Aberbanc War Memorial

Herbert Augustus Cloake, Driver, 74865, Royal Field Artillery. Herbert was the son of Herbert and Elizabeth Cloake, of Islington, London. He resided at Cwrcoed, Penrhiwllan prior to the war, where he worked as a Carter, and at the outbreak of war enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery as a Driver. Herbert was posted to France, landing there on 23 August 1914, where he was attached to the 27th Battery, Royal Field Artillery. Herbert was badly wounded during the First Battle of Ypres, where the BEF managed to stem the German drive towards the Channel ports. He was evacuated to the Base Hospital at Wimereux where he died on 26 November 1914. Herbert was 19 years old, and is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.

Evan William Davies, Private, 65352, Welsh Regiment. Evan was the son of Ebenezer and Mary Davies, of School House, Henllan. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the army on 1 November 1916, and was posted to France on 7 April 1918, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment.  The battalion had been on the Western Front since the outbreak of war, attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, and had fought in almost every major battle thereafter. After spending the winter in Flanders, the Division was near Estaires when the German Spring Offensive caught them, fighting through the Battles of Estaires, Hazebrouck, and Bethune before being moved South again to Arras to rebuild. From here, the 1st Division took part in the great offensive, which was to ultimately win the war, fighting at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant and at the Battle of Épehy during August and September 1918. The Division pushed on towards the St. Quentin Canal, and after crossing the Hindenburg Line fought at the Battles of Beaurevoir, the Selle and the Sambre. Evan was killed at the Sambre on 23 October 1918. He was 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.

Rhys Beynon Davies, Second Lieutenant, Royal Flying Corps. Rhys was born on 15 May 1896, the son of James and Margaret Davies, of Llwyngwern, Henllan. He was educated at Aberbanc and at Llandyssul County School, before attending St George’s School in London, where he joined the Officer Training Corps. He was commissioned into the 4th Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers on 5 August 1915, and landed in France on 14 March 1916, where he was attached to a Trench Mortar Battery. On 23 October 1916, Rhys was attached to 2 Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, as an Observer. He was wounded on 11 December 1916, while on patrol over Hulluch Wood, Loos. After a spell home recuperating, Rhys rejoined his Squadron in France on 23 February 1917. The Battle of Arras was launched the following month, and 2 Squadron flew many reconnaissance missions over the German lines, directing artillery fire onto key positions. On 1 May 1917, Rhys was flying as an Observer in an Armstrong Whitworth F.K.8., nicknamed the ‘Big-Ack’, biplane, Serial A9997, which was piloted by W.P. Eastwood, when they were attacked by German fighters. After a brief fight, the outmatched F.K.8. received several bullets, one of which struck its fuel tank, setting the aircraft on fire and forcing Eastwood to bring the aircraft down quickly to earth. Rhys was sadly killed during the fight. He was 20 years old, and is buried at Monchy-Breton Churchyard, France.

Llewellyn Evans, Lance Corporal, 136, Welsh Horse. Llewellyn was born at Cenarth in 1880, the son of David and Anne Evans. He married in 1904, and resided with his wife Mary Evans at 8, Railway Terrace, Henllan. Llewellyn was a veteran, who had served during the Boer War, and he enlisted at Henllan into the 1/1st Battalion, Welsh Horse Yeomanry, which was originally raised as a Welsh Cavalry unit. Around February 1915 the Welsh Horse joined the 1/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade, 1st Mounted Division in Woodbridge area, but in September 1915 dismounted and sailed from Liverpool in the SS Olympic on 25 September, landed at Anzac, where it became attached to the 54th (East Anglia) Division. The Welsh Horse were used as tunnellers on Gallipoli, and it was while working on a tunnel that Llewellyn was killed, when the Turks blew a mine on 20 November 1915. Llewellyn was buried at 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery, Gallipoli, alongside two of his comrades who died alongside him, Llewellyn Jones of Llangeler, and W.C. Lewis of Carmarthen.

