Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant is a town situated to the north of the ancient county of Montgomeryshire, next to its border with Denbighshire, some nine miles west of Oswestry and twelve miles south of Llangollen, on the B4580 road. The town lies near the foothills of the Berwyn mountains on the river Rhaeadr and at the top end of the valley is the famous Pistyll Rhaeadr waterfall. The men of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant who fell during both World Wars are commemorated on the Parish war memorial, which takes the form of a Celtic Cross and is situated in St. Dogfan’s Churchyard, in front of the Wynnstay Arms in the town.
The Great War, 1914-1918
Robert Charles, Private, 291522, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was the son of Hugh and Sarah Charles, of Chapel House, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a waggoner prior to enlisting into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Welshpool on 21 February 1916 and was initially placed on the Army Reserve. He was mobilised the following month, attesting at Wrexham on 23 March and was posted to the 3/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Park Hall camp, Oswestry. Robert embarked for France at Southampton on 13 March 1917 and disembarked at Rouen the following day. On 29 April 1917 he was taken on strength by the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was in the Arras sector, attached to 19 Brigade, 33rd Division. Just days earlier, on 23 April 1917, the 2nd RWF had taken part in a costly assault on the Hindenburg Line, suffering heavy casualties. The battered battalion then moved to a rest camp at Basseux to rebuild, and by 15 May moved back into the line in the Croisilles Sector. The Division then conducted several assaults against the Hindenburg Line, but could not breach it, so on 27 May 1917 a large-scale assault was carried out again, with the 2nd RWF in the thick of the action. Robert was posted as missing, believed killed in action during the assault that day. The 26-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Evan Davies, Private, 23153, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Evan was the son of Allen and Margaret Davies, of Brynyffynon, Llangedwyn. Following the death of his mother, Evan went to work as a farm servant at Caer Fach, Llansilin. Evan enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llangollen soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was on Salisbury Plain, attached to 76 Brigade, 25th Division. On 27 September 1915, the Division landed at Boulogne, and two weeks later 76 Brigade transferred to the 3rd Division, which was holding the line at St. Eloi, near Ypres. The Division saw heavy fighting during the Actions of the Bluff in February 1916 and then at the Actions of the St Eloi Craters from 27 March to 16 April and came under a gas attack for the first time on 29/30 April. By the middle of June, the Division had moved out of the Ypres Salient to billets around Eperlecques, where intense training was carried out prior to moving to the Somme sector by 2 July. The main Somme offensive had opened on the previous day, and the 3rd Division was ready to enter the fray, bivouacking at Bronfay Farm by 9 July and on 13 July moved into the captured German lines at Montauban Alley. The 10th RWF took part in heavy fighting over the coming days, and on 19 July received orders for an assault on Delville Wood. Just after midnight the following day the battalion moved forwards and became caught in in terrible fighting within the wood, the fighting of such severity that two men of the battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross. On 25 July the shattered battalion was relieved and moved into reserve and did not move back into the line until 17 August, when the battalion attacked Lonely Trench. On 23 August, the Division moved out of the line to rest and moved to Noeux-les-Mines, near Loos. After a month there, the Division moved back into a rest area for further training before moving back south to the Somme and by 12 November took over trenches at Serre. On the following day, 13 November 1916, the Division launched an assault against the German positions at Serre. The 10th RWF reached Serre village, but the flanking battalions failed to keep up, and heavy losses were suffered, with 300 officers and men killed, wounded, or missing. After wintering on the Somme, the Division moved to the Arras sector in February 1917, and took part in the Battle of Arras from 9 April to 16 May, suffering heavy casualties. The Division remained in the same area over the coming months. On 15 July 1917, a party of the 10th RWF took part in a bombing raid on the German lines. Evan and one officer were killed during the raid. Evan was 27 years old when he was killed that day, and is buried in Louverval Military Cemetery, Doignies, France. Two of his brothers, John, and William, were also killed during the war and all three brothers are commemorated on the Llangedwyn war memorial.
John Edward Davies, Private, 41802, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. John was the son of Robert and Sinah Davies, of Aberhaiadr Cottage, Llanrhaeadr. He worked in Manchester as a warehouse worker, and married Mary Katherine Thomas at Chorlton, Manchester on 2 December 1914. Mary was from Llanfyllin, and when John enlisted into the 21st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 10 July 1916, she moved back to 11, Market Street, Llanfyllin, with their young son, Thomas Berwyn Davies. John was drafted to France in December 1916, and was posted to the 11th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The battalion was in Salonika, attached to 67 Brigade, 22nd Division, so John entrained for Marseilles, sailing from there for Salonika aboard the HT Manitou on 30 December 1916. He was initially posted to the 2nd Entrenching Battalion for two months, before joining the ranks of the 11th RWF. During 24-25 April and 8-9 May 1917, the Division took part in two battles at Doiran, and then on 18 September 1918 launched an offensive, known as the Second Battle of Doiran. John was gravely wounded during the assault of 18 September 1918, suffering gunshot wounds to his hand, leg and foot, and was taken aboard the Hospital Ship Glenearn Castle, before being brought to Cottonea Hospital, Malta. He died of his wounds in Cottonea on 22 October 1918. The 30-year-old is buried in Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta.
Robert Ellis, Private, 8486, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Ellis, of Pen Lan, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He had served in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers prior to the war but by 1910 had left the army and married Elizabeth Eleanor Lloyd in 1910. By 1911 Robert was working as a coalminer in the South Wales valleys, while Elizabeth was raising their first child at Bod Erw, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. Prior to the war the couple were living at Colwyn House, Oak Street, Llangollen. Robert was an army reservist and re-joined his old battalion, the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which returned to England following service overseas, joining 22 Brigade, 7th Division at Lyndhurst, before the entire Division embarked for the front, landing at Zeebrugge on 7 October 1914. Unfortunately, the port was already in the process of falling to the Germans, so the 7th Division moved out of the city, marching via Bruges to Ostend, where the Division then entrained for Ghent. The Division then marched to Meirelbeke, and dug in defensive positions, in support of the French and Belgians. It soon became apparent that the Germans had broken through the Belgian lines, so on 11 October the 7th Division received orders to withdraw, reaching Hansbeke by the following day, and over the coming days continued to withdraw, marching through Thielt to Roulers, and by 14 October reached Ypres, becoming the first British Division to hold the city. The remainder of the BEF moved to Ypres from the Marne soon afterwards, in time to take part in the desperate defence of Ypres, when the Germans began attacking the city on 19 October. The 1st RWF held a section of the line near Zillebeke and saw terrible fighting over the coming weeks, while the BEF managed to hold off the Germans and saved Ypres. On 7 November 1914 the 1st RWF launched an assault on the enemy trenches, capturing three machine-guns, but were forced to withdraw after coming under heavy fire. Robert was killed in action during this attack that day. The 34-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. He is also commemorated on the Llangollen war memorial.
Charles Evans, Private, 2664, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Charles was the son of Maurice Evans and Rose Evans (nee Richards), of Vicarage Cottage, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a groom prior to enlisting into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Llanfyllin on 9 October 1914. The Montgomeryshire Yeomanry had been mobilised at Welshpool on 5 August 1914, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, before moving via Hereford to Thetford, to join the 1st Mounted Division. On 4 March 1916 the 1st Mounted Division sailed for Egypt to join the EEF. Charles did not embark for Egypt with the regiment, as by then he had started to suffer from problems with his health after suffering an accident in Norfolk which damaged his wrist. On 30 June 1916 he was discharged from the army as medically unfit as the condition of his wrist and forearm had not improved and Charles returned home to Llanrhaeadr. Following the Armistice, both Charles and his father Maurice contracted influenza and tragically both died on the same day, 16 February 1919. Charles was 26 years old and was buried three days later, together with his father, in St. Dogfan’s Churchyard, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. A brother, Richard, was killed in Palestine in 1917, whilst another brother, Edward, was killed in France in 1917.
Edward David Evans, Private, 292592, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Edward was the son of Maurice Evans and Rose Evans (nee Richards), of Vicarage Cottage, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a farm labourer prior to enlisting into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llanfyllin on 24 November 1914 and was posted to the 3/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training. On 26 March 1916 Edward was transferred to the 3/1st Battalion, Herefordshire Regiment, which was also at Oswestry but three months later was transferred to the 349th Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps. He must have been stationed somewhere near Upton on Severn, as in the autumn of 1916 he married Ellen Goulding, a spinster with a young son, there. Edward was then posted to the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers and embarked for France at Southampton on 13 March 1917, before disembarking at Rouen the following day, joining the 5th Infantry Base Depot. On 6 April 1917 Edward was posted to C Company, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was at Arras attached to 19 Brigade, 33rd Division. The battalion had been rebuilding following heavy losses on the Somme the previous year and remained in the Somme sector over before being transferred to the Arras sector, and reached Henin by 13 April, before the Division took over a section of front line facing the Hindenburg Line. The infantry battalions of the division then began the usual routines of rotating between the front-line, support and reserve trenches and the 2nd RWF took over a position known as Tunnel Trench. On 23 April the 2nd RWF took part in a costly assault on the Hindenburg Line, suffering heavy casualties. The battered battalion then moved to a rest camp at Basseux to rebuild, and by 15 May moved back into the line in the Croisilles Sector. The Division then conducted several assaults against the Hindenburg Line, but could not breach it, so on 27 May 1917 a large-scale assault was carried out again, with the 2nd RWF in the thick of the action. Edward was posted as missing during the assault that day and was later confirmed to have been killed in action. The 29-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. One brother, Charles, died of influenza in 1919, whilst another brother, Richard, was killed in Palestine in 1917.
