Lampeter Velfrey War Memorial

Ralph Paynter Williams, Farrier Sergeant 4138, 30th (Pembrokeshire) Company, 9th Battalion, Imperial Yeomanry. Ralph was born at Pembroke on 13 December 1879, the son of Reverend David Edward Williams, and Mrs Rose Williams (nee Paynter), of Lampeter Velfrey. He was educated at Haileybury, Hertfordshire and Royal Veterinary College. He then joined the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, but at the outbreak of the Boer War, volunteered for service with the Pembroke Yeomanry. He was just 21 years old when he was killed in action near Ventersburg while attempting to rescue an officer on 23 August 1900. He is buried in Ventersburg Cemetery,Ventersburg. Ralph is commemorated by a stained glass window inside the Church.

Edward Arnold Frederick Allen, Private, 6386, Royal Fusiliers. Edward was born at Foochow, China, the son of Edward Launcelot Baugh Allen and Blanche Adelaide Allen, of Blackhaldern, Narberth. He enlisted into the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which were attached to 54 Brigade, 18th (Eastern) Division. The 10th RF were also known as the Stockbrokers Battalion, due to their main bulk being made up of City businessmen. They transferred to 111 Brigade, 37th (London) Division before moving to France at the end of July 1915, and saw their first major attack during the attack on Gommecourt, which was a diversionary attack for the main Somme Offensive. During the first couple of days of the Somme Offensive, another Division, the 34th, had suffered terrible casualties, and so Edward was transferred to the 34th Division temporarily, along with the other men of 111 Brigade. They then fought at the Bazentin, Pozieres and Flers-Courcelette, before returning to their own Division, when they fought at the Battle of the Ancre. Edward was wounded at the Ancre, and was transferred to the 11th Casualty Clearing Station at Varennes, where he Died of Wounds aged just 22 on 21 November 1916. Edward is buried at Varennes Military Cemetery, France. There is also a memorial to him in the cemetery, but I did not know of it when I visited.

Harry Montague Allen, Private, 20965, Welsh Regiment. Harry was born in Prendergast, Haverfordwest, in 1896, the eldest son of Thomas and Edith Allen. Thomas had been born in Amroth, and his wife Edith in Haverfordwest, and they had four other children. Ellen Allen, Frederick, Thomas and Edwin Jack Allen, who were born in Neyland. Thomas was a Plumber with Great Western Railway, and he was transferred to their Depot at Whitland, where the family made their home at 3, Glendale Terrace. Harry followed his father into the Railway, becoming a Carpenter at the Llanelli Depot. At the outbreak of War, Harry enlisted into the 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was the Carmarthenshire Battalion. The Battalion was first raised in Swansea during October and November, 1914, by the Carmarthenshire County Committee, attached to 129 Brigade, 43rd Division. The preliminary training of the battalion was carried out at Rhyl. From 28 April 1915 the Battalion became attached to 114 Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division, part of K4. In the summer of 1915 the Battalion moved with the remainder of the Welsh Division to Morn Hill Camp, Winchester, where it completed its training and equipping, and embarked for France from Folkestone on 5 December 1915, disembarking at Boulogne the same day. During the winter and spring of 1916 the Battalion held nearly every section of the British line from Givenchy on the La Bassée Canal to Laventie, about six miles South of Armentières. At the end of May, 1916, the Battalion moved South with the remainder of the 38th (Welsh) Division to the Somme area, in readiness for the First Battle of The Somme, which commenced on 1 July 1916. The 38th Division were tasked with the taking of the infamous Mametz Wood. The first attack on Mametz Wood was on 7 July 1916, when the division lost heavily in ‘Death Valley’ during the advance on the ‘Hammer Head’. The next attack went in three days later, and after 48 hours of heavy fighting the wood was cleared – but at the cost of over 5,000 casualties in the 38th (Welsh) Division. It was during the first attacks on the wood that Harry Montague Allen was mortally wounded. He was shot in the chest by a German sniper, and brought back by rail to the 38th Casualty Clearing Station at Heilly, in the Somme valley. Harry died of his wounds on 11 July 1916, and was laid to rest in Heilly Station Cemetery, France.

