Penrhyncoch War Memorial

Percy Gunn, Private, 17959, South Wales Borderers. Percy was from Braintree, Essex. He had moved to west Wales to work as a farm hand prior to the war, and worked at Frondeg Farm, Penrhyncoch. Percy was living at Gogerddan Place, Llangorwen prior to the war and enlisted at Aberystwyth into the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers. The battalion landed in France during July 1915 attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The division had a reputation for fierce fighters, and had fought at the Battle of Loos in 1915, and throughout the Somme offensive the following year. During 1917 it had taken part in the Battle of Messines, and the following Third Battle of Ypres, before being moved south to positions facing the Hindenburg Line near Bapaume. The division was hit by the German spring offensive, which was launched on the Somme on 21 March 1918, and saw heavy fighting over the coming days. Percy was killed in action during the ensuing fighting, on 23 March 1918, aged 21. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Percy does not appear to be commemorated locally.

James James, Lance Corporal, 22127, Welsh Regiment. James was born in 1893, the son of Thomas and Sarah James of Llanbadarn. He enlisted at Tonypandy into the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was known as the Carmarthen Pals battalion, attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. On 2 December 1915 the battalion moved to France, and the entire Division moved to the Fleurbaix sector, where it was initiated into trench warfare. During June 1916 the Division marched south to the Somme, and on 7 July 1916 attacked Mametz Wood. The initial attack failed, and it was three days later, on 10 July, that a fresh attack was mounted. James was killed in Mametz Wood on 11 July 1916. He was 23 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. There is also a memorial to James at Capel Bethel, Cwmerfyn.

William James, Pioneer, 159319, Royal Engineers. William was the son of David and Mary James, of 17, Pencae, Taliesin. He originally enlisted at Aberystwyth into the South Wales Borderers, but was transferred to the 5th Battalion Special Brigade, Royal Engineers, which was a Special (Gas) Company. The Battalion was a Stokes mortar unit, attached to the Fourth Army. The Battalion was on the Somme in the summer of 1916, where it was to provide support for the forthcoming Battle of the Somme. William was killed during the build up to the battle, probably whilst moving equipment into place. He was 22 years old, and is buried at Hébuterne Military Cemetery, France.

Daniel Evan Jones, MM, Private, 3015, Welsh Guards. Daniel was born in 1891, the son of Richard and Margaret E. Jones, Glanyrafon, Llanbadarn Fawr. He enlisted at Aberystwyth into the 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, which had been raised by Royal Warrant of 26 February 1915, at White City. On 18 August 1915 the Welsh Guards landed at Havre, joining the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, and saw their first action at the Battle of Loos. Daniel didn’t join the battalion until sometime after the Somme Battles of 1916. He would have fought at the Battle of Pilckem Ridge in August 1917, and at the Battle of Cambrai later that year. The Guards had a hard time at Gouzeaucourt over the winter of 1917-18, but after the launching of the great offensive on 21 August 1918, the Guards took part in the drive towards the Hindenburg Line. Once the Hindenburg Line had been broken, the Allies swept eastwards, and the Guards fought at the Battle of Cambrai, and the Battle of the Selle and the Sambre. Daniel was badly wounded during the fighting around Cambrai, and was evacuated for treatment. He died of his wounds on 14 October 1918, aged 27, and is buried at Delsaux Farm Cemetery, Beugny, France.

Robert Lewis, Private, 88489, King’s Liverpool Regiment. Robert was born at Llanbadarn in 1880, and was the Husband of Ethel M. Lewis. He originally enlisted at Aberystwyth into the East Surrey Regiment, but was later transferred into the 6th Battalion, King’s Liverpool Regiment, which was attached to 165 Brigade, 55th (West Lancashire) Division. The Division was formed in France during January 1916, and moved to Arras. During July 1916 the Division moved south and took up a place in the front line opposite the village of Guillemont, fighting at the Battle of Guillemont and the Battle of Ginchy. After a brief rest, the Division fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette and the Battle of Morval. During October 1916 the Division moved to Ypres, taking over the Railway Wood sector, and on 31 July 1917 took part in the Battle of Pilckem. After suffering terrible casualties, the Division was withdrawn to Recques for re-fit and training, before moving back into the line on 15 September, and fighting at the Battle of the Menin Road. Robert was killed in action here on 29 October 1917. He was 37 years old, and is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.

