but transferred into the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Battalion landed at Boulogne on 19 July 1915 and fought during the Battle of Loos, the Battle of the Somme, and the Battles of Third Ypres, gaining themselves a reputation as one of the best Divisions on the Western Front. The Division suffered heavily during the German Spring Offensive, being caught up in the German attack on the Eastern Somme sector during the First Battle of Bapaume, and Willie was killed in Action in the area between Achiet-Le-Petit and Sailly-Au-Bois on 26 March 1918, aged just 19. He is buried in H.A.C. Cemetery, Ecoust-St. Mein, France. Willie is commemorated in the Memorial Hall, Whitland.

Idris John Williams, Private, 13924, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Idris was born at Ffynonwen, Login on 6 December 1897, the son of David and Mary Ann Williams. He was educated at Whitland Grammar School before the family moved to Rock House, Tumble, Llanelly. He enlisted at Tumble on 5 September 1914 into the 11th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, part of 67 Brigade, 22nd Division. The Division landed in France in September, 1915, but were sent to Salonika almost immediately, landing there by 5 November. It was in Salonika that Idris contracted typhus. He died on 29 March 1916, aged 19, and is buried in Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery.

Ellis Lyn Howells, Corporal, 4198127, Parachute Regiment. Ellis was the son of John Howell Howells and Mary Margretta Howells, of St. Clears. Prior to the outbreak of war, he worked in the G.W.R. Office at Carmarthen. He enlisted into the 10th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, but had volunteered, and was accepted, into the 6th Battalion, Parachute Regiment. The battalion was sent to North Africa to take part in Operation Torch, the landings on French North Africa on 8 November 1942. After a bitter campaign, the Germans crumbled, and the British took Tunis on 8 May 1943. Ellis was accidentally shot, and died on the way to Hospital on 11 May 1943. Just three days later the Germans surrendered. Ellis was 25 years old, and is buried at La Petit Lac Cemetery, Tunisia. He is commemorated on the St. Clears War Memorial.

John Lloyd James, Sergeant, 3963431, Royal Armoured Corps. John was the son of Mr. and Mrs. John James, of St. Clears, and the husband of Dilys James, of 7, Corvus Terrace, St. Clears. He enlisted prior to the outbreak of war into the 4th Battalion, the Welsh Regiment (the Carmarthenshire Territorials), and upon the outbreak of war, was transferred into the 2nd Battalion, Derbyshire Yeomanry, part of the Royal Armoured Corps. John served in North Africa with the Yeomanry, before their recall to England to train for the invasion of Europe. The Derbyshire Yeomanry landed in Normandy during D-Day, 6 June 1944. The Derbyshire Yeomanry was serving as a divisional Reconnaissance Regiment, attached to 51st (Highland) Division. After landing in Normandy, 51st (Highland) Division was moved across Pegasus Bridge to the east bank of the River Orne. There it was to strengthen the bridgehead of the 6th Airborne Division, which had been under extreme pressure since D-Day from 21 Panzer-Division and the freshly-arrived 346 Infanterie-Division. After a disastrous first battle at Breville on 10 June, the division was moved in on the southern flank of the bridgehead and into the already-notorious Escoville Triangle. The 2nd Derbyshire Yeomanry guarded bridges but took part in the bitter fighting for the villages of Escoville and Herouvillette, being employed mainly in an infantry role. In four days, casualties were almost 50, including the CO, Lt Col RH Palmer, but three MCs and four MMs were awarded. John was one of the fifty men of the unit to be killed during this period. He was killed in action on 16 June 1944, aged 29, and is buried at Ranville War Cemetery. He is commemorated on the St. Clears War Memorial.

Wilfred Austen Lewis, Sergeant, 974474, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Wilfred was the son of David and Charlotte Lewis of Lewis Terrace, St. Clears, and the husband of Dorothea Maud Lewis, of Llanelly. Wilfred worked prior to the war as a Reporter on the ‘Welshman’ Newspaper, and was well known locally. He served as a Flight Sergeant in 172 Squadron, RAFVR, who were based at Skitten flying the Vickers Wellington medium bomber. Wilfred was killed on a raid on 2 April 1943 aged 28 and is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial. He left behind his wife and a baby boy.

Walter Hugh Morgan, Signalman, 2362588, Royal Signal Corps. Walter was born on 5 August 1918, the son of Henry David and Lilian Edith Maude Morgan, of Compton House, Llanfallteg. He was serving as a signaller with the Trades Services Battalion, but contracted appendicitis on active service. Walter died under anaesthetic at St. Asaph on 3 January, 1940 aged just 22. He was buried with full military honours in Henllan-Amgoed Congregational Chapelyard. His brother Parry died in Burma in 1943.

Austin Thomas Phillips, Leading Stoker, D/KX 91896, Royal Navy. Austin was born on 29 January 1918, and was the son of Richard Lewis Phillips and Mary Winifred Phillips of Brook Cottage, near Laugharne. Austin was married to Margaret Winifred Phillips and they had a daughter Rose Mary Phillips. Austin was a pupil of Brook School, before he went to Whitland Grammar School at 11. After leaving school at 17 years old, Austin went to work at Great House Farm, Laugharne, before enlisting into the Royal Navy at 19 years old on 17 August 1937. Training was thorough in the Royal Navy, and Austin spent time training at several Naval Bases including Drake and Tamar-before getting a posting on the ship HMS Glenearn on 12 December 1940. He was now a Stoker 1st Class. HMS Glenearn was commandeered by the Royal Navy in October 1939 and converted into a Fast Fleet supply Ship. Her role was to supply fuel and ammunition to secret Atlantic Squadrons-tasked with the destruction of German surface ships in the Atlantic, but the withdrawal of the British Expeditionary Force from Dunkirk in 1940 meant that she was brought into service to aid in the evacuation of the besieged forces from the famous beaches. She was then converted to a Troopship-capable of carrying 1090 troops, 12 small Landing Craft and 2 large Landing Craft. In April 1941 she was sent to Malta, along with her sister ship the Glengyle and on 19-20 April was used in the first ever Commando assault from specialised ships. On 22 April, while assisting in the evacuation of Greece, she received a direct hit on the foc’sle but remained operational, and on 26 April was hit twice more. She had to be towed to Crete by the destroyer HMS Griffin, and then to Alexandria. After the evacuation of 50,672 troops from Greece, she sailed through the Suez Canal, and was hit by a burning ship, and had to go to Colombo for repairs. In mid 1942 she returned to England and was fitted with davits to handle larger Landing Craft and was used in the Allied landings on D-Day on Sword Beach. In 1945, Glenearn was sent to the Far East to join the Pacific Fleet, but in April was damaged by a fuel explosion while she was near the mouth of the Markham River, Papua New Guinea. Several crem members were seriously wounded by the explosion, and died over the coming days. Austin was evacuated to Hollandia Hospital on Papua New Guinea. Sadly on 15 April 1945, Austin died as a result of his burns. He was aged 27. Austin was originally buried at Hollandia Hospital Cemetery, but after the War, the Graves from outlying cemeteries were brought into Lae, as it was impossible to maintain the smaller outlying cemeteries. Austin had survived some of the greatest and most famous conflicts of WW2, Dunkirk and D-Day, and sadly died in an accidental explosion on board ship. He left behind his young Widow Margaret and his 17-month-old daughter Rose Mary. He lies buried at Lae war cemetery, Papua New Guinea, in grave FF.A.10. Austin is commemorated on the Laugharne War Memorial, and also at Pendine.