John George Griffiths, Driver, 80296, Royal Field Artillery. John was the son of Richard and Anne Griffiths, of Derwanlas, Llandyfriog. He enlisted at Mountain Ash into the Royal Field Artillery, and served with their ‘A’ Battery, 76th Brigade, attached to the Guards Division. The Division has the distinction of being formed in France in August 1915. The various Guards units that had been with other Divisions were withdrawn to be brought together to create this fine formation. It remained on the Western Front throughout the war and saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos on 25 September, 1915, remaining in the area during the coming months, where they also fought in the subsequent Action of Hohenzollern Redoubt. In July, 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and then at the Battle of Morval, capturing Lesboeufs Village. They remained here for the winter, which is where John took ill. He died of bronchitis on 6 March 1917, aged just 19, and is buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Méaulte.

Samuel Thomas Havard, Corporal, 1268, Welsh Guards. Samuel was born in 1898, the son of Benjamin and Anne Havard, of Woodlands, Henllan. He resided at Neaudd, Trebedw, prior to the war, and served with the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards were raised by Royal Warrant of 26 February 1915, at White City. On 28 April 1915 the battalion moved to Sandown Park, then on to Wellington Barracks, before landing in France on 18 August 1915. Here the Welsh Guards became attached to the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. They fought at Loos in September 1915, and the following year at Ypres and on the Somme. During 1917 the Guards fought at Third Ypres, and Cambrai, and later in 1918 took part in the great advance, ending their war at Maubeuge. Samuel survived the war, and returned home, but died on 23 May 1920, as a result of his service. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Llandyfriog (St. Tyfriog) Churchyard. His brother, Jim, had also suffered during the war, being invalided home in 1918 suffering from trench fever, after serving with the Northumberland Fusiliers.

Thomas James, Wireless Operator, Mercantile Marine. Thomas was the son of John and Margaret James, of Blaenwaun, Henllan. He was educated at Emlyn Grammar School, before working for Marconi, and served as a Wireless Operator with the Mercantile Marine, aboard the SS Harmattan, a London registered steamer. On 5 May 1917, Harmattan was on route from Avonmouth with a cargo of Government Stores, when she struck a mine off Algeria, which had been laid by the German submarine UC-37. Thomas was among 36 of her crew who died that day. He was 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

David Jones, Second Lieutenant, South Wales Borderers. David was the son of David and Sarah Jones, of Dolau, Dihewid, Felinfach. David had been educated at Carmarthen College before taking up a post as assistant teacher at Cwrtnewydd School prior to the war. He was commissioned into the 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Soon after being commissioned, David was posted to the 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, which was attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, probably joining the battalion in time to take part in the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division was near Estaires when the German Spring Offensive caught them in April 1918, and the Division took part in a fighting retreat, through the Battles of Estaires, Hazebrouck, and Bethune. David was killed at Ypres by a bomb, during a quieter spell in the trenches, on 24 July 1918. He was 28 years old, and is buried at Abeele Aerodrome Military Cemetery, Belgium.

David Emlyn Jones, Private, 443021, Canadian Infantry. David was born on 14 October 1874, the son of David and Margaret Jones, of Llwyngwyn, Penrhiwllan. He had lived in London around the turn of the century and had emigrated to Canada with his sister Maria prior to the war, finding work as a Haberdasher. He enlisted at Vernon, British Columbia on 16 May 1915 into the Canadian Infantry, and was posted to the 54th (Kootenay) Battalion, CEF, which sailed for England on 22 November 1915. The battalion then embarked for France as part of the 10th Canadian Brigade, 4th Canadian Division in August 1916, arriving in time to take part in the latter stages of the Somme offensive. By June 1917 David had begun to feel the strain of active service and was hospitalised for the first time. He spent the remainder of the war in and out of hospital for a variety of ailments, but remained on active service in France until after the Armistice. During all of his time in France he continued to send a substantial part of his wages home to his brother Evan, who by then was living in Brook Cottage, Pembrey. David was discharged from the CEF on 4 April 1919 and on 24 June 1919 he embarked from Glasgow aboard the S.S. Caledonia, returning to Canada for further medical treatment. He died in Edmonton, Canada on 23 May 1920, aged 45. David is not eligible for commemoration by the CWGC because by his own admission his health had been damaged following the contraction of a social disease in London in 1902, and this disease had dogged him ever since.

