Carmel Welsh Independent Chapel, also known as Pren Gwyn Chapel, is situated at Pontsian Road, Llandysul. The Chapel was originally built in 1819, and contains a fine marble war memorial plaque, which commemorates the members of its congregation who fell during the Great War. The photograph of the memorial was kindly supplied by Mike Berrell. I have also been sent in by Gareth Jones a photograph of another memorial in the Chapel, which commemorates two other men, John Jones and David Lloyd. This memorial is at the foot of this page in a seperate section.
The Great War, 1914-1918
David Davies, Private, 38384, Welsh Regiment. David was the son of James Davies, of Blaengloewonfach, Talgarreg. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the Welsh Regiment, and landed in France on 16 December 1915, being posted to the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The division was still in the Loos sector, and moved to the Somme early in 1916, where it was tasked with being the reserve division for the assault on Ovillers-La Boiselle on 1 July 1916. The division famously captured La Boiselle, and after a brief rest took part in the attack on Contalmaison on 7 July 1916. David was among 35 men killed during the attack by the 9th Welsh that day. He was 24 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
John Davies, Private, 29566, South Wales Borderers. John was born on 24 July 1895, the Son of Mrs. Hannah Davies, of 3, Marble Terrace, Llandyssul. He enlisted at Brecon into the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which were attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division moved to France in July 1915 and fought at the Battle of Loos, then moved to the Somme, where they took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle, capturing the village at heavy cost, and fought through the Somme Battles of Pozières and the Ancre in 1916. They then moved North to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, and fought on the Menin Road and at Polygon Wood, before moving up to Broodseinde, Poelcappelle and Passchendaele Village itself. In 1918 they were caught up in the German Spring Offensive near St. Quentin, where they suffered terrible casualties, and fought at the Battle of Bapaume. They moved to Ypres, but were caught up in the German attack at Messines, and at Bailleul, and Kemmel. After suffering terribly again, they moved South to the quieter French sector to rebuild, but were caught up in the German offensive on the Aisne. John was wounded during the Battle of the Aisne, and died of wounds on 12 June 1918. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Sezanne Communal Cemetery, France.
John Osbourne, Able Seaman, Z/3613, Royal Navy. John was born on 9 November 1897, the son of Walter and Elizabeth Osborne, of 74, Moors Cottages, Crockenhill, Swanley Junction, Kent. He resided at Cwmmarch, Llandyssul prior to the war, and served with the Royal Navy, aboard the SS Madame Renee. John was drowned when the ship was sunk off Scarborough by a German U-Boat on 10 August 1918. He was just 19 years old, and is remembered on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Cyril Robinson, Lance Sergeant, 21968, Welsh Regiment. Cyril was born in Poplar, Middlesex, and prior to the war resided at Fronwen, Llandyssul. He enlisted at Llandyssul into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division had been one of the first to arrive in France, fighting at the Battle of Mons, and taking part in the retreat to the Marne, where the Germans were stopped. They then fought at the Aisne, and at Chivy, before being moved North to Ypres. Here they fought at the First Battle of Ypres, where they again stopped the German Offensive, before wintering in Flanders. The following year saw them in action again at the Battle of Aubers, before moving South to Loos, where they fought during the Battle of Loos, and the action at the Hohenzollern redoubt. Again they were required for a major offensive, moving South to the Somme, where they fought during the opening of the Somme Offensive at the Battle of Albert, then at Bazentin, Pozières, Flers-Courcelette and Morval. Cyril was wounded after the Somme battles had drawn to a close, and died of wounds on 28 December 1916, aged 21. He is buried at Dernancourt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
William Henry Russen, Private, 21969, Welsh Regiment. William was born in Marylebone early in 1895, and resided at Cwmmarch, Llandyssul prior to the war. He served with the 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was a home service battalion, used for reinforcing the Welsh Battalions on the Western Front. William died of lockjaw in Carmarthen Infirmary on 25 October 1915, after cutting his leg during a riding accident. He was 21 years old, and is buried at Carmarthen Cemetery.
Pren Gwyn Chapel Small Plaque
John Jones, Private, 201530, Welsh Regiment. John was the son of Evan and Hannah Jones, of Ffoshelyg, Llandyssul. He enlisted at Newport into the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which formed part of the South Wales Brigade. On 17 April 1915 the Battalion was attached to 159 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, and in July that year sailed with the Division to Alexandria, en route to Gallipoli. On 9 August 1915 the Division landed on Gallipoli, at saw action almost straight away. They remained here until evacuation in December 1915 after suffering heavy casualties, and moved to Egypt, taking up positions on the Suez Canal Defences. In 1916 the Division fought in a few minor skirmishes with the Turks, and Arabs loyal to the Turks, and in 1917 an offensive was launched into Palestine. John was killed in action here, during the First Battle of Gaza, on 26 March 1917. He was 23 years old and is remembered on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
David Lloyd, Private, 29556, South Wales Borderers. David was the son of Henry and Hannah Lloyd, of Gilfachddafydd, Llandyssul. He enlisted at Brecon into the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, who were attached to 87 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division moved to Gallipoli via Egypt, landing on 25 April 1915. They remained here until evacuation to Egypt on 11 January 1916 and then moved to the Western Front on 15 March. The Division took part in its first major action in France during the 1916 Somme Offensive, and fought at the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, suffering heavy casualties. 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. Here they fought at the Battle of Langemarck, and then at the Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle, before moving to Cambrai. Here they fought at the Battle of Cambrai in November and December 1917 before moving back to Flanders early in 1918. The German Spring Offensive hit the British on the Somme on 21 March 1918, and hit in Flanders just weeks later. The Division fought at the desperate defensive battles of Estaires, Messines, Bailleul and Kemmel, before the war turned in favour of the Allies after a series of successes on the Somme in August. The Division then took part in the Offensive in Flanders, where David was killed in action during the Battle of Courtrai, on 15 October 1918. He was 32 years old, and is buried at Dadizeele New British Cemetery, Belgium.
