Blaenpennal is situated just off the A485 road from Tregaron to Llanilar, about ten and a half miles north-east of the larger town of Lampeter, and lies in the peaceful Aeron Valley. The Church is dedicated to St. David. I do not presently know if there are any war memorials inside the church, so this page has been created to commemorate the the four men known to have been from the village who fell during both world wars.

The Great War, 1914-1918

John Evan Davies, Gunner, 32319, Royal Field Artillery. John was born at Blaenpennal in 1893, the son of David and Mary Davies. His father died when he was young and his mother remarried, moving the family to Glangors, Penuwch, Llanio Road. John enlisted at Caerphilly into the Royal Artillery, and landed in France on 5 September 1915, attached to A Battery, 100th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which was attached to the 22nd Division. The Division crossed to France in early September 1915, with all units being concentrated near Flesselles by 9 September, but the Division was then diverted to Salonika, sailing from Marseilles on 27 October 1915 and joined the campaign to assist the Greek army defend against a combined Austrian and Bulgarian force which had attacked the country. John then fought throughout the remainder of the campaign there before being wounded during the Second Battle of Doiran. He died of his wounds on 21 September 1918, aged 25, and was buried in Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston, Salonika.

Daniel Thomas Evans, Private, 26720, Welsh Regiment. Daniel was born in 1881, the son of David and Elizabeth Evans, of Tan-Y-Gareg, Blaenpennal. He worked as a colliery haulier prior to enlisting at Ferndale into the Welsh Regiment, and was posted to the 10th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (1st Rhondda), which was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The division landed in France on 2 December 1915, and after assembling at Boulogne moved to the Fleurbaix area for trench initiation. The division spent the coming months in different sectors of the line, from Fleurbaix to Cuinchy, and by the beginning of March 1916 was in position on the La Bassée Canal. On 9 March 1916 the Germans blew a mine opposite the front line held by the 10th Welsh, killing two men and wounding six. Daniel was one of the dead. He was 34 years old, and was buried in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France.

Thomas Morgans, Corporal, 202934, Middlesex Regiment. Thomas was born in 1897, the son of David Morgans and Margaret Morgans (nee Lloyd), of Esgerhir, Blaenpennal. He resided at Willesden, Middlesex just prior to the war and enlisted there into the Middlesex Regiment. Thomas was then posted to France, joining C Company of the 1/7th Battalion, Middlesex Regiment, which was attached to 167 Brigade, 56th (London) Division. The Division was wintering in the Arras area by the end of 1917, and was holding the Oppy Sector. During the first week of January 1918, the 7th Middlesex was holding the line there, until being relieved on 8 January and entrained to the holding area at Ottawa Camp, Mont-St. Eloi, before marching to Maroeil and the following morning, entraining there for Tinques, before marching to billets at Chelers, from where working parties were despatched to assist units of the Royal Engineers Tunnelling Companies. Thomas was accidentally wounded whilst carrying out this work towards the end of the month and was evacuated to a nearby Casualty Clearing Station, where he died of his injuries on 1 February 1918. The 21-year-old was buried in Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France.

World War Two, 1939-1945

John Evans, Leading Aircraftman, 1283580, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the son of Isaac and Sarah Evans, of Blaenpennal. He volunteered to serve with the Royal Air Force, and was posted to 238 Squadron, RAF. The squadron was equipped with the Hawker Hurricane, and had taken part in the Battle of Britain in 1940, before leaving for the Middle East in May 1941, taking part in the defence of Malta, before moving to North Africa. During March 1944 the squadron moved to Corsica, to perform fighter sweeps over Italy. John didn’t take part in this move, however, as he took ill and was hospitalised at the 15th Scottish General Hospital, Alexandria, where he was found to be suffering from osophegal cancer. He died there on 24 March 1944, aged 25. John was buried in Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt.