Llangynfelyn War Memorial

Llangynfelyn is situated on the River Dyfi, nine miles north of Aberystwyth on the A487 road to Machynlleth. The Parish was a rich mining area, with several lead and copper mines in the vicinity, the spoils of which were exported from the Dyfi Estuary. The Parish Church, dedicated to St. Cynvelyn, was originally erected in the sixth century, and within the Church was the Parish War Memorial, to the men of Llangynfelyn who served (and fell) during the Great War. This memorial has just been moved to Llanfach, the village hall in Taliesin, and a service of re-dedication was held on 9 November 2014. The photograph of the memorial has been kindly supplied by Nigel Callaghan. The same names are contained on the Great War memorial inside Llangynfelyn School, which is on a seperate page. This memorial also commemorates those who served and survived.

The Great War, 1914-1918

Peter Beechey, Private, 29568, South Wales Borderers. Peter was born at Llangynfelyn in 1896, probably the son of Lewis and Hannah Beechey. He enlisted at Brecon into the 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was attached to 115 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. Peter joined the battalion in 1916, probably as one of a number of reinforcements to the battalion after it had taken part in the capture of Mametz Wood, and moved to Ypres, where the Division took up the front line along the canal bank at Boesinghe. Here they fought at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge, and the Battle of Langemarck. They 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. Peter was wounded during the advance across the old Somme battlefields. He died of his wounds on 28 August 1918, aged 22, and is buried at Fienvillers British Cemetery, France.

Richard Ellis, Private, 36427, King’s Liverpool Regiment. Richard was born at Birmingham in 1886, the son of William and Jane Ellis. The family had resided at Birmingham for several years prior to Tom’s birth, but by 1914 were back at their native Taliesin. Richard resided with his wife, Margaret Ellis, at 23, Lothair Road, Anfield, Liverpool prior to the war. He enlisted at Liverpool into the 21st Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, and was posted to France with the 12th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, which was attached to 61 Brigade, 20th (Light) Division. The Division had been in France since July 1915, and had fought a diversionary attack at Fromelles in September 1915. Later that year they moved north, and fought at the Battle of Mount Sorrel alongside the Canadian Corps. Richard joined the battalion early in 1916, and caught up with it in time to fight at the Somme Offensive. The 20th Division saw much action on the Somme, taking part in the Battles of Delville Wood, Guillemont, Flers-Courcelette, Morval and Le Transloy. Richard was killed at Le Transloy on 7 October 1916. He was 30 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. His brother Tom also fell.

Tom Ellis, Lance Corporal, 27970, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Tom was born at Birmingham in 1896, the son of William and Jane Ellis. The family had resided at Birmingham for several years prior to Tom’s birth, but by 1914 were back at their native Taliesin, residing at Birmingham House. Tom resided at 12, Porchester Road, Bayswater prior to the war, and enlisted at Holborn, London into the 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 115 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. Tom was killed at Mametz Wood on 11 July 1916, aged 19. He is buried at Dantzig Alley British Cemetery, Mametz, France.

James Evans, Private, South Wales Borderers. James cannot presently be identified.

William Jenkins, Gunner, 186789, Royal Garrison Artillery. William was the son of John and Margaret Jenkins, of Mount Pleasant, Llangynfelyn. He was a miner prior to enlisting at Merthyr into the Royal Garrison Artillery and was posted to Gibraltar to join the 9th Company, Royal Garrison Artillery, which was attached to Northern Command. William took ill towards the end of the war, and died in Gibraltar Military Hospital on 12 October 1918. He is buried in Gibraltar (North Front) Cemetery. (The memorial states South Wales Borderers).

Morgan Morgans, Sailor, Mercantile Marine. Morgan was born in 1889, the Son of David and Mary Morgans, of Gogerddan House, Ynyslas, Borth. He served with the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Penvearn. On 1 March 1918, Penvearn was 15 miles from South Stack, Anglesey when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine UB-48. Morgan was 29 years old when he died that day, and he is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

William Henry O’Halloran, Sergeant, 24/236, Northumberland Fusiliers. William was born at Aldershot Military Camp in 1888, the son of Staff Sergeant William B. O’Halloran (R.A.S.C.) and Jane O’Halloran. Jane was from Taliesin, and prior to the war the family were residing at 39, Wesley Terrace, Taliesin. William enlisted into the 24th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion, Northumberland Fusiliers. The battalion was attached to 103 Brigade, 34th Division, and moved to France during January 1916. The Division saw its first major action on the Somme, during the Battle of Albert, where it suffered very severe casualties during the attack on La Boisselle. William was killed at La Boisselle on 1 July 1916. He was 28 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.

