Cilgerran War Memorial

The town of Cilgerran is sat alongside the River Teifi, on the northern edge of Pembrokeshire, bordering Ceredigion to the north. It is the home of Cilgerran Castle, an impressively sited Norman stronghold, which was built around 1100AD. At the gates to the castle are sited both of the towns War Memorials, commemorating the men of the locality who died in both World Wars of the Twentieth Century. Many thanks are due to Heather Tomos for the photographs of the memorial from where the transcriptions are taken, and for the help and additional information on the men, including some of the newspaper clippings.

The Great War, 1914-1918

David Beynon, Sapper, 201644, Royal Engineers. David was born in Ferryside, Carmarthenshire, and later moved with his elder brother to live at Cilgerran, where the two boys worked with their Uncle as Coopers. Here, David met and married his wife Esther Mary Beynon (nee Williams), and the young couple set up home at Castle Square, where they had two children together. Little is known of David’s service, but he joined the Royal Engineers, serving with the rank of Sapper throughout his time at war. Sadly, David became one of many men to suffer due to his military service, dying just 18 months after the Armistice on 9 June 1920. He was by then 36 years old, and left his widow and two children behind. David is buried at Cilgerran Churchyard.

David Davies, Private, 10227, Canadian Mounted Rifles. David was born on 31 May 1882, the son of Thomas and Esther Davies, of Llwyncelyn, Cilgerran. He had emigrated to Canada prior to the war, where he found work as a Carpenter. On 20 July 1915 David enlisted at Sewell, Manitoba into the Canadian Infantry, giving his next of kin as his sister, Mrs Esther Griffiths, who was residing at Heolas, Ammanford. David was posted to the Canadian Mounted Rifles, but was sadly killed while training on 10 August 1915. He was 33 years old, and is buried at Broadview Cemetery, Saskatchewan, Canada.

William Davies, Private, 202483, Welsh Regiment. William was born in London in 1891, the son of Robert Davies. He had come to Cilgerran to work at Forest Farm at some time prior to the war. William married Annie Hayes, the daughter of James and Margaret Hayes of 26, Front Street, Pembroke Dock, who was also working at Forest farm, on 5 October 1916, and the couple set up home at Revoir House, Cemaes Street, Cilgerran. William enlisted into the Welsh Regiment, and was posted to the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion was involved in heavy fighting during the German offensive on the Somme on 21 March 1918, and suffered heavy casualties over the coming weeks. William was gassed and taken prisoner by the Germans around this time. He was released after the armistice and returned home, but after suffering from ill health for several years, died of tuberculosis at Aberystwyth on 20 September 1925, aged 34 years. Of those named on the village memorial, William was the last to die. He was buried with full military honours at St Llawddog’s Church, Cilgerran. He is not commemorated by the CWGC because his death was too late for official commemoration.

Arthur Edwards, Gunner, 100984, Royal Garrison Artillery. Arthur was the son of John and Martha Jane Edwards, of East Williamston, Tenby. For several years prior to the war, Arthur had worked as a Postman, covering the Llanboidy and Whitland area, before moving with his wife Ellen Ann Edwards, to Chapel House, Cilgerran. It is not known when he enlisted, but Arthur served with the 188th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery, which was in France by the 30 October 1916, as part of 53 Brigade RGA., attached to the First Army, and saw much heavy fighting for the remainder of its time at war. Arthur sadly died after the war, probably due to the influenza epidemic, on 17 November 1918. He was 33 years old, and is buried in Cambrai East Military Cemetery, France.

Arthur Owen Evans, Private, 6512, Australian Infantry. Arthur wwas born at Rhoshill in 1889, the son of John and Elizabeth Evans. He was educated at Bridell Council School. Arthur had emigrated to Australia aboard the SS Commonwealth in June 1911, and became a farmer at Spould’s Lagoon, Temora, New South Wales. On 10 July 1916 Arthur enlisted into the Australian Infantry at Victoria Barracks, Sydney and was posted to the 21st Reinforcements for the 13th Battalion, Australian Infantry. On 7 October 1916 Arthur embarked at Sydney with his unit aboard the SS Ceramic, bound for England, and disembarked on 21 November at Plymouth. After a period of training at Salisbury Plain, Arthur embarked at Folkestone on 8 February 1917, and on arrival in France joined the 13th Battalion, Australian Infantry, which was attached to the 4th Australian Brigade, 4th Australian Division. The Division was still on the Somme when Arthur arrived and followed the German withdrawal to the Hindenburg Line during March 1917. On 11 April 1917 the Division took part in the costly Battle of Bullecourt, before being moved north to positions south of Ypres and on 7 June 1917 took part in the great Battle of Messines Ridge, storming the German positions which had been devastated by the blowing of a chain of massive underground mines. The 13th Battalion was in reserve for the initial assault, then just before midnight moved forwards under cover of darkness into the new reserve line, before relieving the tired 1st New Zealand Brigade in the front line on 9 June. Arthur was killed at Messines near Midland Support Trench on 10 June 1917. The 27-year-old has no known grave, so is commemorated on the Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium.