James Arthur Jones, Private, 59656, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. James was the son of Benjamin and Achsah Jones, of Plas Hill Llandyfriog. He worked as a Salesman in London prior to the war, and enlisted at Marylebone into the 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who were attached to 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division had landed in France during December 1915 and had spent their first winter in the trenches near Armentieres, before taking part in the capture of Mametz Wood in July 1916. James probably joined the battalion after it had been withdrawn from Mametz, via Hebuterne to Ypres. Here they fought at Pilckem and Langemarck, then moved to Armentieres, where they remained from September 1917 until March 1918 when the German Spring Offensive was launched. The British had been over-run on the Somme, and so in April the Division was moved south, taking up positions North of Albert, from where they weathered the storm of the coming months, until the war turned during the Battle of Amiens, on 8 August 1918. The Germans had now lost the upper hand, and the British regained the lost ground on the Somme after an attack which began on 21 August, with the 38th Welsh in the midst of the attack during the Battle of Albert, and then moving east, where they fought at the Battle of Bapaume. Then the move began towards the mighty Hindenburg Line, and the Division carried on with their march east, fighting at the Battle of Havrincourt, and the Battle of Épehy. A short rest period ensued, during which time the Canal du Nord was breached, so opening a passage through the Hindenburg Line. The Division then fought at the Battle of Beaurevoir, and moved up towards Cambrai, where James was killed in action on 8 October 1918. He was 30 years old, and is buried at Moulin-De-Pierre British Cemetery, France.

John Jones, Private, 12902, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. John was the son of Mrs. Anne Jones, of Pwllcornol Isaf, Penrhiwllan. He enlisted at Ammanford into the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. John landed in France with the battalion on 19 July 1915, and moved to positions near Festubert, where it was initiated into trench warfare. The Division took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. John became one of hundreds of men of the 19th Division killed that day, during a futile diversionary attack near Festubert. He was 22 years old, and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.

John Rees Jones, Private, 29779, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. John was born at Llanfairorllwyn in 1881, the son of David and Hannah Jones, of Blaenmachnog, Horeb. John enlisted at Llandyssul into the 4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, and served with the battalion in Palestine. John was later transferred to the 10th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, which was attached to 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. Due to the terrible casualties suffered by the British on the Western Front in March and April 1918 the Division was recalled to the Western Front, and arrived at Marseilles during May 1918. They then fought at the Second Battle of Bapaume during the great offensive, and fought in Flanders before returning to the Somme and fighting at the Battle of Épehy, as part of the offensive towards the Hindenburg Line. John was killed at Épehy on 7 September 1918, aged 37. He is buried at Villers-Faucon Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

Samuel Jones, Private, M/5422, Royal Army Service Corps. Samuel was born at Penrhiwllan in 1890, the son of John and Ann Jones. Prior to the war he resided with his wife, Minnie L. M. Jones, at Brynivor, Horeb, Llandyssul. Samuel had been an early enlistee into the army, and had landed in France on 7 October 1914, serving with the Army Service Corps. He served in France for the duration of the war, but died in hospital at Chester, soon after demobilisation, on 7 March 1919. Samuel was 29 years old, and is buried at Gwernllwyn Congregational Chapelyard.