Richard Evans, Private, 355109, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Richard was the son of Maurice Evans and Rose Evans (nee Richards), of Vicarage Cottage, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a labourer at Oswestry prior to enlisting into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Llanfyllin on 19 April 1913 and attended two annual TA summer camps with the regiment prior to the outbreak of war. On 5 August 1914, the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was mobilised at Welshpool, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, before moving via Hereford to Thetford, to join the 1st Mounted Division. On 4 March 1916 the 1st Mounted Division sailed for Egypt to join the EEF. On 4 March 1917, the battalion merged with the Welsh Horse Yeomanry to form the 25th (Montgomery & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as part of the newly formed 231 Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division assembled in Egypt as part of the EEF, before crossing the Suez Canal into the Sinai, and saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Gaza. The battle was a failure, and the EEF was re-organised under a new commander, Sir Edmund Allenby. On 5 July 1917 Richard was off duty when his rifle went off, wounding him in the neck. He was evacuated to hospital at El Arish, dangerously ill, and while lying in his hospital bed, the battalion CO, Lord Kensington, held a court of enquiry to find out if the wound was self-inflicted accidentally or was an attempt to take his own life. After hearing the testimony of several witnesses, Lord Kensington believed the wound was an attempt at suicide, so on 28 August 1917, after his recovery, Richard was subject to a Field General Court Martial and was awarded three months of Field Punishment No. 1. Meanwhile, the EEF was preparing to launch another offensive, the Third Battle of Gaza, and as a result on the night of 31 October 1917, this new offensive was launched along a winder front, running from Gaza to Beersheba, and this time the EEF prevailed, opening the door to Jerusalem. Richard was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 31-year-old is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel. A brother, Charles, died in 1919 because of sickness contracted during the war, whilst another brother, Edward, died in France in 1917.
Temple Riadore Evans, Rifleman, R/21262, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Temple was the son of Allen Emerson Evans and Elizabeth Evans, of Brynhyfryd, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He lived at 239, East India Dock Road, Poplar prior to the war, where he worked as a Draper’s Assistant. He enlisted into the 8th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps at Poplar soon after the outbreak of war, but upon being drafted to France in the summer of 1916 was posted to B Company of the 13th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. The battalion was attached to 111 Brigade, 37th Division and was rebuilding following heavy losses during the attack on La Boiselle during the first phase of the Battle of the Somme, whilst temporarily attached to the 34th Division. On 22 August 1916 the 13th KRRC re-joined the 37th Division and saw more heavy fighting during the Battle of the Ancre later that year. During December 1916, the Division moved out of the Somme sector and slowly made its way north, taking over the Neuve Chapelle sector. In February 1917, the Division moved to the Mazingarbe sector and during the following month marched south to the Arras sector, taking part in the First Battle of the Scarpe, where the Division captured Monchy le Preux. The Division then took part in the Second Battle of the Scarpe, and the Battle of Arleux before moving north to the Ypres Salient, reaching the Wytschaete sector by 27 June. The battlefield here was horrific as just weeks previously a series of vast underground mines had been exploded beneath the German lines, heralding the opening of the Battle of Messines Ridge. The infantry battalions of the 37th Division then began the usual routines of rotating between duties in the trenches over the coming weeks. On 28 June the 13th KRRC moved into the front line and began consolidation work, then two days later pushed forward their line, creating a series of outposts. The battalion was to have been relieved on 6 July 1917, but it was postponed and instead the battalion was ordered to move forwards again and establish more outposts. Temple was killed during this attempt to extend the line that night. The 30-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
Walter Henry Evans, Private, 56975, Welsh Regiment. Walter was the son of Thomas Humphreys Evans and Catherine Evans, of 34, Llwyn Road, Oswestry. He worked as a farm labourer at Llanrhaeadr prior to enlisting into the 3/1st Battalion, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Welshpool on 10 December 1915. Walter was posted to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training, then on 8 August 1916 embarked for France at Southampton, disembarking at Rouen the following day, and joining the 5th Infantry Base Depot. On 1 September 1916 Walter was posted to the 10th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division and had just moved to Ypres following its famous assault on Mametz Wood, taking over the Canal Bank sector at Boesinghe. The infantry battalions of the Division then began conducting the normal pattern of rotation in the trenches, four days in the front, four in support and four in reserve, whilst also working on trench improvement, digging new trenches, and also carrying out regular patrols and trench raids. On 31 July 1917, the Division launched its famous assault on the Pilckem Ridge, capturing Iron Cross and reaching its objective of the Steenbeek, then played a supporting role in the Battle of Langemarck. Walter was wounded during the terrible fighting on 31 July and was evacuated to the 131st Field Ambulance with gunshot wounds to his right shoulder. He was then sent to the 2nd Canadian General Hospital at Wimereux, where he died of his wounds on 9 August 1917. The 21-year-old is buried in Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France.
Samuel Glossop, Private, 15865, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Samuel was the son of John and Mary Glossop, of 3, Castle Buildings, Llanrhaeadr. He worked as a farm labourer at Glanage, Rhiwlas prior to enlisting into the 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at Oswestry soon after the outbreak of war. The battalion formed at Shrewsbury in September 1914, before joining 76 Brigade, 25th Division at Codford, Salisbury Plain. On 28 September 1915, the Division landed at Boulogne, and the entire Division proceeded to Flanders, ordered to relieve the Canadians in the Ploegsteert Wood sector. At the last minute, orders were received for the Division to move to the Ypres sector instead, for instruction alongside the 3rd Division in the Sanctuary Wood trenches, and 76 Brigade then transferred to the 3rd Division. At the end of October, the 3rd Division was relieved and went into reserve for a month, before returning to Ypres to take over the Railway Wood sector. The Division remained here over the winter, its infantry battalions conducting the usual routines of trench rotation. On 2 February 1916 the 7th KSLI was in the front-line at Railway Wood when Samuel was wounded. He was evacuated to the Casualty Clearing Station at Remi Sidings, where he died of his wounds the following day, 3 February 1916. The 23-year-old is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Edward Hughes, Private, 15656, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. Edward was the son of Evan and Elizabeth Hughes, of Wernlas, Llangedwyn. He had served with the 1st Volunteer Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers as a young man, before enlisting into the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers on 31 July 1908, following the creation of the Territorial Army. Edward attended every Annual TA Summer camp over the coming years, until leaving the 4th RWF on 21 November 1910. Edward re-enlisted into the army at Coventry following the outbreak of war, joining the 11th Battalion, Royal Warwickshire Regiment. The battalion formed at Warwick, initially moving to the South Downs to join the 24th Division, but in April 1915 joined 112 Brigade, 37th Division on Salisbury Plain. On 30 July 1915, the battalion landed in France, and the entire 37th Division assembled in the Hazebrouck area before moving to Hébuterne, halfway between Arras and the Somme, for trench initiation. The Division remained in this sector over the coming months, its infantry battalions rotating between front, reserve, and support lines, whilst also carrying out working parties. When the Battle of the Somme opened at dawn on 1 July 1916, the 37th Division was on the left flank of the 46th Division’s assault on the Gommecourt Salient and witnessed the ferocious fighting. The Division then moved south, and by 7 July the 11th Warwick’s had reached Albert, before marching to reserve trenches at Tara Redoubt. On the following afternoon, the battalion took over the old German front-line trenches along the Contalmaison to La Boiselle Road, and on 10 July the Division took part in an assault on Contalmaison. The 11th Warwick’s then had a brief rest before launching an assault on Pozieres on 15 July. Edward was killed in action to the south of Pozieres on 16 July 1916. The 31-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Hugh Richard Hughes, Private, 700087, Canadian Infantry. Hugh was born on 23 June 1882, the son of William and Eleanor Hughes, of New Mills, Llanrhaeadr. He emigrated to Canada as a young man, sailing from Liverpool aboard the SS Pretorian on 7 February 1907 and disembarked in New Brunswick. Hugh then became a farmer and was living at the Manitoba Hotel in Winnipeg when war broke out. Hugh enlisted into the 101st Overseas Battalion, Canadian Infantry at Winnipeg on 6 April 1915, stating that he had six years previous service with the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. The battalion sailed from Canada for England aboard the SS Olympic on 28 June 1916 and disembarked in Liverpool before entraining for Salisbury to complete their training. On 27 August 1916 Hugh was drafted to France, joining the 16th Battalion, Canadian Infantry, which was attached to the 3rd Brigade, 1st Canadian Division. Hugh joined the battalion at St. Omer, where it was entraining for the Somme and within days the Canadians had reached Contay, in the Somme valley. The Canadians then marched to Albert, prior to relieving the Australians at Pozieres, before moving into positions which the Australians had taken at great cost over the preceding weeks before being held up at Mouquet Farm. The Canadians became attached to the 4th Australian Division on 2 September and on the following day remained in support whilst the Australians launched another assault on Mouquet Farm, but to no avail. On 5 September the 16th Battalion took over a section of the front line from the battered Australians, and endured a torrid time over the coming days, suffering 401 casualties before being relieved two days later. The remnants of the battalion then marched to billets in Bonneville via Toutencourt where it remained until moving back to Albert on 19 September. The battalion moved up to Sausage Valley by 24 September and two days later moved up to the front line to support another assault on Mouquet Farm in conjunction with the 34th Division, which finally captured the farm. The 16th Battalion then had another short spell in billets in Warloy Baillon before returning to the front line on 7 October. On the following day, 8 October 1916, the Canadians launched an assault upon Regina Trench and heavy fighting raged throughout the day. Hugh was posted as missing, believed killed in action on the following day, 9 October 1916. No trace of the 34-year-old was ever found, so he is commemorated on the Vimy Memorial, France. His brother, Mervyn, was killed in France in 1918.
