Llanddeiniol is a parish which lies about seven miles south-west of Aberystwyth, just half a mile off the main A487 coastal road mid-way between Llanrhystud and Blaenplwyf. The parish takes its name from the dedication of its church to St. Daniel, which is situated on the shore of Cardigan bay. The men of the Parish who fell during both World Wars are commemorated on two marble plaques, which are located in the Church, together with a third plaque, which commemorates the parishioners who also served and returned during the Great War.
The Great War, 1914-1918
John Daniel Jones, Private, 25095, Duke Of Wellington’s (West Riding Regiment). John was the son of Daniel and Catherine Jones, of Aberffrwd House, Llanddeiniol. He enlisted at Aberystwyth on 13 December 1915 into the Army Service Corps. John then served with the Training Reserve, until being posted to France on 14 May 1917, joining the 2/5th Battalion, West Riding Regiment, which was attached to 186 Brigade, 62nd (2nd West Riding) Division. John would have seen his first major action during the Battle of Arras that year. Later that year saw them in action again at the Battle of Cambrai, and John was wounded here on 27 November 1917. On 5 January 1918, the Division took over the front line in the Arras area, but after the Germans launched their offensive on the Somme on 21 March 1918, was moved to Bucquoy, between Arras and Albert, where it took part in heavy fighting. The battered division was relieved on the night of 31 March, and was moved south when the Germans launched an offensive in the Champagne region, near Rheims. John rejoined his battalion on the Aisne on 5 June 1918, after recuperating in hospital at Rouen. He was killed in action here on 20 July 1918. He was 24 years old, and is buried in Courmas British Cemetery, France.
William John Jones, Private, 30603, Lancashire Fusiliers. William was born in 1898, the son of Evan and Mary Ann Jones, of Maenarthur, Devil’s Bridge. He enlisted at Brecon into the army, and was posted to France early in 1916, where he joined the 1st Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which was attached to 86 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division moved to the Western Front on 15 March 1916, after having distinguished itself at Gallipoli, and saw its first major action in France on 1 July 1916 at the Battle of the Somme. In the Spring of 1917 they fought at the Battle of the Scarpe, which was part of the Arras Offensive, and then moved further north to Ypres, taking part in the Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle. Later in 1917 the Division fought at the Battle of Cambrai, before moving back to Flanders early in 1918. The German Spring Offensive hit the British on the Somme on 21 March 1918, and hit the 29th Division in Flanders just weeks later. William is shown as having died on 16 April 1918. He was 19 years old, and is buried at Cabaret Rouge British Cemetery, Souchez, France. Many thanks to Wil Troughton for the photograph of his great uncle.
World War Two, 1939-1945
John Merfyn Davies, Aircraftman 1st Class, 1255308, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the son of John Evans Davies and Ellen Davies, of Ardgrange, Llanddeiniol. He served with 100 Squadron, Royal Air Force, which was equipped with the obsolete Vickers Vildebeest. The Squadron took part in the defence of Singapore in December 1941, but most of its personnel were captured by the Japanese after the surrender of the garrison. John was interred at Batoe-Doeah-Ambon, Dutch East Indies, and died there on 25 July 1944, aged 24. He is buried at Ambon War Cemetery, Indonesia.
They Also Served, World War One, 1914-1918