Daniel Lewis, Guardsman, 3446, Welsh Guards. Daniel was the son of Joshua and Ann Lewis, of Parke, Henllan. He enlisted at Aberystwyth into the Welsh Guards, which had been raised by Royal Warrant of 26 February 1915, at White City. On 18 August 1915 the Welsh Guards landed in France, and became attached to 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division. The Division fought at Loos in September 1915, and the following year saw them in action at Ypres and on the Somme. In 1917 they fought at Third Ypres, and the Battle of Cambrai. They remained in the area over the final winter of the war, and were stationed near Gouzeaucourt when the German Spring Offensive hit the area on 21 March 1918. The British retreated in the face of this onslaught, suffering severe casualties. After several weeks of intense fighting, the German Offensive petered out on the Somme, and after several months of stalemate, on 8 August 1918 an impressive victory around the town of Villers Brettoneux turned the war. On 21 August 1918 the British launched an attack on the Somme, and the Guards Division fought at the Battle of Albert, and pushed east, fighting at the Battle of Bapaume. From here on the Allies had the upper hand, and moved towards the Hindenburg Line, where the Guards Division fought at the Battle of Havrincourt and the Battle of the Canal du Nord. Once the Hindenburg Line had been broken, the Allies swept eastwards over territory that had been occupied by the Germans for four long years. The Guards fought at the Battle of Cambrai, and pushed north-eastwards towards the Forest of Mormal. Daniel was killed during the Battle of the Sambre, on 2 November 1918. He was 37 years old, and is buried at Poix-Du-Nord Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

David Lewis, Gunner, 116821, Royal Field Artillery. David was the son of David and Sarah Lewis, and the brother of E. Lewis, of Llwyneos, Penrhiwllan. He enlisted at Lampeter into the Royal Field Artillery, and was posted to France during 1916, where he joined the 84th Battery, 11th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which was attached to the Fourth Army. David was at Ypres in the summer of 1917, and had been attached to the Labour Corps, when he was wounded during the Battle of Polygon Wood. He was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe, where he died of his wounds on 26 September 1917. David was 23 years old, and is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

David James Lewis, Private, 5139, Welsh Regiment. David was the son of Thomas and Minnie Lewis, of 17, Waterloo Terrace, Pembroke Dock. He worked as a Signalman at Henllan Station prior to the war, and enlisted at Carmarthen into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 159 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to the Mediterranean, sailing from Devonport in July, 1915 arriving at Mudros by 5 August 1915. From here they moved to Gallipoli, landing on 9 August. Here the Division was immediately thrown into action, and spent the next few days in isolated pockets, fighting against a Turkish counter-attack during the Battle of Sari Bair, and then at the Attack on Scimitar Hill. David was killed here on 23 August 1915. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli.

Marteine Kemes Arundel Lloyd, Captain, Grenadier Guards. Martine was the only son of Sir Marteine Owen Mowbray Lloyd, 2nd Bart, and Katherine Helena Lloyd (nee Dennistoun) of Bronwydd, Henllan. His father was the only Lord Marcher in Britain, and Marteine was his sole heir. He was educated at New Forest, Bournemouth, and at Eton, before being commissioned into the Grenadier Guards. Marteine landed in France on 4 October 1914, and joined his battalion, the 2nd Battalion, Grenadier Guards, at Ypres. The battalion was attached to the 4th (Guards) Brigade, 2nd Division, and took part in the Battle of Mons, and retreating southwards, fought at the Affair of Landrecies, the Rearguard Actions of Villers-Cotterets, and at the Battle of the Marne where the German offensive was stopped. The Germans retreated north, and the BEF met them, fighting at the Battle of the Aisne. The 2nd Division were then moved to Flanders, where they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, when the German sweep through Flanders was stopped. Marteine was wounded at Ypres in October 1914, and was mistakenly reported as being killed. He went back to France in January 1916, rejoining his battalion at Loos. By now the battalion was attached to the Guards Division, and in July 1916 the Division moved to the Somme, where they fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette. Marteine was killed in action at Flers on 15 September 1916. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France.