Mervyn Hughes, Private, 31518, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Mervyn was the son of William and Eleanor Hughes, of New Mills, Llanrhaeadr. He enlisted into the Training Reserve and after completing his training was drafted to France in the winter of 1917-18, joining the 1/4th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. The battalion had spent most of the war on garrison duties in Singapore and Hong Kong before arriving back at Plymouth on 27 July 1917. The battalion then re-embarked at Southampton and landed at Le Havre on 29 July and the following month joined 190 Brigade, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division at Maroeuil, near Arras. On 2 October, the Division entrained for Hazebrouck and by 25 October had reached the canal bank at Ypres before taking over positions near Albatross Farm, ready to take part in an assault on Passchendaele Ridge in conjunction with the Canadians. At the end of November, the Division moved out of Ypres and entrained for Arras, before moving into the line on Welch Ridge, opposite Marcoing where, on 30 December 1917, the Division was hit by a German counterattack but managed to hold its line after some fierce fighting. The Division remained at Welch Ridge over the coming weeks, with the 4th KSLI moving out of the line to rest and refit on 18 January. The battalion then transferred to 56 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division during the reorganisation of the army in February 1918 and joined the Division in the line near Beaulencourt on 7 March. By now it was common knowledge amongst the troops that the Germans were planning an offensive as there was continuous activity to be heard behind their lines. At dawn on 21 March 1918 the Germans opened up a tremendous artillery barrage along the section of Western Front running south from Croisilles to La Fère, before launching a massed infantry attack through the morning mist. The 4th KSLI was in support at the time and was ordered forward at 12.30 to take up positions around a beetroot factory near Lebucquière on the Bapaume to Cambrai Road, the remaining companies were dug-in in Gaika Copse, Le Velu, in close support to 57 and 58 Brigades, which were in readiness to make a counterattack. This marked a period of desperate fighting for the Division as it gallantly attempted to stem the German advance but was forced to withdraw under intense pressure. Mervyn was killed in action during the Divisions withdrawal towards Hébuterne on 26 March 1918. The 19-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. His brother, Hugh, was killed on the Somme, just four miles distant, in 1916.
David Humphreys, Private, 21891, Welsh Regiment. David was the son of Thomas and Elizabeth Humphreys, of Vagal, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He had moved to South Wales to find work prior to the war. David enlisted at Caerphilly into the Rhondda Battalion, Welsh Regiment in August 1914. The battalion was comprised mainly of miners from the South Wales Valleys and had so many recruits that two Rhondda battalions were formed, the 10th Welsh and the 13th Welsh, and David was posted to the 13th Welsh. Both battalions then moved to Rhyl to join 129 Brigade, 43rd (Welsh) Division and to carry out their basic training, although guns, uniform and equipment were in short supply. David took ill whilst at Rhyl and was taken to Meadowslea Hospital, at Penyffordd, Flintshire, where he died on 10 April 1915. The remains of the 27-year-old were brought home and he was buried four days later in St. Dogfan’s Churchyard, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.
Thomas Humphreys, Private, 203688, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was the son of David and Jane Humphreys, of Tanygraig, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a farm labourer prior to enlisting into the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham and was initially placed on the Army Reserve. Thomas was mobilised on 18 January 1917, joining the battalion at Alderburgh and after completing his training, he embarked for Egypt on 17 July 1917 and disembarked at Alexandria on 29 July. Thomas was then posted to the 1/6th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division had seen heavy fighting at Gallipoli in 1915 and during the early months of 1917 had taken part in the unsuccessful First and Second Battles of Gaza as part of the Egyptian Expeditionary Force. The EEF then suffered a change in leadership, with Sir Edmund Allenby assuming command, before being re-organised, and a third offensive was launched against a wider front from Beersheba to Gaza on 31 October 1917. This time the Turkish defences were breached, and the road to Jerusalem now lay open and the EEF began to advance north. On 6 November 1917, 158 Brigade launched an attack on the Khuweilfeh Heights. Thomas was killed in action during the assault that day. The 21-year-old is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.
Arthur Emlyn Jones, Deck Hand, 5097SD, Royal Naval Reserve. Arthur was born on 17 October 1897, the son of John and Sarah Jane Jones, of Llanrhaiadr-ym-Mochnant. His parents died when he was young, so Arthur was raised at The Royal Orphanage, Penn Road, Wolverhampton. On 19 July 1916 he enlisted into the Royal Navy and was posted to HMS Pembroke I for training. On 12 August 1916 Arthur was transferred to the Royal Naval Reserve and served aboard HM Trawler Destiny. Arthur must have been based in Malta at some time, as he was married to Jennie Evans, who lived on the island at Sleima. He returned to Britain on demobilisation leave after the Armistice but contracted influenza, so was taken to the 1st Southern General Hospital at Birmingham for treatment. Arthur died of pneumonia there on 7 February 1919. The remains of the 21-year-old were brought home for burial in St. Thomas’ Churchyard, Pennant.
David Jones, Private, 9724, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. David was born at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant in 1891, the son of William and Mary Jones. His parents had also been born in the town, but by 1894 moved to 15, Penylan Lane, Oswestry after William had opened up his own boot and shoe making business in the town. David worked as a labourer prior to enlisting into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry at some time prior to the war. He was in India with the 2nd Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry when war erupted. The battalion then sailed from Bombay for Britain on 13 October 1914, landing at Plymouth and moved to Winchester to join 80 Brigade, 27th Division. On 21 December 1914 David landed in France with the battalion, which moved to the Ypres Salient with the Division, before taking over a section of the line near Dickebusch by 9 January 1915. The Division enjoyed a relatively peaceful start to its time at Ypres, with its infantry battalions rotating for duty in the front line over the coming weeks. However, on 14 March 1915, the Germans fired two large underground mines at St Eloi before launching an infantry assault, capturing the village and the Mound, a spoil heap about 30 feet high to the south. The 2nd KSLI had been in rest billets at Westoutre when the Germans attacked, and the battalion was rushed back into the line to carry out a counterattack. By the end of the month the Division moved slightly north, marching to the city of Ypres, before taking over a new sector at Polygon Wood, with support dug outs in Bellewaarde Wood. On 22 April 1915 the Germans launched a cloud of poison gas against a section of the line just to the north of the 27th Division, at Gravenstafel, which was held by French Colonial troops and the terrified Frenchmen fled in terror. A large gap opened up in the line and the Canadian Corps was ordered forward to plug it. This terrible day, the first use of poison gas during the war, heralded the opening of the Second Battle of Ypres. While fierce fighting raged here over the coming days, the 27th Division was scarcely involved, until 5 May 1915 when the Polygon Wood sector was bombarded by artillery and gas shells. David was killed in action during the bombardment that day. The 23-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. David is not commemorated on the Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant war memorial.
David Charles Jones, Private, G/24809, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). David was the son of Daniel and Annie Jones, of Buarthre, Maengwynedd, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He enlisted into the Welsh Horse Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of war. The battalion had formed in August 1914 in Glamorgan under the administration of the Glamorgan TA Association with its headquarters at Cardiff. Later in the year transferred to the Montgomeryshire TA Association, moving its headquarters to Newtown and by early 1915 had joined the 1/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade, 1st Mounted Division in the Diss area of Norfolk. The 1st Mounted Division sailed from Liverpool in aboard the SS Olympic on 25 September and landed at Gallipoli. David was among a number of men of the Welsh Horse who remained in Britain, with the 2/1st Welsh Horse and was drafted to France, joining the 11th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). The battalion was attached to 122 Brigade, 41st Division and landed in France on 3 May 1916, moving to positions near Outtersteene before moving into the Ploegsteert Sector for trench initiation alongside the 9th (Scottish) Division. The Division remained here until August 1916, when it moved to the Somme, and took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, the first occasion that tanks were used in action. The Division remained in the line, pushing on to Courcelette over the next few days before coming out for a rest and re-fit. It then fought at the Battle of Le Transloy, before moving back to positions south of Ypres, at St. Eloi, in 1917. Here the Division took part in the Battle of Messines on 7 June 1917. The Division moved out of the line at the end of the month to undergo a scheme of training before going back into the line at the Spoil Bank by 24 July, in preparation for the forthcoming Passchendaele offensive. At dawn on 31 July 1917 the offensive opened, and the 11th Queen’s Own launched an attack on Hollebeke. The attack was successful, but the battalion had suffered heavy losses due to the flanking battalions being unable to advance and suffered over 330 casualties during the day. Among the casualties was David, who had been killed during the assault. The 27-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
David Owen Jones, Private, 4710, The King’s (Liverpool Regiment). David was the son of Thomas Edward Jones and Grace Jones, of 1, Waterfall Street, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He lived at Liscard Road, Wavertree, Liverpool prior to the war, where he worked as a joiner. David enlisted at Liverpool into the 3/6th Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) on 1 June 1915 and was posted to Oswestry for training. On 18 November 1915 he embarked for France and five days later joined the 10th (Scottish) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment), which was attached to 9 Brigade, 3rd Division and was holding the St. Eloi sector, south of Ypres. Holding the line opposite was a Saxon Regiment, which the war diary noted was exceptionally quiet, however conditions were terrible, with the weather wet and cold and the trenches muddy and waterlogged. On 19 December David took ill and was admitted to the 7th Field Ambulance suffering from influenza. He was then sent to the 10th Casualty Clearing Station where his condition worsened, so he was sent to No 1 Canadian General Hospital, Étaples, where he died of jaundice on 30 December 1915. The 22-year-old was buried in Étaples Military Cemetery, France.