Evan Richard Roberts, Air Mechanic 2nd Class, F/14506, Royal Naval Air Service. Evan was born on 12 September 1886, the son of David and Elizabeth Roberts, of Taliesin. He lived in London prior to the war, and married May Monks on 21 December 1912. The couple set up home at 84, Springfield Avenue, Easington, Banbury, Oxon. Evan enlisted into the Royal Naval Air Service, becoming an Air Mechanic. He was based at H.M.S. President II in London, when he died on 7 July 1917. Evan was 31 years old, and is buried at Abney Park Cemetery.

Heber Thomas, Second Lieutenant, The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Heber was born at Ystumtuen on 20 May 1891, the son of Reverend David Thomas, and of Jane Thomas (nee Davies). By 1901 the family was residing at Brynffynon, Dolgellau. Heber worked as a Clerk with the National and Provincial Bank prior to the war, and enlisted into the 2/5th Battalion, East Kent Regiment on 8 May 1916. In May 1917 Heber was commissioned, and posted to the 7th Battalion, East Kent Regiment, which was attached to 55 Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. The division was at Arras, and moved to Ypres in July, taking part in the Battle of Pilckem, where they helped capture Westhoek. Heber was killed later into the Third Battle of Ypres, whilst fighting near Poelcapelle on 12 October 1917. He was 26 years old, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Heber is not commemorated on the Llangynfelyn memorial, but is commemorated on his father’s grave at Llangynfelyn.

World War Two, 1939-1945

Alec Davies, Able Seaman, Merchant Navy. Alec was born at Llangynfelyn in 1918. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the MV Aldington Court, a London registered Motor Vessel. On 31 October 1942, she was on route from Philadelphia for Alexandria, when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-172 and sunk, with the loss of 34 lives. Alec was 24 years old when he died that day, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Alun Jones, Private, 5961701, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. Alun was the son of John Morgan Jones and Margaret Jones, of Talybont. He served with the 2nd Battalion, Bedfordshire and Hertfordshire Regiment. The Battalion served with the British Expeditionary Force in France, and was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, later sailing for the Mediterranean, and taking part in the Western Desert Campaign, and the Tunisia Campaign. The battalion then took part in the invasion of Italy. Alun was killed at Monte Cassino on 16 May 1944. He was 21 years old, and is buried at Cassino War Cemetery, Italy.

John Isaac Jones, Sapper, 14786726, Royal Engineers. John was the son of Isaac and Sarah Jones, of Machynlleth, and the husband of Anne Elizabeth Jones, of Machynlleth. John served with 170 Tunnelling Company, Royal Engineers, a unit that had seen considerable service during the Great War, before being reformed in 1939. John probably served with the unit in France in 1940, before the unit was evacuated to Dunkirk, and moved to Gibraltar. He survived the war but died on 23 August 1946, aged 37. John is buried at Llangynfelyn (St. Cynfelyn) Church Cemetery, but is not commemorated on the Llangynfelyn memorial.

David Ivor Williams, Lance Corporal, 7683759, Corps of Military Police. David was born at Talybont, Cardiganshire on 1 September 1909, the son of Emma Jane Williams, and was educated at Llancynfelyn School. He married Violet Prudence Hanney in London in 1934, and the couple moved to Somerset House, East Street, Rhayader. David enlisted into the army and served with the 18th Divisional Provost Company, Military Police, which was attached to Malaya Command at Singapore. After the Japanese invasion of Singapore on 8 February 1942, the British surrendered a week later, on 15 February 1942, and 80,000 troops became prisoners of war. David was amongst the men captured there. He was one of the men taken to act as forced labour on the Thai Burma railway, and died in Burma, reportedly of colitis, on 20 July 1943, aged 34. David was originally buried near Rangoon, but after the war his grave was exhumed, and he was re-interred in Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar.

Llangynfelyn Great War Memorial Names