John Owen, Driver, T/1863, Royal Army Service Corps. John was born at Cardigan, but resided at Newcastle Emlyn prior to the war. He enlisted at Pentre into the Army Service Corps, and was attached to the Welsh Division Train, part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to the Mediterranean, sailing from Devonport in July 1915 arriving at Mudros by 5 August 1915. From here they moved to Gallipoli, landing on 9 August. Here they immediately faced the chaotic leadership that was to lead to the ultimate failure of the campaign, and spent the next few days in isolated pockets, fighting against a Turkish counter-attack. The Division remained here throughout the coming months in terrible conditions, and John was taken ill. He was evacuated to the Base Hospital at Alexandria where he sadly died on 23 September 1915. He is buried there at Alexandria (Chatby) Military Cemetery, Egypt.

Henry Phillips, Private, 14168, Devonshire Regiment. Henry was the son of George and Hannah Phillips, of Llwyngwair, Penrhiwllan. He enlisted at Honiton into the Devonshire Regiment on 3 September 1914, and after training was posted to France on 2 April 1915, where he joined the 1st Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. The battalion was by then attached to 14 Brigade, 5th Division, and fought at Second Ypres in April 1915. On 12 January 1916 the battalion transferred to 95 Brigade, in the same Division, and in July 1916 took part in the opening of the Battle of the Somme.  The Division saw heavy fighting on the Somme, and by September was fighting near Combles. On 13 September 1916, Henry was on sentry duty in the front line when he was killed by a German shell. His friends buried him behind the line, and marked his grave with a wooden cross. Henry was 22 years old, and rests in Combles Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

David Richards, Private, 16642, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. David was the son of Henry and Nancy Richards, of Aberbanc. He enlisted at Bronwydd into the 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. On 2 December 1915 the battalion moved to France, and the entire Division moved to the Fleurbaix sector, where it was initiated into trench warfare. During June 1916 the Division marched south to the Somme, and on 7 July 1916 attacked Mametz Wood. The initial attack failed, and it was three days later, on 10 July, that a fresh attack was mounted. After two days of heavy hand to hand fighting within the wood, the Germans withdrew, and the battered Welshmen moved via Hebuterne to Boesinghe, on the Yser Canal. David was badly wounded at Ypres on 1 July 1917, and died of his wounds late that day at the Casualty Clearing Station at Proven. He was 26 years old and is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

John Thomas, Private, TR/4/9421, Training Reserve. John was born in 1899, the son of John and Ann Thomas, of Tygwyn, Penrhiwllan. He enlisted at Brecon on 5 March 1917 into the army, and was posted to the 59th Training Reserve Battalion, at Kinmel Park. On 29 March John was admitted into hospital at Kinmel after becoming ill, and was found to be carrying traces of TB. He was discharged from the army as medically unfit on 6 June 1917, and returned home. John died of tuberculosis on 18 January 1918, aged 19, and is buried in Llanfairorllwyn Churchyard. He is not eligible for commemoration by the CWGC, because his illness was not brought upon by his brief military service.

John Edmund Thomas, Deck Hand, 1253SD, Royal Navy. John was born on 1 January 1895, the son of George and Ann Thomas, of Penddol, Llandyfriog. He served in the Royal Navy aboard H.M. Trawler Euston. She had been hired by the Admiralty during the war, and struck a mine off Hartlepool on 12 February 1917. John was 22 years old, and was killed in the resulting explosion, and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