David William Jones, Private, 54411, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. David was the son of David and Mary Ellen Jones, of River Passage, Church Street, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a cowman at Caemawr Farm, Llanrhaeadr prior to enlisting at Welshpool into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry and was posted to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training. David was drafted to France in the summer of 1916, among a large draft of reinforcements transferred to the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 76 Brigade, 3rd Division. The Division had moved to the Somme sector by 2 July. The main Somme offensive had opened on the previous day, and the 3rd Division was ready to enter the fray, bivouacking at Bronfay Farm by 9 July and on 13 July moved into the captured German lines at Montauban Alley. The 10th RWF took part in heavy fighting over the coming days, and on 19 July received orders for an assault on Delville Wood. Just after midnight the following day the battalion moved forwards and became caught in in terrible fighting within the wood, the fighting of such severity that two men of the battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross. On 25 July the shattered battalion was relieved and moved into reserve and did not move back into the line until 17 August, when the battalion attacked Lonely Trench. On 23 August the Division moved out of the line to rest and moved to Noeux-les-Mines, near Loos. After a month there, the Division moved back into a rest area for further training before moving back south to the Somme and by 12 November took over trenches at Serre. On the following day, 13 November 1916, the Division launched an assault against the German positions at Serre. The 10th RWF reached Serre village, but the flanking battalions failed to keep up, and heavy losses were suffered, with almost 300 officers and men killed, wounded, or missing. David was killed during the assault that day. The 24-year-old is buried in Queens Cemetery, Puisieux, France.
Edward Jones, Private, 355093, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Edward was the son of John and Margaret jones, of Park Street, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He had served during the Boer War in South Africa with the South Wales Borderers and after leaving the army returned home. Edward was working as a labourer at Llanrhaeadr when he enlisted into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Llanfyllin on 20 March 1913. On 5 August 1914 the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was mobilised at Welshpool, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, before moving via Hereford to Thetford, to join the 1st Mounted Division. On 4 March 1916 the 1st Mounted Division sailed for Egypt to join the EEF. On 4 March 1917 the battalion merged with the Welsh Horse Yeomanry to form the 25th (Montgomery & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as part of the newly formed 231 Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division assembled in Egypt as part of the EEF, before crossing the Suez Canal into the Sinai, and saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Gaza. The battle was a failure, and the EEF was re-organised under a new commander, Sir Edmund Allenby, before launching the Third Battle of Gaza on the night of 31 October 1917. This assault was launched along a winder front, running from Gaza to Beersheba, and this time the EEF prevailed, opening the door to Jerusalem. The Division then took part in the drive north into Syria, but as a result of the heavy losses suffered in France, following the launching of the three German Spring offensives from 21 March 1918, was sent to France, landing in Marseilles on 7 May 1918. The Division underwent a system of training, to prepare it for the vastly different conditions on the Western Front, before taking over a section of the front in the St. Floris Sector. On 30 May Edward was given 30 days leave, his first since going overseas, and on 2 July re-joined the 25th RWF. In September the Division moved south to the Somme sector, to join the great offensive, and on 18 September took part in an assault on positions near Lempire and Ronssoy, which formed part of the outer defensive line for the Hindenburg Line. Edward was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 48-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Haucourt, France.
Evan Jones, Private, 17297, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Evan was the son of Evan and Elizabeth Jones, of Rhydhir, Brithdir. He worked in South Wales prior to the war and enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Abertridwr soon after war was declared. Evan was probably posted to the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Litherland Camp, Liverpool for training then early in 1916 was drafted to France, joining the 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 22 Brigade, 7th Division and was holding a section of front line at Bois Francais, near Fricourt. The battalion contained several officers who would later become well known war poets and authors: men of the likes of Siegfried Sassoon; Robert Graves; and Bernard Adams, so its history is exceptionally well documented. The sector was a very hostile one and was also subject to underground warfare, the result of some of which is still surviving today in the forms of craters and old trenches. The 7th Division took part in the opening assault of the Somme offensive on 1 July 1916, advancing from positions near Bois Francais, near Fricourt, and capturing the village of Mametz, one of the few successes of 1 July 1916. The 1st RWF received a large draft of reinforcements on the following day, to make up for the heavy losses and then took part in further attacks to push forwards, to the south of Mametz Wood from 4 July, attacking Quadrangle Trench; Wood Trench; and Strip Trench and the 1st RWF had orders to consolidate along the southern face of Mametz Wood. On the night of 4/5 July the attacking troops moved up to Bottom Wood and at dawn on 5 July 1916 launched their assault. Quadrangle Trench was soon captured but the attack failed to gain its main objective. Evan was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 22-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Evan Thomas Jones, Private, 291390, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Evan was the son of Thomas and Ann Jones, of 24, High Street, Llanfyllin. He worked as a cowman at Llanrhaeadr prior to the war. Evan enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llanfyllin on 11 December 1915, and was posted to the 3/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training. He embarked for Egypt at Devonport on 3 July 1916, and after disembarking at Alexandria ten days later, was posted to the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division had been evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, moving to Egypt to join the EEF, and helped guard the Suez Canal before taking part in operations to drive the Turks out of the Sinai. The EEF then turned its attention onto driving the Turks out of Palestine, and on 26 March 1917 launched its first offensive against the coastal city of Gaza, which guarded the road to Jerusalem. Initial gains during the day were lost when the assaulting divisions lost touch with one another, and communication broke down when a thick fog cloaked the battlefield. Evan was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 24-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
John Jones, Lance Corporal, 19078, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. John was the son of Robert and Sarah Jones, of Ta Glas, Llanrhaeadr. He lived at 27, Chirk Green, Chirk prior to the war, where he worked as a coalminer. John enlisted into the 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham soon after the outbreak of war. The battalion was raised at Llandudno by the Welsh National Executive Committee from a cadre from the 13th Battalion, joining 128 Brigade, 43rd (Welsh) Division and trained in North Wales before moving to Winchester in the summer of 1915, where the formation became renumbered 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to France on 2 December 1915 and moved to the Nursery Sector near Fleurbaix for trench initiation alongside the Guards Division. The Division then held a sector of the line near Cuinchy before marching south to the Somme sector in June 1916 to take part in the assault on Mametz Wood. The first attack on the wood was launched on a two-battalion front on 7 July, but failed, and the Divisional Commander, Sir Ivor Philipps, was replaced before the Division attacked again on a two Brigade front on 10 July 1916. John was killed in action inside the wood on the following day, 11 July 1916. The 22-year-old is buried in Flatiron Copse Cemetery, Mametz, France. He is also commemorated on the Chirk war memorial.
John Jones, Private, S/17888, Gordon Highlanders. John was the son of John and Mary Jones, of Llwyn-Onn, Penybontfawr. He worked on his parent’s farm prior to enlisting into the army at Welshpool soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Gordon Highlanders. The battalion was in France, serving as the Pioneer Battalion to the 15th (Scottish) Division. John does not appear to have served with the battalion for long before being transferred to the 1st Battalion, Gordon Highlanders, which was attached to 76 Brigade, 3rd Division. The Division had seen heavy fighting on the Somme in 1916, then during 1917 fought at the Battle of Arras before moving to Ypres, where it fought throughout the Passchendaele offensive. In November the Division moved south and fought at the Battle of Cambrai, remaining in the sector over the winter. The Division was hit hard following the launching of the German Spring offensive on 21 March 1918 and saw heavy fighting as it was forced to withdraw over the coming days. The battered Division was moved to Flanders to rebuild but unfortunately became caught up in more terrible fighting when the Germans launched the second phase of their offensive to the Lys valley on 9 April 1918 and saw more heavy fighting over the coming weeks. The Division held the line near Hinges throughout the summer of 1918, remaining here until the Allies launched their great offensive along the Western Front on 21 August 1918. The 3rd Division attacked the Germans from the direction of Ayette, on the left flank of the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division and over the coming days captured Gomiecourt, Douchy and Écoust, whilst driving towards the Canal du Nord and the Hindenburg Line. On 23 October 1918 the 1st Gordon Highlanders attacked and captured the village of Romeries. John was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 27-year-old is buried in Romeries Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
John Lloyd Jones, Lance Sergeant, 904, Australian Infantry. John was the son of John Lloyd Jones and Margaret Wilcox Jones, of Eirianfa, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He emigrated to Australia in 1913 and became a grocer and baker in Perth. John enlisted into the Australian Infantry at Perth on 7 January 1916 and on the following month was posted to the newly raised 44th Battalion, AIF. The Battalion was raised at Claremont, Western Australia in February 1916, as part of the 11th Brigade, 3rd Australian Division. John sailed with the battalion from Australia on 6 June 1916 for Britain for further training. The battalion arrived in France on 27 November and entered the front-line trenches of the Western Front for the first time on 29 December. The Battalion spent the bleak winter of 1916-17 alternating between service in the front line, and training and labouring in the rear areas. On 3 February 1917 the battalion moved into the front line at Armentieres to begin a routine tour in the trenches and was relieved three days later, becoming engaged on working parties. On 15 February the battalion moved back into the front line to begin another tour. On the following day, 16 February 1917, John, by now a Sergeant, was in the line with the battalion when a German ‘pineapple’ grenade landed near him and exploded, killing him instantly. The remains of the 24-year-old were buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
Oswald Henry Jones, Lance Corporal, 115282, Machine Gun Corps. Oswald was the son of David and Elizabeth Jones, of Bronynant, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He enlisted into the army at Frodsham and was initially posted to the Herefordshire Regiment. Oswald married Elizabeth Mary Hopkins at Tenbury, Worcester in January 1918, but in February was drafted to France, joining the newly formed 35th Battalion, Machine Gun Corps, which was attached to the 35th Division and joined the battalion at Elverdinghe. To the south the Germans launched a huge offensive on 21 March 1918 along a section of front running south from Croisilles to La Fère and had broken through, during the thinly stretched Allies back over the coming days. As a result, on 23 March the 35th Division entrained at Rousbrugge for Mericourt-L’Abbe, on the Somme, and marched via Morlancourt and Bray to Suzanne, towards the battle area, to reinforce the line there, taking up positions between Hardecourt and Curlu. The Division then became caught up in the heavy fighting over the coming days, before the Germans were stopped near Albert. The Division then held the line near Dernancourt over the coming weeks, while German attention turned away from the Somme to the Lys Valley on 9 April and the line settled down. Oswald was wounded during a spell in the line in the Aveluy sector during June and was evacuated to a Casualty Clearing Station at Gézaincourt, where he died of his wounds on 22 June 1918. The 27-year-old is buried in Bagneux British Cemetery, Gézaincourt, France.