David Albert Evans, Private, 49014, Welsh Regiment. David was the son of Enoch and Letitia Evans, of Plain Dealings, Cilgerran. David had worked as a gardener in Ireland prior to the war, but returned home to enlist into the Army. He was posted to the training camp at Kinmel Park, near Rhyl, where he became a Private with the 3rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, a training battalion, which supplied recruits to the Welsh battalions on the Western Front. David sadly became ill with pneumonia whilst at Rhyl, and died on 14 February 1917. His body was brought home for burial at Cilgerran, at St. Llawddog Churchyard. His coffin arrived at the Railway Station where it was draped with a Union Jack, and a large gathering of friends and family escorted him to the Churchyard. David had two brothers. One brother, James Samuel Evans was killed while serving with the Black Watch, another brother served in Salonika.

James Samuel Evans, Private, S/4980, Black Watch (Royal Highlanders). James was born at Cilgerran, the son of Enoch and Letitia Evans of Plain Dealings, Cilgerran and was the brother of David Albert Evans and of John Phillip Evans, of Argoed, Glanyrafon Road, Pencoed. Both James and John must have moved to the valleys to work in the mines, and it was there that they both enlisted into the Army, with James being posted to the 9th Battalion, Black Watch. John served with the British Salonika Forces. The 9th Battalion of the Black Watch formed part of 46 Brigade, 15th (Scottish) Division, which landed in France during July 1915. The division saw its first major action during the Battle of Loos, and sadly it was here that James was killed, during the first day of the battle, on 25 September 1915. His grave could not be located, and so he is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France. In less than fifteen months his brother David was also dead, after catching pneumonia at Rhyl.

John Griffiths, Seaman, 1643C, Royal Naval Reserve. John was the son of Moses and Mary Griffiths, of Dolbadau, Cilgerran, and had served in the Royal Navy as a regular prior to the outbreak of the war, and had retired to join the Royal Naval Reserve. At the outbreak of war, John was recalled to the colours, and by 1917 was serving aboard HMS Princess, which was a modern Battlecruiser, launched in 1911. She had seen action during the Battle of Heligoland Bight and the Battle of Dogger Bank, and was damaged at the Battle of Jutland in 1916.  John was taken ill while HMS Princess was off South Africa, and he died at Simon’s Town on 31 May 1917, where he was buried at Dido Valley Cemetery. He was 46 years old.

Charles Hudson MM, Sergeant, 40526, South Wales Borderers. Charles was born at Southampton in 1885, the son of William and Mary Hudson. He married Margaret Ann Parry, of Brynglas House, Cilgerran, on 9 March 1913. By the outbreak of war he was living at Cross Hands, and he enlisted at nearby Llanelli into the Welsh Regiment. At some time later Charles was transferred to the 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was attached to 87 Brigade, 29th Division. The Division had moved to Gallipoli via Egypt, landing on 25 April 1915. They remained here until evacuation to Egypt on 11 January 1916 and then moved to the Western Front on 15 March. The Division took part in its first major action in France during the 1916 Somme Offensive, and fought at the Battles of Albert and Le Transloy, suffering heavy casualties, one of them being Charles who was badly wounded in the leg. He returned to action though, and in the spring of 1917 the division fought at the Battle of the Scarpe, which was part of the Arras Offensive, and then moved further north to Ypres. Here they fought at the Battle of Langemarck, and then at the Battles of the Menin Road, Polygon Wood, Broodseinde and Poelcappelle, before moving to Cambrai. Charles was awarded the Military Medal for bravery in the field for his gallantry during the fighting at Ypres, which was listed in the London Gazette of 16 November 1917, while his battalion was fighting in the Battle of Cambrai. The division returned to Flanders early in 1918, and was hit there by the German Spring Offensive, which saw them take part in the Battle of Estaires, which is where Charles was killed on 11 April 1918. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium.

