Templeton (Molleston Chapel) War Memorial

Mansel Bowen, Private, 307166, Lancashire Fusiliers. Mansel was the son of Richard and Mary Bowen, of Big House, Cold Blow. He had worked as a Railway Plate Layer for several years prior to the war, and had lived with his uncle Richard Davies at Tredworth, 19 Penybank Road, Ammanford. Mansel enlisted at Narberth into the army and was posted to the 2/8th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers, which was attached to the 197th Brigade, 66th Division. The Division landed at Le Havre on 28 February 1917 and moved to the Flanders Coast. At the end of September it was moved south to reinforce the Allied troops assaulting the Passchendaele Ridge, during the Third Battle of Ypres. On 5 October the division relieved the 3rd Australian Division in the front line near Poelcappelle. The division attacked from their trenches following a heavy artillery bombardment on the morning of 9 October 1917, but found the German defences untouched by the artillery barrage. After heavy fighting elements of the division forces their way into Passchendaele village, but were later forced to retire. Mansel was killed in action during this fighting around the village on 9 October 1917 aged 37. His body was lost on the battlefields, and so he is remembered on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Many thanks to Keith Bowen for the photograph of Mansel.

George Elwyn Davies, Private, 282284, Lancashire Fusiliers. George was the son of William and Elizabeth Davies, of Brynmor, Templeton. He had worked as a Butcher at Narberth prior to the war and enlisted at Narberth into the Pembroke Yeomanry. After completing his training George was posted to the 2/7th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, which was attached to 197 Brigade, 66th Division. The Battalion landed at Havre on 28 February 1917, moving to the Belgian coast, where a secret offensive, Operation Hush, had been planned. At the end of September it was moved south to reinforce the Allied troops assaulting the Passchendaele Ridge, during the Third Battle of Ypres. On 5 October the division relieved the 3rd Australian Division in the front line near Poelcappelle. The division attacked from their trenches following a heavy artillery bombardment on the morning of 9 October 1917, but found the German defences untouched by the artillery barrage. After heavy fighting elements of the division forces their way into Passchendaele village, but were later forced to retire. George was badly wounded at Passchendaele and brought back to the Casualty Clearing Station at Remy Sidings, where he sadly died of Wounds on 11 November 1917, aged just 22. He is buried there at Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium. The photo of George is courtesy of Narberth Museum.

Owen James Morris, Private, 325683, Queen’s Own Worcestershire Hussars (Worcester Yeomanry). Owen was the son of Joseph and Ann Morris, of Mounton, Templeton. He lived at 14, St. Martin Street, Birmingham prior to the outbreak of war, working as a Coach Painter, and enlisted there into the Worcester Yeomanry. The unit formed for war on 4 August 1914, as part of the 1st South Midland Mounted Brigade. On 11 April 1915 they sailed from Avonmouth, arriving at Alexandria on 22 April 1915, before moving to Suvla Bay, Gallipoli. During November 1915 the 1/1st Worcester Yeomanry returned to Egypt, where the 2nd Mounted Division which it was attached to was broken up and the brigade became the 5th Mounted Brigade. In February 1917 the brigade moved to the Imperial Mounted Division, and took pat in the advance into Palestine. Owen became ill during the offensive, and died on 14 May 1917, aged 32. He is buried at Deir El Belah War Cemetery, Israel, in Grave Ref. C. 69. The photograph of Owen is courtesy of Louisa Billington.

Sidney Vaughan Thomas, Private, 48409, South Wales Borderers. Sidney was born at Ludchurch on 23 January 1899, the son of Margaret Thomas. The family later resided at 5, Wells Road Terrace, Narberth. Sidney worked as a Goods Clerk for the Great Western Railway at Pontlliw prior to the war and enlisted at Swansea into the army. He was posted to the 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which was the Pioneer battalion to the 25th Division. The Division had fought at the Battles of Arras, Messines and Passchendaele in 1917. November saw them move south again, where they took part in the Battle of Cambrai. They remained in the area over the final winter of the war, and were stationed near Gouzeaucourt when the Germans launched their Spring Offensive. Sidney was killed by a shell during the first morning of the offensive, on 21 March 1918. He was just 19 years old, and is commemorated on Bay 6 of the Arras Memorial, France.