Pryce Edward Jones, Private, 37688, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Pryce was the son of William and Mary Kate Jones, of Scrwgan, Llangedwyn. He lived at Llansilin Road Station, Oswestry prior to the war, and worked as a coal agent. Pryce enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llanrhaeadr on 15 December 1915, and was posted to Litherland Camp, Liverpool for training. On 15 December 1916, Pryce embarked for France, and was posted to the 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division was in the Canal Bank sector at Boesinghe, where it had been posted following its assault on Mametz Wood in July 1916. The infantry battalions of the Division then began carrying out the normal pattern of rotation in the trenches, four days in the front, four in support and four in reserve, whilst also working on trench improvement, digging new trenches, and also carrying out regular patrols and trench raids. On 31 July 1917 the Division launched its famous assault on the Pilckem Ridge, capturing Iron Cross and reaching its objective of the Steenbeek. Pryce was killed in action on the following day, 1 August 1917. The 22-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.
R. Jones. This man cannot presently be identified, but he resided at Canol Aren, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.
Raymond John Jones, Lieutenant, Royal Army Medical Corps. Raymond was the son of Richard Bellis Jones and Hannah Jones, of the Post Office, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He trained as a Doctor at the University of Wales, Cardiff and practised at Brymbo, Denbighshire and then at Cardiff prior to the war. Following the outbreak of war Raymond enlisted into the newly formed 129th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps, as a Private. He was soon promoted to Sergeant, but being a doctor, was then commissioned as Second Lieutenant. The 129th Field Ambulance had been formed as part of the newly raised 43rd (Welsh) Division. The Division trained in North Wales, becoming renumbered to the 38th (Welsh) Division early in 1915, then moved to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester to complete its training. The Division began to embark for France from 1 December 1915 and moved to the Nursery Sector near Fleurbaix for trench initiation alongside the Guards Division. The Division then held a sector of the line near Cuinchy before marching south to the Somme sector in June 1916 to take part in the assault on Mametz Wood. The first attack on the wood was launched on a two-battalion front on 7 July, but failed, and the Divisional Commander, Sir Ivor Philipps, was replaced before the Division attacked again on a two Brigade front on 10 July 1916. The number of wounded men soon overwhelmed the Field Ambulances and Raymond, hearing of the terrible carnage in front of the wood, advanced into the thick of the fight and began treating the wounded where they lay on the battlefield. Raymond was working across the open field to the south of the wood, known as Death Valley, and was some 20 yards from the edge of the wood when he was shot in the lung and left thigh. He was carried into the cover of the wood by one of his men who dressed his wounds, but Raymond died 20 minutes later. The body of the gallant 39-year-old was carried back behind the lines and he was laid to rest in Carnoy Military Cemetery, France, in a ceremony taken by the Reverend James Evans. He is also commemorated on the Cardiff University war memorial.
Richard Thomas Jones, Private, CH/2278(S), Royal Marine Light Infantry. Richard was born at Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant on 15 September 1894, the son of John Jones. His father was a blacksmith, and the family was living at 46, Leta Street, Birkenhead when war erupted. Richard had also trained as a blacksmith before enlisting at Liverpool into the Royal Marines on 23 March 1917. He was posted to Deal, joining the Chatham Division for training before being posted to the 4th Royal Marines Battalion, Royal Marine Light Infantry. Richard’s battalion was chosen to be part of a strong Royal Naval landing party to take part in an innovative plan, to attack and block the Belgian port of Zeebrugge in order to stop the use of the port by enemy submarines. The plan was to sink several obsolete ships in the harbour to block the canal entrance and also to destroy the lock gates of the canal. An attempt to raid Zeebrugge was made on 2 April 1918 but was cancelled at the last moment, after the wind direction changed and made it impossible to lay a smokescreen to cover the ships. Another attempt was made on 23 April 1918, with a simultaneous attack on Ostend. The operation was led by the cruiser HMS Vindictive, which had aboard her a force of 200 Royal Marines, however she was forced to land in the wrong place after taking heavy fire from the German coastal batteries. Two of the three planned block ships were sunk, but not in the correct place, and the assault soon turned to disaster, with the attacking force suffering heavy casualties before being forced to retire. Richard was 23 years old when he was killed during the landing. His body was brought back aboard ship to England, before being returned home for burial in St. Dogfan’s Churchyard, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant.
Robert John Jones, Private, 39402, East Lancashire Regiment. Robert was the son of John and Martha Jones, of Pandy Coed, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He enlisted into the Training Reserve and was initially posted to the King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Robert was drafted to France in the winter of 1917-18, joining the 2nd Battalion, East Lancashire Regiment, which was in the Ypres Salient, attached to 24 Brigade, 8th Division. In February 1918 the British Army was re-organised, due mainly to lack of men, and each infantry brigade lost a battalion, with the excess men being used as drafts for other units. As a result, the 2nd East Lancs transferred to 25 Brigade, in the same 8th Division. On 17 January the Division entrained at St. Jan Station for Caestre and marched to billets in Eecke where the Division was inspected by Sir Douglas Haig soon afterwards. After a brief period out of the line resting and refitting, on 11 February the Division entrained at Godewaersvelde and went back into the line in the Ypres Salient, but by the middle of March the Division moved out of the front line again to positions around St. Omer. On 21 March 1918 the Germans launched an overwhelming offensive against the section of Western Front running south from Croisilles to La Fère and broke through. As a result, the 8th Division was ordered to move south and by 22 March detrained at Rosieres before marching eight miles to Chaulne where the Division spent the night. On the following morning, 23 March 1918, the Division embussed for the battle area and took over a defensive position near Bertincourt, along the canal bank. Robert was killed in action that day. The 19-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Pozieres Memorial, France.
Thomas Ellis Jones, Gunner, 215042, Royal Field Artillery. Thomas was the son of Edward and Mary Jones, of Nant-y-Wern, Penybontfawr. He worked as a farm labourer prior to the war. Thomas enlisted into the Royal Field Artillery at Dolgellau, and after completing his training, was posted to France to join B Battery, 76th Brigade, Royal Field Artillery, which was attached to the 16th (Irish) Division. On 19 January 1917 the brigade left the division and became an Army Brigade, moving to the Arras sector, to support the forthcoming Battle of Arras. During May 1917 the Battery moved north, to Kemmel, and the following month supported the Allied assault on Messines Ridge. Following the end of the battle, the Battery moved to Proven, and sent its guns for overhaul, before setting up new gun positions at Brielen, in order to support the forthcoming Third Battle of Ypres, which was launched on 31 July 1917, and supported the assault of the 38th (Welsh) Division on the Pilckem Ridge. The Battery remained at Ypres as the battle dragged on, covering whichever Divisions needed artillery support. On 4 October 1917 the Battery was in position at Navara Farm, supporting another infantry assault, when Thomas and another gunner were killed by German counter-battery fire. Thomas was 24 years old when he was killed that day, and is buried in Cement House Cemetery, Belgium.
William Arthur Jones, Private, 54409, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was the son of David and Jane Jones, of Caxton House, Rhosymedre, Ruabon. He was orphaned soon afterwards and went to live with his aunt, Anne Jones, at Plas Terrace, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. William enlisted into the 3/1st Battalion, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training. He was drafted to France in the summer of 1916 among a large draft of reinforcements for the 10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The battalion was attached to 76 Brigade, 3rd Division and had suffered terrible losses in Delville Wood from 19 July to 25 July, where two men of the battalion were awarded the Victoria Cross. On 25 July the shattered battalion was relieved and moved into reserve and did not move back into the line until 17 August, when the battalion attacked Lonely Trench. On 23 August the Division moved out of the line to rest and moved to Noeux-les-Mines, near Loos. After a month there, the Division moved back into a rest area for further training before moving back south to the Somme and by 12 November took over trenches at Serre. On the following day, 13 November 1916, the Division launched an assault against the German positions at Serre. The 10th RWF reached Serre village, but the flanking battalions failed to keep up, and heavy losses were suffered, with almost 300 officers and men killed, wounded, or missing. William was among the men posted as missing during the assault but had in fact been wounded and taken prisoner by the Germans. He was sent to Cambrai where he was hospitalised, but died there of his wounds soon afterwards, on 17 November 1916. The 16-year-old is buried in Porte-De-Paris Cemetery, Cambrai, France.