John David Messer, Private, 15439, Essex Regiment. John was born at Penbontrhydybeddau in about 1892, the son of David and Louisa Gray Messer. By 1902 the family had moved to London, where David ran his own dairy business. John was educated there before becoming a merchant in the city prior to the war. He enlisted into the Essex Regiment at Stratford soon after war was declared and was posted to France with the 9th Battalion, Essex Regiment on 30 May 1915. The battalion was attached to 12th Division and took over the line at Ploegsteert Wood before being moved to take part in the Battle of Loos, and the subsequent actions of the Hohenzollern Redoubt. By June 1916 the division was in position at the Somme, and attacked Ovillers on 2 July. During the following year the division took part in the Battle of Arras, and remained in the area before taking part in the Battle of Cambrai in November 1917. It was relieved at the beginning of December, and moved to positions near Albert to rest, before relieving the 38th (Welsh) Division in the Fleurbaix front line in February 1918. A month later the division moved south again and was caught up in the German offensive, Operation Michael. John was wounded at some time during the desperate fighting which followed and was evacuated to the 18th General Hospital at Étaples, where he died of his wounds on 13 April 1918, aged 26. He is buried in Étaples Military Cemetery. France. As far as is known, John does not appear on any local war memorial. Many thanks to Will Troughton for the photograph of John and for informing me of his local ties.

Benjamin Arthur Morris, Private, 57051, Welsh Regiment. Benjamin was the son of Lewis and Mary Morris, of Trefeurig, Bow Street, Cardiganshire, and the husband of Margaret J. Morris, of Fair View, Salisbury Road, Maesteg. He enlisted at Bridgend into the Glamorgan Yeomanry, and was posted to France, probably late in 1916, joining the 14th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division. The division had moved to Ypres after its exertions at Mametz Wood, to rebuild in the quieter sector along the Boesinghe Canal. It was from here, on 31 July 1917 that the division made its famous assault which captured the Pilckem Ridge, and after seeing further action at Langemarck moved to the Fleurbaix sector to rebuild again. In April 1918 the division was moved to the Somme to counter the German offensive there, and spent several months in the line north of Albert, prior to launching its famous attack across the River Ancre on 21 August 1918. The division then began its drive across the old Somme battlefields, and by the end of August had reached Morval, a strongly defended village. Benjamin was killed during the attack on the village on 1 September 1918. He was 28 years old, and is buried in Morval British Cemetery, France.

William Penwill, Private, 25865, Devonshire Regiment. William was born at Torquay on 27 June 1885, the son of William and Maria Penwill, of Liswomey, of Lower Lincombe Road, Torquay. He was residing at Gogerddan prior to 1911, where he worked as a Gardener for Sir Edward John Webley Parry Pryse. William married Ellen Louisa Manning on 9 March 1912, and the couple resided at Edge Mill Road, Aberystwyth, with their daughter Marjorie. William enlisted at Aberystwyth into the army, and was posted to the 9th (Service) Battalion, Devonshire Regiment, which was attached to 20 Brigade, 7th Division. In the summer of 1916, the Division was on the Somme, and took part in the Battle of Albert, where they captured Mametz. The Division then fought at the Battle of Bazentin, and the Attacks on High Wood, and took part in the later Battle of Delville Wood, and the Battle of Guillemont, before spending the winter on the Ancre. In March 1917 the Division followed up the German Retreat to the Hindenburg Line, and took part in Flanking Operations Round Bullecourt, where it saw heavy fighting alongside the Australians. William was wounded at Bullecourt, and died of his wounds near Bapaume on 7 May 1917. He was 31 years old, and is buried at Grevillers British Cemetery, France.

Sir Edward John Webley Parry Pryse (Bart), Major, Welsh Regiment. Edward was born in 1862 at Llanbadarn, the son of Sir Pryor Pryse, of Gogerddan. Edward married Nina Katherina Angharad Webley-Parry, daughter of David Kedgwin William Henry Webley-Parry and Nina Katherina Elena de Palatiano, in 1891. Edward had served in the army for some years prior to the outbreak of the Great War, and volunteered to serve with the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division. The Division moved to France during July 1915, and moved to positions near Loos, where it took part in the opening attack of the Battle of Loos on 25 September 1915. The following year the Division moved to the Somme, where it took part in the second wave of the attack on Ovillers-La Boiselle on 1 July, capturing the village at heavy cost. It then fought through the Somme Battles of Poziéres and the Ancre in 1916. In 1917 the Division moved north to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines, then the Third Battle of Ypres. In 1918 the Division had a terrible time, being caught up in the three main German attacks that year, on the Somme, on the Lys and on the Aisne. By then, Edward had been invalided home. He died on 20 October 1918, aged 56, and is buried at Penrhyncoch, at Eglwys Sant Ioan. Edward is not commemorated by the CWGC.

Ceredig Davies, Rifleman, 6850238, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Ceredig was the son of Llewellyn and Bronwen Davies, of Cwmsymlog, Penrhyncoch. He served with the 12th (2nd Bn. The Queen’s Westminsters) Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. The battalion had fought in North Africa, as part of the 8th Armoured Brigade, returning to Britain in December 1943 after the surrender of the Afrika Corps. It took part in the Normandy landings in June 1944, and in the subsequent break-out from the Normandy beaches, and the drive through France into Belgium and Holland. Ceredig was killed just after the end of Operation Market Garden, on 9 October 1944. He was 29 years old, and is buried at Jonkerbos War Cemetery, Netherlands.