Thomas Griffith Jones, Private, 2150, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born at Cardigan, and was the Husband of Frances Anne Jones of Cilgerran. The couple had a son, David Thomas Jones, who was later sadly killed during the Second World War. Thomas was one of many local men to enlist at Cardigan at the outbreak of war, into the local Territorial Battalion, the 1/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion moved to Tunbridge Wells in November 1914 as part of the South Wales Brigade, and in February 1915 moved to the Forth and Tay Defences in Scotland. In April they were posted to 159 Brigade, 53rd (Welsh) Division, which moved to the Mediterranean, sailing from Devonport in July, 1915 arriving at Mudros by 5 August, 1915. From here they moved to Gallipoli, landing on 9 August 1915. Here they immediately faced the chaos and impossible situation of the British that was to lead to the ultimate failure of the campaign, and spent the next few days in isolated pockets, fighting against a Turkish counter-attack during the Battle of Sari Bair. Thomas was one of many men to lose his life during these terrible first few days on the Gallipoli Peninsula. He was killed on 11 August 1915, and is commemorated on the Helles Memorial, Gallipoli.

William James Jones, Private, M/295967, Tank Corps. William was the son of Daniel and Margaret Jones, of Church Street, Cilgerran and enlisted at Fishguard into the Army Service Corps, most probably as a Motor Driver. William was then attached to the 8th Battalion of the Tank Corps, William was caught up in the heavy fighting that resulted from the German Spring Offensive on the Somme during March 1918, and was evacuated to No. 12 Stationary Hospital at St. Pol, where he died on 30 April 1918. William was just 20 years old, and is buried at St. Pol British Cemetery, St. Pol-Sur-Ternoise, near Arras in Northern France.

James Mathias, Private, 17169, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. James was born in Hoxton, London, but lived at Cilgerran prior to the war. He enlisted at Bridgend into the Army, joining the 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which was part of 113 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The division had moved to France in December 1915, and moved to positions near Fleurbaix to train. Almost six months later the division marched south to the Somme area, where they were allotted with capturing the heavily fortified Mametz Wood. The first attack went in on 7 July but was repulsed with heavy losses, so after a brief stoppage to rethink their strategy, the division attacked the wood again on 10 July 1916, again suffering terrible casualties. One of the dead of that second day was James. He is buried at Caterpillar Valley Cemetery, Longueval. James is not commemorated at Cilgerran.

Thomas Aeron Morgan, Private, 27795, Welsh Regiment. Thomas was born at Rhydymul, Cilgerran, the son of Thomas and Catherine Morgan. The family later resided at Roadside, Blaenporth. Thomas resided in Ferndale prior to the war, where he had gained work as a coalminer. He enlisted at Cardiff into the 18th Battalion, Welsh Regiment early in 1915. The battalion was a Bantam battalion, made up of men below the minimum height requirements, which initially moved to Prees Heath in Shropshire, before joining 119 Brigade, 40th (Bantam) Division, and moved to France in June 1916, taking over positions near Loos. Late in 1916 the Division moved south to the Somme, and fought at the Battle of the Ancre, before remaining in the sector over the winter. In March 1917 the Germans withdrew to their shortened line, called the Hindenburg Line, and the 40th Division was among the units which followed the withdrawal. Later in the year the Division took part in the Battle of Cambrai and launched an attack on Bourlon Wood on 23 November 1917. The attack was carried out by 119 Brigade, led by the 12th SWB and 19th RWF. The 17th Welsh was in support for the initial assault, but was soon ordered to advance, to support the two attacking battalions. Heavy fighting raged within the wood over the coming days, with the 18th Welsh also being thrown forwards into the fight, and the Division suffered terribly. Thomas was killed in action in Bourlon Wood on 24 November 1917. The 20-year-old has no known grave and is commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France.

William David Morgan, Able Seaman, R/2410, Royal Naval Division. William was born on 8 October 1896, and had been adopted by his Aunt, Margaret Jenkins, of Brynderi Cilgerran. He enlisted into the Territorial Force on 1 March 1916, joining the 2/25th London Cyclist Battalion, then transferred to the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, and was posted to the Drake Battalion, 63rd (Royal Naval) Division, joining them in France on 2 September 1917. The division was at Ypres, where they were to take part in the assault on Passchendaele Village, and on 30 October the Drake Battalion supplied a party of 6 officers & 250 Other Ranks as Stretcher Bearers on account of 190 Brigade Operations at Passchendaele. The War Diary for the day states that Casualties that day amounted to three Other Ranks killed, eight Other Ranks wounded and one Other Rank missing. One of the wounded was William, who had received multiple wounds to his legs, with one leg being fractured. He was admitted that same day to 47th Casualty Clearing Station near Poperinghe, where he sadly died of his wounds on the following day of 31 October 1917. William was just 21 years old, and is buried at Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.