William Lewis, Private, 355347, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was the son of Richard and Margaret Lewis, of Berwyn Terrace, Llangynog. He married Catherine Anne Lewis prior to the war and the couple lived at Wildings, Sweeney Mountain, Llynclys. William enlisted into the 1st Battalion, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Welshpool on 3 May 1915. The battalion had mobilised at Welshpool in August 1914, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, before moving via Hereford to Thetford, to join the 1st Mounted Division. On 4 March 1916 the 1st Mounted Division sailed for Egypt to join the EEF. On 4 March 1917 the battalion merged with the Welsh Horse Yeomanry to form the 25th (Montgomery & Welsh Horse Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, as part of the newly formed 231 Brigade, 74th (Yeomanry) Division. The Division assembled in Egypt as part of the EEF, before crossing the Suez Canal into the Sinai, and saw its first major action during the Second Battle of Gaza. The battle was a failure, and the EEF was re-organised under a new commander, Sir Edmund Allenby, before launching the Third Battle of Gaza on the night of 31 October 1917. William was killed in action during the opening assault of the battle that day. The 33-year-old is buried in Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel. One of his brothers, Thomas, died the following year, while a third brother, Richard, died in 1919, both as a result of illness incurred during the war.
John Evan Lloyd, Private, 12247, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. John was the son of John Lewis Lloyd and Elizabeth Lloyd, of Ffores, Uchaf, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a farm servant at Llangedwyn prior to the war. John enlisted at Oswestry into the 6th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry soon after the outbreak of war. The battalion formed at Shrewsbury before joining 60 Brigade, 20th (Light) Division at Aldershot, then in April 1915 moved to Larkhill, Salisbury Plain to complete its training. On 22 July 1915 the battalion landed at Boulogne, and the entire Division moved to the St. Omer area, before being sent to the Outtersteene area, before taking over a section of the front at Sailly, in the Fleurbaix sector, for instruction alongside the 8th Division. When the Battle of Loos was launched on 25 September 1915 the Division fought a diversionary attack towards Fromelles. By March 1916 the Division had moved north and took over a section of the line in front of Elverdinghe Chateau, near La Belle Alliance, on the Canal Bank. The Division was relieved in April and moved to the Wormhoudt area for training, before returning to Ypres and taking over the Railway Wood sector by 25 May. On 2 June the Germans opened up a massive artillery barrage, combined with gas shells, along this section of the front line, before launching on infantry attack, aimed with capturing the Canadian positions at Hill 62 and Mount Sorrel. The 6th KSLI was in the front line when the battle opened, but their section of the line was not involved, and on the following day the battalion was relieved, moving back into reserve, while to their immediate south, the Canadians counter attacked. Fighting raged for several days, and the front line came under heavy artillery fire at various times. John was killed whilst on a working party in the front line near Railway Wood on 7 April 1916. The 22-year-old is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
William Thomas Lloyd, Private, 290866, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was the son of John and Margaret Ann Lloyd, of Glanrafon, Llangedwyn. He worked as a farm labourer at Llanrhaeadr prior to the war. William enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llansantffraid on 25 November 1914. The battalion was a Territorial unit, which mobilised for war at Newtown in August 1914, as part of North Wales Brigade, Welsh Division and moved to Conway until the end of the month, before moving to Northampton. In December the Division moved to Cambridge and then in May 1915 to Bedford, where the Division was numbered and the formation became 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. On 19 July 1915 the entire Division sailed from Devonport for Imbros and on 9 August 1915 landed at Suvla Bay. The infantry moved off the beaches into the bush, but due to a lack of maps and no knowledge of the terrain, many of the units became disorientated, and the situation became chaotic. The Division was eventually evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, moving to Egypt to join the EEF, and helped guard the Suez Canal before taking part in operations to drive the Turks out of the Sinai. The EEF then turned its attention onto driving the Turks out of Palestine, and on 26 March 1917 launched its first offensive against the coastal city of Gaza, which guarded the road to Jerusalem. Initial gains during the day were lost when the assaulting divisions lost touch with each other, and communication broke down when a thick fog cloaked the battlefield. William was killed in action during the fighting that day. The 25-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
John James Morris, Private, 17038, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. John was the son of William and Sarah Jane Morris, of Nantyrangell, Llangynog. He enlisted at Shrewsbury into the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry soon after the outbreak of war and was drafted to France on 1 September 1915, joining the 1st Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, which was attached to 16 Brigade, 6th Division. John joined the battalion in billets at Poperinghe on 4 September. Six days later the battalion went back into the front line in the Potijze Sector, to begin a routine spell in the trenches, John’s first experience of such. The Division remained in the Ypres Salient over the coming months, moving to the Hooge Sector by 23 October then to the Canal Bank by January 1916. On 2 August 1916 the Division entrained at Poperinghe for the Somme, to join the great offensive there which had been launched on 1 July, and by around 11 August took over a section of the front-line facing Beaumont Hamel. The Division then took part in the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, which saw the first use of tanks in action, and then at the Battle of Morval and the Battle of Le Transloy. On 19 October the Division was relieved, moving back to Flanders, and billeted at Bethune before taking over a new section of front line at Le Plantin, west of Givenchy. During December the Division took over the Vermelles Sector, then held the Loos sector. At 02.45 on 4 June 1917 the 1st KSLI, in the front line at Hulluch, sent out a trench raiding party of two officers and 40 other ranks, which split into five parties and entered the German lines, killing a number in the attempt to identify their regiment and blowing in two deep dugouts. John was badly wounded during the raid and was carried back but died later that day. The 21-year-old is buried in Philosophe British Cemetery, Mazingarbe, France.
Robert Morris, Private, 291069, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Morris, of Powis Terrace, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a servant at Gwynfa prior to the war. Robert enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llanrhaeadr soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to Park Hall Camp, Oswestry for training. He was drafted to Egypt early in 1916, joining the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division had been evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, moving to Egypt to join the EEF, and helped guard the Suez Canal before taking part in operations to drive the Turks out of the Sinai. The EEF then turned its attention onto driving the Turks out of Palestine, and on 26 March 1917 launched its first offensive against the coastal city of Gaza, which guarded the road to Jerusalem. Initial gains during the day were lost when the assaulting divisions lost touch with each other, and communication broke down when a thick fog cloaked the battlefield. Robert was killed in action during the terrible fighting that day. The 29-year-old is buried in Gaza War Cemetery. His brother William was killed in France in 1918.
Thomas Morris, Private, 1200, Welsh Horse Yeomanry. Thomas was the son of Henry and Jane Morris, of Frondeg Uchaf, Llanfyllin. He enlisted at Newtown into the Welsh Horse Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of war. The Welsh Horse had formed in Glamorgan in August 1914, under the administration of the Glamorgan T.F. Association with its headquarters at Cardiff. Later in the year the regiment transferred to the Montgomeryshire T.F. Association with its headquarters moving to Newtown. By early 1915 the 1st Battalion, Welsh Horse joined the 1/1st North Midland Mounted Brigade, 1st Mounted Division in the Diss area of Norfolk. During February 1915 the battalion transferred to the 1/1st Eastern Mounted Brigade, 1st Mounted Division in the Woodbridge area. The Division dismounted and in September 1915 sailed aboard the SS Olympic for Gallipoli, landing at Anzac Cove on 25 September where the Welsh Horse became attached to the 54th Division. Thomas did not embark with the battalion for Gallipoli, but following its evacuation from the Peninsula in December 1915, he embarked for Egypt to join the battalion on the Suez Canal Defences. Thomas had not been in Egypt long when he took ill, and he died of fever at Suez on 14 April 1916. The 25-year-old is buried in Suez War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
William Morris, Private, 203092, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Morris, of Powis Terrace, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked at Ruabon Brickworks prior to the war. William enlisted into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Llanbrynmair soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to Norfolk. He later transferred to the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, before being drafted to France in the winter of 1917-18 and was posted to the 1/4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was the Pioneer Battalion to the 47th (2nd London) Division. Early in 1917 the Division had moved north from the Somme to Belgium and took part in the Battle of Messines in June 1917. The Division then moved south and in November 1917 fought at the Battle of Cambrai, wintering in the St. Quentin area, with the 4th RWF stationed near Ruyaulcourt. On 24 February 1918 the 4th RWF moved to Lechelles and began work in the battle zone, wiring the Metz Switch and New Switch. By now it was common knowledge that the Germans were planning an offensive as there was so much activity behind the Germans lines that it was hard to believe otherwise. Nonetheless, the 4th RWF continued its hard work in the area over the coming weeks, knowing that the Germans could attack at any minute. Suddenly at dawn on 21 March 1918, in thick mist, a terrific artillery bombardment opened up on the Allies lined on a sector of the Western Front running south from Croisilles to La Fère, which was followed by an assault by highly trained stormtroopers. The 4th RWF was ordered to move forwards to the battle area at Metz, taking over a section of trenches around the village. Apart from the continuous artillery fire, the 4th RWF remained untouched and on the following morning advanced to join the remainder of the Division on the Dessart Ridge, SE of Metz. By now heavy fighting was raging and the Division began to withdraw towards Lechelles, but during the afternoon the enemy broke through and the situation became even worse. William was killed in action during the continued withdrawal on the following day, 23 March 1918. The 22-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. His brother Robert was killed in Palestine in 1917.