John Mathias Thomas, Private, 235259, King’s Liverpool Regiment. John was the son of David and Anne Thomas, of Ornant, Penrhiwllan. He enlisted at Brecon into the army, and served with the Yorkshire Regiment, before being posted to the 17th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment. The battalion landed at Boulogne on 7 November 1915 attached to 89 Brigade, 30th Division, and took part in its first major action during the Somme Offensive, at the Battle of Albert, where they captured Montauban. They then fought during the latter stages of the offensive, during the Battle of Le Transloy, before wintering on the Somme. In March 1917 the Division followed the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and in April took part in the First Battle of the Scarpe, and then at the later Second Battle of the Scarpe. Later that year they were moved north to Ypres, and fought at the Battle of Pilckem. At the beginning of 1918 the Division were stationed near St. Quentin, and when the Germans launched their Offensive here on 21 March, the Division took part in the Battle of St Quentin, but were pushed back, fighting at the Actions at the Somme Crossings, and the Battle of Rosieres. They were then pulled from the line to rest and rebuild, and moved to Flanders, but were caught up in the action again here when the Germans launched a fresh offensive along the Lys, fighting at the First Battle of Kemmel. John was killed in action here on 17 April 1918. He was 40 years old, and is buried at Westoutre British Cemetery, Belgium.

David Cecil Robson Branfield, Private, 14685121, Black Watch. David was the son of William Henry and Hannah Dorothy Branfield, of Aberbanc, Llandyssul. He served with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders).  In 1940, the 1st Battalion, Black Watch was captured at St Valery-en-Caux with the 51st (Highland) Division. They were later reformed from reserve units of the 9th (Highland) Infantry Division. It would have been at sometime after its reformation that David joined the battalion, which fought at the Battle of El Alamein and the Allied invasion of Sicily. The Highlanders were then recalled to England, and took part in the D-Day Landings, and the subsequent drive through France and Belgium into Holland, and Northern Germany. David was killed during severe fighting in the German borderland on 24 March 1945. He was 21 years old, and is buried at Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.

John Evans, Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy. John was the son of John and Frances Evans, of Garregwen, Bangor Teifi. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the London registered cargo steamer, SS Pontypridd. He was killed on 3 February 1940, while his ship was in dock at Barry Roads. John slipped and fell down steps into No. 1 Hold. He was just 21 years old. John is not a casualty of war, so he is not commemorated by the CWGC. His ship was lost on 11 June 1942 after having been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-569.

John Morgan Jones, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), 1313908, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the son of Evan and Margaret Jones, and the brother of Tom Jones, Post Office, Pentrecwrt. He volunteered to serve with the Royal Air Force, and was posted to No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Tealing near, Angus, Scotland, for training as a fighter pilot. On 29 December 1943, John was flying Spitfire P8650, when he hit some trees during a low flying exercise, and crashed. John was killed in the accident, and was brought home for burial at Bwlchygroes Independent Chapelyard.

Teifi Jones, Aircraftman 1st Class, 1123171, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Teifi was the son of John and Ellen Jones, of Cwmgilfachwen, Llandyssul. He served in the RAFVR, and had been captured at some time by the Japanese in the Far East, and given the POW No. 2659. Teifi was taken to Sandakan Number 2 Camp, and the British were later moved from this camp to the Number 1 Camp about 15 April 1945. Survivors were then moved back to a wired section of Number 2 Camp on 29 May 1945. Teifi is recorded as having died of Malaria while a POW, on 21 July 1945. There is evidence of a large number of POW’s murdered by the Japanese on the ‘Sandakan Death Marches’ as they were killed, and their deaths were attributed by the Japanese to disease. Teifi was 23 years old, and is remembered on the Singapore Memorial.

John Ieuan Rees, Flight Engineer, Royal Air Force. John was born on 27 December 1920, the son of Elias and Jane Elizabeth Rees, of Pantbach, Maesllyn. He had been a prisoner of war during the war, but had remained in the Royal Air Force, based at RAF Lyneham. John was killed in an infamous air crash at Northolt Airport on 4 July 1948, when the Avro York, Serial MW248, that he was a crewmember of, when it collided with a Scandinavian Airlines Douglas DC-6 over RAF Northolt. John was 27 years old, and was buried in Gwernllwyn Methodist Chapelyard. He is not commemorated by the CWGC, as he was not a war casualty.