Gwyn Williams, Private, 21110, Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Gwyn was born at St. Clears, and had been brought up by James and Mary John, at Tynewydd, St. Clears. He had lived at Templeton prior to the war and married Jessie Miriam Scourfield of Templeton in 1915. He enlisted at Cardiff into the Army, and was posted to the 2nd Battalion, Royal Dublin Fusiliers, which was attached to 48 Brigade, 16th (Irish) Division. During December, 1915 the Division moved to France and concentrated in the Bethune area. They saw their first major action during the Somme Offensive, at the Battle of Guillemont, and also fought at the Battle of Ginchy. By May, 1917 the Division had moved to positions south of Ypres, where they fought at the Battle of Messines, and then moved north, fighting at the Battle of Langemarck, before returning to Arras. Gwyn was killed in action at Arras on 7 October 1917. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France, on Bay 9.

Ernest Ivor Hughes, Serjeant, 915869, Royal Artillery. Ernest was the son of John Hughes and Sarah Rebecca Hughes (nee Killa), of Templeton. He served with 102 (The Pembroke Yeomanry) Field Regiment, Royal Artillery, which landed at Algiers in February 1943 as part of the 1st Army. After the fall of Tunis they converted to a medium artillery regiment and landed in Italy with the 8th Army, in December 1943. Ernest was killed soon after, on 22 January 1944. He was 25 years old, and is buried at Minturno War Cemetery, Italy, in Grave Ref. II, F, 13.

James Edgar John Mason, Stoker I, C/KX 143988, Royal Navy. James was born on 3 September 1920, the son of William and Catherine Mary Mason, of Haorstone, Martletwy. He married Winifred Mabel Eileen Allen, of Ruelwall, Llanteg in 1942. He served in the Royal Navy as a stoker aboard the Royal Naval Vessel, H.M.L.B.O.6. The vessel was in fact a device that had been invented purely for the Normandy Landings, and was a Landing Barge, Oil. These Landing Barges came in a huge variety of different types, and were used for several purposes; defence, transportation, supply (of food, water and oil) and repair (fitted out with workshops). Little is known of what happened, but John is recorded as having been killed on 14 June, 1944 aged just 23. He is remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.

John Emmanuel McCarthy, Sergeant (Air Gunner), 1836186, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was the son of Patrick and Mary McCarthy. He married Gladys Elizabeth Morgan, of Templeton in 1942 while based in Pembrokeshire with the Royal Air Force. He served with 460 (Royal Australian Air Force) Squadron, RAF, which was a heavy bomber squadron, equipped with the Avro Lancaster, which flew from RAF Breighton. John served as Air Gunner on the crew of Flight Sergeant G. A. Grant, and on the night of 20 February 1944, the crew of eight flew as part of a massive raid on Stuttgart. On their return the following morning of 21 February 1944, the Lancaster crashed with the loss of all eight of her crew. John was 24 years old, and was brought home for burial at Templeton Congregational Chapel Cemetery. He had flown fifteen combat missions by the time of his death.

Thomas Melgwyn Neale, Fusilier, 4208890, Royal Welch Fusiliers. Thomas was the son of Edwin Neale and Mary Neale (nee Roose), of Redberth. He married Annie Mary Elizabeth Mason of Templeton in 1941. He served with the 6th Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, which was part of the 53rd (Welsh) Division that landed on Normandy at the end of June, 1944. Thomas was killed during the fighting in the Bocage on 17 July 1944. He was 24 years old, and is commemorated on the Bayeux Memorial, France. Thomas is also commemorated on the Carew War Memorial.