William Thomas Morris, Private, 200844, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. William was the son of John and Mary Ann Morris, of Pentrefelin, Llangedwyn. He worked as a farm labourer prior to the war. William enlisted into the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Wrexham and after completing his training was drafted to France in the winter of 1916-17, joining the 1/4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was the Pioneer Battalion to the 47th (2nd London) Division. William joined the battalion at the Pioneer Camp, some 2,000 yards north of Dickebusch, near Ypres, where the battalion was carrying out work near Larch Wood and Railway Dugouts. Over the coming months the battalion also began work at Railway Dugouts, laying light railway tracks and excavating dugouts in preparation for the forthcoming Passchendaele offensive which was planned to be launched on 31 July 1917. In the meantime, the 4th RWF toiled away over the months building up to the great battle, suffering casualties on a regular basis, usually from artillery fire. Just to the south on 7 June 1917 the Allies launched a major offensive on Messines Ridge, which was heralded by the blowing of a series of huge underground mines. The 47th Division took part in the assault and once the German lines had been captured, the 4th RWF began work on repairing roads in the newly captured areas around Oosthoek Farm. William was badly wounded whilst working on digging communication trenches towards the newly captured German front line on 10 June 1917 and died later that day. The 24-year-old is buried in Bedford House Cemetery, Belgium.
Oswald Lunt Owen, Gunner, 959, Royal Garrison Artillery. Oswald was the son of Reverend Lewis Owen, a Methodist Minister, and Rosamund Owen (nee Humphreys), of Bro Gain, Penybontfawr. He worked as a Drapers Assistant at Bangor prior to the war. Oswald enlisted into the 2/1st (Welsh) Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery at Bangor. The Battery was the second line unit to the original 1/1st (Caernarvonshire) Battery, RGA, which had been originally attached to the 53rd (Welsh) Division before embarking for France to join the BEF. The 2/1st Battery had been recruited to full strength by December 1914, joining the 68th (2nd Welsh) Division at Northampton in April 1915. The Division moved to Bedford in the summer to replace the 53rd (Welsh) Division upon its embarkation for Gallipoli. The 68th (2nd Welsh) Division was then allocated to Home Defence and joined the First Army (Home Forces) in Central Force, with its units quartered across Eastern England. Oswald suffered accidental injuries whilst training during March 1916 and was taken to Chelmsford Hospital in Essex, where he died of his injuries on 2 April 1916. The remains of the 29-year-old were brought home and he was buried in Horeb Methodist Chapelyard, Brithdir.
Edward Allen Phillips, Private, 54481, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Edward was the son of Ebenezer and Maria Phillips, of Bryngolen, Llangedwyn. He worked as a waggoner prior to the war. Edward enlisted at Newtown into the Welsh Horse Yeomanry soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to Yoxford to join the 2/1st Battalion, Welsh Horse. He was drafted to France in the winter of 1916-17, joining the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. Edward joined the battalion on the Canal Bank at Boesinghe, where it had moved to following its epic assault on Mametz Wood in July 1916. The infantry battalions of the Division then began carrying out the normal pattern of rotation in the trenches, four days in the front, four in support and four in reserve, whilst also working on trench improvement, digging new trenches, and also carrying out regular patrols and trench raids. On 31 July 1917 the Division launched its famous assault on the Pilckem Ridge, capturing Iron Cross and reaching its objective of the Steenbeek, then played a supporting role in the Battle of Langemarck. The Division was transferred to the Sailly-sur-la-Lys sector in September and remained in the area over the winter before being moved to positions north of Albert, at Bouzincourt Ridge, at the end of March 1918, relieving the battered 2nd and 47th Divisions. It held this sector, again carrying out minor operations and trench raids, over the coming months, before taking part in the great offensive of 21 August 1918, and began its advance towards the Hindenburg Line. Over the coming days the Division advanced across the old Somme battlefield of 1916, recapturing Thiepval, Pozieres, Mametz Wood and Bazentin, before taking Longueval and Delville Wood. Edward was wounded during the advance and died of his wounds at the 34th Casualty Clearing Station on 27 August 1918. The 22-year-old is buried in Fienvillers British Cemetery, France.
Milton Mial Richards, Private, 31467, South Wales Borderers. Milton was the son of John and Sarah Richards, of Bronhaul, Bwlchyddan, Llangedwyn. He enlisted into the army at Wrexham, and after completing his training was posted to France in the late summer of 1917, joining the 10th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was attached to 115 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. Milton probably joined the battalion after its epic assault on the Pilckem Ridge on 31 July 1917. The Division was transferred to the Sailly-sur-la-Lys sector in September and remained in the area over the winter before being moved to positions north of Albert, at Bouzincourt Ridge, at the end of March 1918, relieving the battered 2nd and 47th Divisions. It held this sector, again carrying out minor operations and trench raids, over the coming months, before taking part in the great offensive of 21 August 1918, and began its advance towards the Hindenburg Line. Over the coming days the Division advanced across the old Somme battlefield of 1916, recapturing Thiepval, Pozieres, Mametz Wood and Bazentin, before taking Longueval and Delville Wood. By 31 August the Division was held up in front of Lesboeufs, but on the following day the 2nd RWF and 17th RWF of 115 Brigade attacked and captured the ruined village, with the 10th SWB in support. Milton was killed in action on the following day, 2 September 1918, whilst the 10th SWB was advancing to a line near Sailly-Saillisel. The 20-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Vis-en-Artois Memorial, Haucourt, France.
Richard David Richards, Private, 235764, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Richard was the son of Edward and Elizabeth Richards, of Cefnhirfach, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked on his parent’s farm prior to the war. Richard enlisted into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry at Llanbrynmair on 10 September 1914 and was posted to Norfolk, joining the 2/1st Battalion, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. On 7 September 1916 Richard was transferred to the 4th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He embarked for France on 21 August 1916 and disembarked at Rouen the following day, joining the 5th Infantry Base Depot. On 31 August 1917 Richard was posted to the 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The battalion was at Ypres, attached to 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division and had just taken part in the assault on Pilckem Ridge, as part of the opening day of the Third Battle of Ypres. The Division had taken its objectives of Iron Cross and the Steenbeek, then played a supporting role in the Battle of Langemarck. The Division was transferred to the Sailly-sur-la-Lys sector in September, and remained in the area over the winter, holding the line in terrible conditions. During the opening days of March 1918, the 13th RWF was holding the front line here before being relieved by the 14th RWF and 3 March and went into reserve but carried on supplying working parties over the coming days. On 9 March 1918 the 13th RWF relieved the 14th RWF in the front line in the Armentieres Sector to begin another routine spell holding the trenches. Richard was killed during the relief that day. The 22-year-old is buried in Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentieres, France.
Thomas Roberts, Private, 291289, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Thomas was the son of Robert and Elizabeth Roberts, of Bwlchygraig, Llanfyllin. He worked on his parent’s farm prior to the war. Thomas enlisted into the 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Welshpool on 27 November 1915, and was posted to the 3/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Park Hall Camp, Oswestry. He embarked for Egypt on 30 May 1916, joining the 1/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was attached to 158 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division. The Division had been evacuated from Gallipoli in December 1915, moving to Egypt to join the EEF, and helped guard the Suez Canal before taking part in operations to drive the Turks out of the Sinai. The EEF then turned its attention onto driving the Turks out of Palestine, and on 26 March 1917 launched its first offensive against the coastal city of Gaza, which guarded the road to Jerusalem. Initial gains during the day were lost when the assaulting divisions lost touch with one another, and communication broke down when a thick fog cloaked the battlefield. A second attempt to force Gaza was launched on 17 April, which also failed, and the EEF suffered a change in leadership, with Sir Edmund Allenby assuming command, before being re-organised, and a third offensive was launched against a wider front from Beersheba to Gaza on 31 October 1917. This time the Turkish defences were breached, and the road to Jerusalem now lay open and the EEF began to advance north. On 6 November 1917, 158 Brigade launched an attack on the Khuweilfeh Heights. Thomas was killed in action during the assault that day. The 23-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel.