Thomas Rafferty, Private, 57759, Cheshire Regiment. Thomas was born at Cilgerran, the son of Patrick and Catherine Rafferty, and prior to the war lived at Llangennech. He enlisted at Cardiff into the Army and was posted to the Liverpool Regiment. Thomas was possibly not physically up to service in the front, and so he was posted to the 20th Battalion, Labour Corps, which formed part of the 60th Labour Company in France. Thomas took ill during the winter of 1916/1917 and was sent to the Base Hospital at Rouen for treatment, but he sadly died there on 26 January 1917. He is buried at St. Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen, alongside 8,345 other soldiers who died there. Thomas is not commemorated at Cilgerran.

George Barley Rose, Sergeant, 12338, Welsh Regiment. George was born at Birmingham, and enlisted at Cardiff into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The Battalion was attached to the 1st Division, and moved to France at the outbreak of war, taking part in the retreat from Mons to the Marne, where the German offensive was held. The 2nd Welsh then moved to Ypres, where it helped stem the German push to the Channel ports, but suffered heavy casualties in desperate fighting. George joined the 2nd Welsh at Ypres on 29 November 1914. George was soon promoted to Sergeant, but was killed on 5 May 1915 during the Battle of Aubers Ridge. He is commemorated on the Addenda Panel of the Le Touret Memorial, France, which shows that his name was not on the initial casualty list when the memorial was made, but was added later.

William Thomas Williams, First Mate, Mercantile Marine. William was the son of John Andrew and Anne Williams, of Cardigan. Prior to the war he lived with his wife Eleanor Williams at Ivy Cottage, Penybryn, Cilgerran. William served in the Mercantile Marine aboard the S.S. Treveal, a St. Ives registered cargo steamer. On 4 February 1918 Treveal was on voyage from Algiers to Barrow with a cargo of iron ore, when she was torpedoed and sunk off Anglesey by the German submarine U-53, with the loss of 33 lives. William was 49 years old when he died, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. William is not commemorated at Cilgerran.

World War Two, 1939-1945

William Glyndwr Evans, Able Seaman, D/J 110359, Royal Navy. Glyn was the son of Henry Harries Evans and Hannah Eva Evans, and the husband of Hannah Mary Evans, of Cilgerran. He served in the Royal Navy aboard HMS Scarborough, which was a Hastings class sloop, which had been launched in 1930. She saw active service during the Second World War, especially as a convoy escort in the North Atlantic. She survived the war, but William died aboard Scarborough on 4 June 1942. He was 42 years old, and is commemorated on Panel 65 of the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.

Desmond De Courcy Creagh Gower, Pilot Officer, 40905, Royal Air Force. Desmond was born on 7 December 1919, the son of E. W. Gower and Violet F. Gower of Castell Malgwyn, and before the outbreak of the Second World War was a pupil at the Imperial Service College, Haileybury. He entered the RAF, becoming a Pilot Officer in 253 Squadron, RAF. On 30 October 1939, No 253 Squadron reformed at Manston and was originally intended as a shipping protection unit with Blenheims. None were delivered, however, and the squadron began to receive Hurricanes in February 1940, becoming operational on 3 April. In May 1940 one flight was sent to France to reinforce the hard-pressed Hurricane squadrons while the second flight flew daily to French airfields from 17 to 23 May. Sadly Desmond was killed over France on 21 May 1940. He was just 20 years old, and is buried at Étaples Military Cemetery, France.

Sydney Griffiths, Volunteer, Home Guard. Sydney was the son of Jeremiah and Sarah Griffiths, and the husband of Sarah Elizabeth Mary Griffiths, of Cilgerran. He had served during the Great War, and in World War Two volunteered for service again, with the 1st Pembrokeshire (Tenby) Battalion, Home Guard. Sydney died on active service on 27 December 1940. He was 45 years old, and is buried at Llechryd (Llwynadda) Calvinistic Methodist Chapelyard. Sydney is not commemorated on the Cilgerran War Memorial.