Lionel Raymond Whateley Allen, Lieutenant, South Wales Borderers. Lionel was the younger brother of Edward, and was also born in China, the son of Edward Launcelot Baugh Allen and Blanche Adelaide Allen, of Blackadern, Narberth. Lionel had received a commission and served in the 9th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, which had been founded at Pembroke Dock in October 1914 and was used as a Training Battalion. Lionel was attached to a Battalion of the Machine Gun Corps in France, but as yet the unit is unknown. He was reported as wounded during the German offensive near Bapaume on 27 March 1918, and was left behind while his unit was retiring under heavy fire. He was never seen again. Lionel was 21 years old, and is commemorated on the Pozières Memorial, France.

James Beynon, Private, 13097, Welsh Regiment. James was born in Robeston Wathen, the son of Alfred and Sarah Beynon. The family later moved to Gorse Farm, Whitland. James enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which formed part of 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division were one of the first to arrive in France, and fought during the epic retreat from Mons to the Aisne, where the German advance was stopped before moving to Ypres, where again they helped stop the Germans taking the ancient city. After a hard winter at Ypres, the Welsh fought at the Battle of Aubers, which was the first major Allied offensive of the war. James was Killed in Action here, on 3 May 1915 aged only 20. He is commemorated on the Le Touret Memorial, Richebourg-L’Avoue, alongside his cousin, James Verdi Davies.

George William Henry Bodman, Private, 2060, Welsh Guards. George was born in Bath in 1885, the son of Frances Norah Bodman. His mother married Thomas William Chambers in 1901, and the family moved to 5, Velfrey Road, Whitland. George moved to Clive House, Tridwr Road, Abertridwr prior to the war, where he worked as a policeman. He enlisted at Cardiff into the newly formed Welsh Guards. The Welsh Guards were raised after the Royal Warrant of 26 February 1915. After being formed, they became part of the 3rd Guards Brigade, Guards Division, which was formed in France in August 1915. Their first taste of battle was at Loos, before being brought south to the Somme in 1916. During the Somme Offensive the Division fought at the Battle of Flers-Courcelette, and this is where George was Killed in Action on 16 September 1916, aged 31. George’s body was lost on the battlefield and never recovered, and so he is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

Cecil Frank Bye, Private, STK/923, Royal Fusiliers. Cecil was born at Lampeter Velfrey, the son of John and Sarah Ruth Annie Bye. The family later moved to the School House, Rotherwick, Basingstoke, Hants. Cecil enlisted in London into the 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, which were also known as the ‘Stockbrokers Battalion’, which formed part of 111 Brigade, 37th Division. In late July, 1915 the Division landed in France, and moved to positions north of the Somme, at Gommecourt. They took part in a diversionary attack on Gommecourt on 1 July 1916 and suffered terrible casualties. 111 Brigade were then attached to the depleted 34th Division, and fought with them at the Battles of Albert and Bazentin Ridge, where Cecil was Killed in Action on 15 July 1916. He was 25 years old, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, Belgium. Cecil is not commemorated locally.

James Verdi Davies, Private, 13116, Welsh Regiment. James was born at Norton, Lampeter Velfrey, the son of James and Elizabeth Davies. The family later resided at Lowmead House, Whitland. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the 2nd Battalion, the Welsh Regiment which formed part of 3 Brigade, 1st Division. The Division were one of the first to arrive in France, and fought during the epic retreat from Mons to the Aisne, where the German advance was stopped before moving to Ypres, where again they helped stop the Germans taking the ancient city. After a hard winter at Ypres, the Welsh fought at the Battle of Aubers, which was the first major Allied offensive of the war. Here James fought alongside his friend James Beynon who he had enlisted with, and was Killed in Action just two weeks later, on 25 May 1915. James is commemorated alongside his cousin, James Beynon, on the Le Touret Memorial, France.

Arthur George Jacobs, Lance Corporal, 12338, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. George was born on 31 October 1887, the son of David and Elizabeth Jacobs, of The Lodge, Cyffig. He worked as a collier prior to the war and enlisted at Llanelli into the 8th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, which formed part of 40 Brigade, 13th (Western) Division. The Battalion moved with the Division to the Mediterranean, arriving at Mudros by July 1915, before landing on Gallipoli that month. On Gallipoli the Division saw more than its fair share of fighting, taking part in the Battles of Sari Bair, Russell’s Top and Hill 60, before moving to Suvla Bay where it withheld the Turkish attacks on 7 January 1916. After evacuating to Egypt the Division moved to Mesopotamia, where they attempted the relief of Kut. George died of wounds in Mesopotamia on 26 January 1917, aged 29, and is buried at Amara War Cemetery. His brother William James Jacobs had died at Ladysmith during the Boer War.