Idwal Rogers, Private, 1820, Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Idwal was the son of John Thomas Rogers and Mary Rogers, of Brynmelyn Farm, Cefn Coch, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He had enlisted into the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry as a young man and attended the annual TA summer camps in the years leading up to the war. On 5 August 1914 the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry was mobilised at Welshpool, as part of the South Wales Mounted Brigade, before moving via Hereford to Thetford, to join the 1st Mounted Division. On 4 March 1916 the 1st Mounted Division sailed for Egypt to join the EEF and help guard the Suez Canal against the threat of the Turks and of the Senussi tribesmen. Idwal had not been in Egypt long before he contracted dysentery and was taken to hospital at Cairo where he died of dysentery on 27 August 1916. The 23-year-old was buried in Cairo War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
Robert Vaughan, Private, 5744, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Robert was the son of Evan and Mary Vaughan, of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a general labourer at Llanrhaeadr prior to enlisting into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Welshpool soon after the outbreak of war. Robert was then posted to the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The battalion had formed at Wrexham in September 1914, before moving to Tidworth to join 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. On 19 July 1915 Evan landed in France with the battalion, and the entire 19th Division then moved to the Nursery Sector at Calonne for trench initiation alongside the Dehra Dun Brigade. The infantry battalions of the division then began carrying out the usual routines of rotating in the trenches: four days in the front line; four in support; and four in reserve, interspersed with training regimes and carrying out working parties and trench raids. Just south, the British launched a great offensive around the town of Loos on 25 September 1915, and the 19th Division was ordered to attack from its positions at the same time, to attempt to draw enemy attention away from the main battle area. The attacking battalions of the 19th Division were in place by 04.00, and then at 05.50 the men climbed out of their trenches to launch their assault, behind a gas and smoke screen. The assault was a disaster, and heavy casualties were suffered by the 19th Division for no gain. Robert was among the many men killed during the attack that day. The 40-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
John Thomas Williams, Driver, W/2704, Royal Field Artillery. John was the son of John and Mary Williams, of Tynewydd, Pedairffordd, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He worked as a coalminer at Treharris, in South Wales, prior to the war. John enlisted into the Welsh Divisional Royal Field Artillery at Treharris soon after the outbreak of war and was posted to C Battery, 122nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery. The battery was attached to the newly formed 43rd (Welsh) Division, one of two divisions planned to be raised to create a Welsh Army Corps, before moving to North Wales to begin its training. The Division moved to Winchester in the summer of 1915, where it was renumbered as the 38th (Welsh) Division. The Division moved to France on 2 December 1915 and moved to the Nursery Sector near Fleurbaix for trench initiation alongside the Guards Division. The Division then held a sector of the line near Cuinchy before marching south to the Somme sector in June 1916 to take part in the assault on Mametz Wood. The first attack on the wood was launched on a two-battalion front on 7 July, but failed, and the Divisional Commander, Sir Ivor Philipps, was replaced before the Division attacked again on a two Brigade front on 10 July 1916. After two days of ferocious hand-to-hand fighting, the wood was cleared up to its northern edge, before the battered Division was relieved. It then took over a section of the front at Hébuterne before moving to the Ypres Salient, and taking over the Canal Bank sector at Boesinghe. The infantry battalions of the Division then began carrying out the normal pattern of rotation in the trenches, four days in the front, four in support and four in reserve, whilst also working on trench improvement, digging new trenches, and also carrying out regular patrols and trench raids. On 31 July 1917 the Division launched its famous assault on the Pilckem Ridge, capturing Iron Cross and reaching its objective of the Steenbeek, then played a supporting role in the Battle of Langemarck. John was wounded during the latter battle and died of his wounds on 1 September 1917. The 24-year-old is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Jonathan Thomas Williams, Private, 54685, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Jonathan was born at Llanrhaeadr in 1888. He was adopted as a young child by William and Ann Powell, of Henfach Mill, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. Jonathan worked at Cefn Hirfawr Farm prior to the war. He enlisted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers at Llanrhaeadr and after completing his training was drafted to France in the winter of 1916-17, joining the 16th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. The battalion had moved to Ypres from Hébuterne in September 1917, taking over the Canal Bank sector at Boesinghe. The infantry battalions of the Division then began carrying out the normal pattern of rotation in the trenches, four days in the front, four in support and four in reserve, whilst also working on trench improvement, digging new trenches, and also carrying out regular patrols and trench raids. On the night of 4/5 April 1917 the 16th RWF relieved the 13th RWF in the front line, taking over the left section of the Brigades front. The battalion enjoyed a relatively quiet tour in the line before being relieved on the night of 8/9 April and moved into reserve positions. Jonathan was killed in action whilst on a working party during the following day, 9 April 1917. The 28-year-old is buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium.
William Ellis Williams, Able Seaman, R/4943, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. William was born on 17 July 1882, the son of Thomas and Harriet Williams, of Tynyceau, Llandyrnog. He was living at Berwynfa, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant prior to the war, where he ran a Drapery business with his brothers, and married Margaret Lydia Jones in the town in 1915. William enlisted into the army on 24 June 1916 and was placed on the Army Reserve. He was mobilised on 26 June 1917 and posted to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve for service with the Royal Naval Division. William was drafted to France on 30 October 1917 and joined Anson Battalion, RNVR, which was attached to the 63rd (Royal Naval) Division. The Division had just been withdrawn from the Ypres Salient when William joined Anson Battalion and was rebuilding following heavy fighting at Poelcapelle. William joined Anson Battalion at Brielen, where it was refitting, then on 5 November the battalion relieved Hood Battalion in the front-line facing Passchendaele Ridge. The battalion had a torrid few days in the line before being relieved by the 1st Welsh and the entire Division was then relieved before being transferred south to the Arras sector, taking over positions facing the Hindenburg Line near Metz. The Division then took part in the Battle of Cambrai and fought a famous action at Welch Ridge. William was wounded just before the battle, on 19 December 1917 and was evacuated to the 148th (Royal Naval) Field Ambulance. He re-joined Anson Battalion on 5 January 1918 but was then detached from the Battalion to the Town Major at Equancourt. William re-joined Anson Battalion on 28 March 1918. By then the 63rd Division had suffered terrible losses following the launching of the German Spring offensive of 21 March 1918 and every available man was needed to help stem the German advance. The Division then took over the line west of Aveluy Wood, facing Thiepval Ridge, where the German offensive had stalled. William was wounded in Aveluy Wood and was evacuated to the 37th Field Ambulance at Varennes, where he died of his wounds on 9 April 1918. The 35-year-old is buried in Varennes Military Cemetery, France.
World War Two, 1939-1945
John Alexander George Firth, Flight Sergeant, 986458, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was born on 27 June 1918, the son of Doctor Ian George McDonald Firth and Janet Firth, of Kingston, Garmouth, Morayshire, Scotland. His father had moved the family to Bron Heulog, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant prior to the war where he ran his own medical practise. John was educated at Aberdeen Grammar School prior to the family moving to Wales and became a Bank Clerk at the Oswestry branch of the Midland Bank. Following the outbreak of war, he enlisted into the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and trained as a Wireless Operator/ Air Gunner before being posted to 35 Squadron, RAF. The squadron was initially a training squadron but reformed at RAF Linton-on-Ouse on 5 November 1940 as the first Handley Page Halifax squadron. On 6 May 1942, John took off from Linton-on-Ouse aboard Handley Page Halifax II, Serial W1050, on a night bombing operation against Stuttgart. Some hours after take-off, John’s Halifax was intercepted and shot down by a night fighter, crashing at Libin, Luxembourg and killing five of her crew. John was 23 years old when he was killed during the crash and is buried alongside his fellow crewmen in Neufchateau Communal Cemetery, Belgium. His brother, Thorold Anderton Firth, also lost his life during the war.
Thorold Anderton Firth, Flight Sergeant, 1577811, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Thorold was the son of Doctor Ian George McDonald Firth and Janet Firth, of Kingston, Garmouth, Morayshire, Scotland. His father had moved the family to Bron Heulog, Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant prior to the war where he ran his own medical practise. Thorold was educated at Aberdeen and at Oswestry Grammar School prior to becoming a Bank Clerk, like his elder brother John, but at the Shrewsbury branch of the Midland Bank. Thorold had originally enlisted into the local Home Guards but joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve in 1941, training as a Navigator/ Bomber and was sent to South Africa to train under the Empire Air Training Scheme. He took ill whilst still in training and returned to Britain, dying of tuberculosis at home on 3 July 1944. The 22-year-old was buried in Oswestry General Cemetery. His elder brother, John, was killed whilst on a mission to Stuttgart two years earlier.
John Owen Jones, Gunner, 968668, Royal Artillery. John was the son of John Morris Jones and Elizabeth Jane Jones, of Canol Aren, Llangedwyn. He enlisted into the Royal Artillery, and was posted to the 60th Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, a Territorial unit. The two batteries of the regiment went to France in January 1940, and moved to Bois Grenier, near Armentieres. Following the German Blitzkrieg, the regiment saw much fighting, before being evacuated from Dunkirk. The regiment embarked for the Middle East in January 1941, and disembarked in Egypt, before one battery of the regiment was sent to Iraq. John was sent to Palmyra in Syria with 237 Battery of the regiment and took part in several actions against the Vichy French troops in the area. John was killed in Syria on 23 June 1941. The 24-year-old is buried in Damascus Commonwealth War Cemetery, Syria.
David Charles Morris, Ordinary Seaman, D/JX 652829, Royal Navy. David was born on 22 February 1926, the son of David Morris and Elizabeth Anne Morris (nee Evans), of Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant. He enlisted into the Royal Navy as a Boy Sailor and once he turned 18, was promoted to Able Seaman aboard the former Australian aircraft tender, HMS Albatross. Following her transfer to the Royal Navy in 1938 she was assigned to Freetown in western Africa and following the outbreak of war Albatross was used for convoy escort, anti-submarine warfare, and air-sea rescue in the Atlantic. In May 1942, Albatross was transferred to the Indian Ocean and provided air support for landings in Mayotte, during the Madagascan campaign. She returned to Britain in September 1943, where she was converted into a Landing Ship Engineering, to support the Normandy landings. Her initial role was as a decoy ship but two days after D-Day Albatross anchored off the Normandy coast to provide repair facilities. On 11 August 1944, Albatross was off Courseulles-sur-Mer, when she was struck by a torpedo which exploded, causing the deaths of 66 men, but she remained afloat. David was just 18 years old when he was killed by the explosion and is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.