Jacob Aneurin Hughes, Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy. Jacob was the son of David Hughes and Lily Hughes (nee Sambrook). He served in the Merchant Navy aboard the MV San Emiliano, a London registered Motor Tanker, built in 1939 by Harland & Wolff Ltd, Govan. On 9 August 1942 she was torpedoed by German submarine U-155 when 450 miles from Trinidad with the loss of 39 of the crew, en route from Curacoa for Trinidad and Table Bay and Suez carrying a cargo of 11,286 tons of aviation spirit. Jacob was just 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

David Thomas Jones (Dewi), Lance Corporal, 3976184, The Welch Regiment. David was the son of Thomas Griffith Jones and Frances Ann Jones, of Cilgerran. Sadly David’s father Thomas was killed in action at Suvla Bay while serving with the Welsh Regiment at Gallipoli, on 11 August 1915. David followed in his father’s footsteps, joining the Welch Regiment, and he was posted to the 1/5th Battalion, which formed part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division, the same division that his father served in. The division landed in Normandy at the end of July 1944 as part of the reinforcing troops, and after a tough battle to break out of the Normandy beachhead, quickly began their drive North through France into Belgium. On 12 September Allied forces entered occupied Holland, and by 22 September the 53rd Division was involved in heavy fighting around Netersel, which is where David was killed during a German counter-attack on 24 September 1944. He was 30 years old, and is commemorated on the Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands.

Oliver James Jones, Second Officer, Merchant Navy. Oliver was born in Abercych in 1905, the son of John and Hannah Jones. He married Irene Constance Livingstone Griffiths, of Angel House, Cilgerran in 1938 and the couple set up home at Lluest, Cilgerran. Oliver was a long serving Mariner and by the time war erupted was serving in the Merchant Navy as Second Officer aboard the tanker M.V. Frederick S. Fales. During September 1940, she joined Convoy HX72, which comprised of 42 ships, carrying materials to the United States. On the night of 21 September 1940, the convoy was spotted and attacked by the a Wolf Pack of five German U-Boats, led by Germany’s most famous submariner, Gunther Prien, the man who had so audaciously crept into Scapa Flow to sink the Battleship Royal Oak in 1939. After several losses among its fleet, the Germans withdrew, but the convoy was again hit in the early hours of 22 September 1940. In the darkness the submarine U-100 fired a salvo of torpedoes at the Frederick S. Fales, which exploded and sank some 340 miles west of Bloody Foreland with the loss of 20 men of her crew of 48. Among those killed was Oliver. The 35-year-old has no known grave but the sea, so is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. This had been the first use of the Wolf Pack technique on a British Convoy, and it had been proved successful, with ten ships lost and a further three damaged over the two days.

William Lewis. Cannot presently be identified.

William David Evans Parry, Private, 1493340, Pioneer Corps. William was the son of David and Lilly Parry, of Castle House, Cilgerran. He was serving as a Private with the Pioneer Corps when he died after the end of the war, on 11 November 1945, aged 27. Sadly very little is presently known of him, but he is buried at St. Llawddog Churchyard, Cilgerran. His brother-in-law, Dewi Stephens, was killed at sea.

Andrew Kenneth Paton, Sapper, 2090209, Royal Engineers. Ken was the son of Kenneth Rome Paton and Olive Gertrude Paton, of Bristol. He served with 227 Field Park Company, Royal Engineers. The Company was in France at the outbreak of war, attached to the 48th Division of the BEF. It took part in the retreat to Dunkirk, and was involved in the blowing up of bridges, to slow the German advance. Ken was evacuated from Dunkirk in 1940, but died on active service in Britain on 15 January 1943. He was 20 years old, and is buried at Lincoln (Newport) Cemetery, England.

David Thomas Stephens, (Dewi), Third Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Dewi was the Husband of Winnie Stephens, of Cilgerran, and the brother-in-law of Will Parry. He served as Third Engineer Officer aboard the SS Pacific, a Hull registered vessel. Pacific had been built in 1923 for Sir W.H. Cockerline. The British cargo ship Pacific left Sunderland on 7 February 1943, in convoy for London carrying a cargo of coal. The convoy became scattered in bad weather during the night of 8 February, and at daybreak the following day, 9 February 1918 the Pacific and two other ships had disappeared. She carried a crew of 38, only one of whom was rescued. Dewi was 31 years old when he lost his life that night. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.