Llangynllo is a parish which lies about three and a half miles from Newcastle-Emlyn. The Parish Church is dedicated to St. Cynllo, and is situated on the road from Cardigan through Troed-yr-awr to Lampeter. The men of the Parish who fell during both World Wars are commemorated on a War Memorial within the Church, which also commemorates all of the men of the Parish who served. There are a further two memorials in the locality which commemorate men of the Parish; one is in the nearby Coedybryn School Hall, and another at Penrhiwllan Hall. These memorials have several different men on and are all on separate pages. Many thanks to Mike Berrell for photographs of the Parish Memorial.
The Great War, 1914-1918
Edward John Anthony, Private, 12345, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. Edward was the brother of Miss C. M. Anthony, of Thompson, Thetford, Norfolk. He worked as a farm servant at Ffynnonwen, Penrhiwllan prior to the war, and enlisted at Walthamstow into the Duke of Cornwall’s Light Infantry, before being transferred to the 5th Battalion, Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers. The battalion was attached to 31 Brigade, 10th (Irish) Division, and sailed for the Mediterranean, landing at Gallipoli on 7 August 1915. The battalion was thrown into an attack on Chocolate Hill. Edward was killed in action here on 15 August 1915. He was 23 years old, and is buried at Azmak Cemetery, Suvla. The exact location of his grave is not known, and Edward is commemorated there by a Special Memorial.
David Davies, Private, 38384, Welsh Regiment. David was the son of James and Anne Davies, of Gernos Farm, Maesllyn. During 1915 the family moved to Blaenglowanfach, Talgarreg. David 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.
David Lloyd, Stoker 2nd Class, K/53121, Royal Navy. David was born on 20 March 1892, the son of James and Ann Lloyd, of Blaenwaun, Maesllyn, and the husband of Elizabeth Lloyd, of Yetgoch, Maesllyn. He enlisted into the Royal Navy on 13 August 1918 and was posted to HMS Vivid II, the Royal Naval Establishment at Plymouth. David became ill soon afterwards and died at Plymouth Hospital of pneumonia on 11 September 1918. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Bwlchygroes Independent Chapelyard.
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. There is a leaded glass window dedicated to him in the Church and his Memorial Scroll is also displayed in there.
Edward George Rose, Private, 22669, Machine Gun Corps. Edward was the son of Mary Rose, of 40, Moland Street, Birmingham. He resided at Llangynllo prior to the war, and enlisted at Birmingham into the Royal Warwickshire Regiment, landing in France with them on 22 March 1915. Edward was later transferred to the 143rd Company, Machine Gun Corps. The Company was attached to 143 (Warwickshire) Brigade, 48th (South Midland) Division on 8 January 1916. The Company saw its first major action during the Battle of the Somme, then at the Battle of Bazentin Ridge, capturing Ovillers. At the end of July the Division took part in the Battle of Pozieres Ridge, and later at the Battle of the Ancre. Edward was killed in action during the Battle of the Ancre, on 24 November 1916, aged 22. He is buried at Adanac Military Cemetery, Miraumont, France.
David Thomas Williams, Stoker 2nd Class, K/44598 (Dev), Royal Navy. David was born on 30 November 1898, the son of Thomas and Anne Williams, of Bryn Gernos, Maesllyn. He had worked as a Blacksmith’s Striker prior to enlisting into the Royal Navy on 26 July 1917, and was posted to HMS Vivid, the Royal Naval Establishment at Portsmouth. David died in hospital at Plymouth of tuberculosis and peritonitis on 7 November 1917, aged 18, and is buried at Bwlchygroes Independent Chapelyard.
World War Two, 1939-1945
David Cecil Robson Branfield, Private, 14685121, Black Watch (Royal Highland Regiment). David was the son of William Henry and Hannah Dorothy Branfield, of Quarry Lodge, Coed y Bryn. He served with the 1st Battalion, Black Watch. The battalion was attached to the 51st (Highland) Division, and fought in North Africa and Sicily before returning to Britain, taking part in the invasion of Normandy on 6 June 1944. David was killed during the drive into Germany on 24 March 1945, during an action known as Operation Plunder. His battalion was involved in heavy fighting around the village of Esserden. He was 21 years old, and is buried in Reichswald Forest War Cemetery, Germany.
Evan Thomas Davies, Second Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Evan was born in 1905, and resided at Isfryn, Bwlchygroes, Maesllyn. He served with the Merchant Navy, aboard the SS Horn Shell, a London registered tanker. On 26 July 1941, Horn Shell was West of Madeira, bound for Curacao, when she was sunk by the Italian submarine Barbarigo, with the loss of five lives. Evan was 36 years old when he died that day, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Evan is not commemorated in the Church, but at Bwlchygroes Chapel.
Benjamin Frederick Jones, Mess Room Boy, Merchant Navy. Benjamin was from Gwylfa, Llandyssul, and served in the Merchant Navy, aboard the S.S. Coast Wings (London). She was an old Dutch cargo ship, that had been launched in 1916, and on 27 September 1940, was part of Convoy OG-43 when she was torpedoed and sank by the U-46. Benjamin was killed in the sinking of the ship. He was 24 years old, and is remembered on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. Benjamin is not commemorated in the Church, but at Bwlchygroes Chapel.
John Morgan Jones, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), 1313908, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was 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. John is not commemorated on the war memorial, but at Aberbanc, Bangor Teifi and at Llandyssul School.
Elizabeth Albina Lewis, Civilian. Elizabeth was the daughter of George Christopher and Margaret Thomas, of Castle House, Pontardulais. She had married Arthur Thomas Lewis, of Llangynllo, prior to the war, and the couple moved to 18A, Highgate Road, St. Pancras, London. Elizabeth was killed during an air raid on 20 September 1940, aged 43. She does not seem to be commemorated at Llangynllo.
Bertie Thomas, Stoker 1st Class, D/KX93496, Royal Navy. Bertie was the son of Samuel and Margaret Jane Thomas, of Maesllyn. He served with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Badsworth. Badsworth began her career on convoy duty in the North Western Approaches, but in June 1942, became an escort in Convoy Harpoon, which was bringing supplies to Malta. The convoy was heavily attacked in the Mediterranean, and whilst Badsworth and the remnants of the convoy were entering the Grand Harbour, Badsworth struck a mine, sustaining heavy damage to her bow, and causing 16 casualties. Bertie was killed in the explosion on 16 June 1942, aged 24, and is buried at Malta (Capuccini) Naval Cemetery, Malta.