Herbert Benjamin Thomas Lewis, Corporal, 16292, Northamptonshire Regiment. Herbert was born in Lampeter Velfrey on 22 March 1879, the son of Robert and Mary Lewis, late of Waunfaur Farm. The family moved to Hackleton, Northampton, which is where Herbert enlisted into the 3rd Battalion, Northamptonshire Regiment on 31 October 1914. He transferred into their 2nd Battalion, part of 24 Brigade, 8th Division. Herbert arrived in France on 2 March 1915 and fought in the Battle of Neuve Chappelle, and was Killed in Action during the Battle of Aubers Ridge on 9 May 1915 aged 37. In a letter to Mary after the battle, his Lieutenant Haldane wrote: ‘I am sorry to say that details as to what happened on 9th May are very hard to get, but I do know that Herbert B T Lewis advanced with his company in the attack. They were the leading company, and he with many of his company members were caught with machine gun fire.’ Herbert is commemorated on the Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. He is not commemorated locally.

John Lloyd, Private, 101679, Canadian Pioneers. John Lloyd was born on 19 November 1873, the only son of Walter and Mary Lloyd, East Pool Farm, Eglwyscummin. He married Sarah Jane James of Crunwere in 1900 and the family eventually settled at Meline, Lampeter Velfrey. About 1910 John went to Alberta, Canada to work as a miner at a small, newly opened coal mine near Red Deer. On 22 February 1916 John enlisted at Edmonton, Alberta into the 66th Edmonton (Overseas) Battalion, and arrived in England on 7 May 1916. He was posted to 1st Canadian Pioneers and left for France on 5 July 1916. On 6 August 1916 he was posted to 1st Canadian Entrenching Battalion in the field. He paraded sick on 5 December 1916, suffering from exposure to shell fire on the Somme, and was hospitalised for 10 days with V.D.H. and epilepsy, before rejoining his unit. On 3 September 1917 John again reported sick at Vimy Ridge. He had severe pains in his legs and chest and was immediately sent back to base hospital. He had suffered with heart pain and palpitations for some months prior to this. After 12 days treatment at Etaples, John was evacuated to Bethnal Green Hospital for 12 days, then Bromley for 10 days, Buxton 2 months, and to Liverpool for 5 weeks. He then returned to Wetaskiwin, Alberta, Canada, where he received further treatment before being discharged from the service on 17 August 1918, with the intention to live at the GWVA (veterans home) in Edmonton. Sadly John died on Armistice Day, 11 November 1918. He is buried at Lovett, Alberta, Canada. With the help of the ladies of Llanteg History Society I have managed to gain commemoration for John by the CWGC and a new headstone has been erected for him at Lovett.

David Pugh, Lance Corporal, 3278, South African Expeditionary Force. David was the son of David and Sarah Pugh, of Clover Hill Farm, Velfrey Road, Whitland. He had served during the Boer War of 1899 to 1901, and had remained in South Africa afterwards, working for the head office of the South African Railways at Cape Town. He re-enlisted on 17 August 1915 for service in the South African Overseas Expeditionary Force. David joined the 4th (Scottish) South African Infantry Regiment, which was assembling with the South African Brigade, in Egypt. During March 1916 the Brigade embarked for Marseilles, and became attached to the 9th (Scottish) Division, situated near Bailleul. The South Africans trained in trench warfare over the coming weeks, before the 9th Division moved south, to the Somme, in June. On 30 June the South African Brigade moved to Grove Town, south of Albert, where it watched the opening of the Battle of the Somme on 1 July. On the following night the South Africans entered the front line north-west of Maricourt, and spent the coming days holding the trenches against German artillery fire. On Monday 10 July 1916, the 4th South African Regiment attacked Trones Wood, in support of the 30th Division, but came under heavy artillery fire. David was killed during fighting on the southern edge of Trones Wood on 10 July 1916, aged 42. He has no known grave, and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.