Bangor Teifi is a parish situated about five miles east of Newcastle Emlyn, on the River Teifi. The parish is served by its Church, which is dedicated to Saint David, and which occupies a fine position overlooking the River Teifi. A marble war memorial which is located inside Bangor Teifi Church Hall commemorates its parishioners who served and died during the Great War, while an additional plaque commemorates the fallen of World War Two. Inside Eglwys Dewi Sant is an individual memorial plaque to Lieutenant-Colonel Charles Hotham Montagu Doughty-Wylie, VC, CB, CMG. The scanned photograph of the memorial is courtesy of Raymond Jones.
The Great War, 1914-1918
Evan William Davies, Private, 65352, Welsh Regiment. Evan was the son of Ebenezer and Mary Davies, of School House, Henllan. He enlisted at Carmarthen into the army on 1 November 1916, and was posted to France on 7 April 1918, where he joined the 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. The battalion had been on the Western Front since the outbreak of war, attached to 3 Brigade, 1st Division, and had fought in almost every major battle thereafter. After spending the Winter in Flanders, the Division was near Estaires when the German Spring Offensive caught them, fighting through the Battles of Estaires, Hazebrouck, and Bethune before being moved South again to Arras to rebuild. From here, the 1st Division took part in the great offensive, which was to ultimately win the war, fighting at the Battle of Drocourt-Queant and at the Battle of Épehy during August and September 1918. The Division pushed on towards the St. Quentin Canal, and after crossing the Hindenburg Line fought at the Battles of Beaurevoir, the Selle and the Sambre. Evan was killed at the Sambre on 23 October 1918. He was 19 years old, and is commemorated on the Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France.
Charles Hotham Montagu Doughty-Wylie, VC, CB, CMG, Lieutenant-Colonel, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Charles was born on 23 July 1868 at Theburton Hall, Theburton, Leiston, Suffolk, the son of Henry M. Doughty and Edith Doughty (nee Cameron). He married Lilian Oimara Wylie on 1 June 1904, a widower whose mother, Minnie Coe (formerly Wylie), lived in Blaendyffryn with her second husband, Harry Herbert Coe. After graduating from Sandhurst in 1889, Charles served around the Empire, in India, Crete, and Afghanistan, before fighting in the Boer War, the Boxer Rebellion and in Somaliland. He then became British Consul in Turkey, leading a party of Ottoman troops to quell a massacre at Mersina. He was awarded the Order of the Medjidie by the Ottoman Government for this. After the outbreak of the Great War he was attached to General Sir Ian Hamilton’s Headquarters staff, which was preparing for the landings at Gallipoli, due to his in depth knowledge of ‘all things Turkish.’ Following the landings at Cape Helles on 25 April 1915, several senior officers had been killed, so on 26 April Charles organised and led an attack against the village and fort at Sedd-el-Bahr. Although successful, Charles and his second in command were both killed at the moment of victory. Charles was 46 years old, and was buried close to where he was killed. His grave is today the only solitary Commonwealth war grave on the Gallipoli peninsula. He was posthumously awarded the Victoria Cross for his actions, and was a man whose extraordinary life would merit a complete book being written and is commemorated on the Altar in Eglwys Dewi Sant alongside Harry Herbert Coe.
David Jones, Guardsman, 22441, Grenadier Guards. David was born at Cwm Gilfachwen, Llandyssul, the son of John and Anne Jones. He enlisted at Bargoed into the 1st Battalion, Grenadier Guards, who moved to France in September, 1914 attached to 20 Brigade, 7th Division. The Division was formed during September, 1914 and landed at Zeebrugge on 6 October 1914. The city was already falling to the Germans, so the division moved to Ypres, becoming the first British division to hold the city. It fought during the First Battle of Ypres, helping stem the German advance through Belgium, and in March 1915 fought at the Battle of Neuve Chapelle. During May it took part in the Battles of Aubers Ridge, and Festubert, before the Grenadiers were transferred to 3 Guards Brigade, Guards Division on 4 August 1915. The battalion next saw action at the Battle of Loos from 25 September onwards, before moving to Calais in 1916 to rest. In May the Division moved to Ypres, and this is where David was killed in action on 8 May 1916, aged 21. He is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Belgium.
World War Two, 1939-1945
John Evans, Ordinary Seaman, Merchant Navy. John was the son of John and Frances Evans, of Garregwen, Bangor Teifi. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the London registered cargo steamer, SS Pontypridd. He was killed on 3 February 1940, while his ship was in dock at Barry Roads. John slipped and fell down steps into No. 1 Hold. He was just 21 years old. John is not a casualty of war, so he is not commemorated by the CWGC. His ship was lost on 11 June 1942 after having been torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-569.
John Morgan Jones, Flight Sergeant (Pilot), 1313908, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. John was from Bercoedisaf, and was the brother of Tom Jones, of Pentrecwrt Post Office. After joining the Royal Air Force he was posted to No. 58 Operational Training Unit at RAF Tealing near, Angus, Scotland, for training as a fighter pilot. On 29 December 1943, John was flying Spitfire P8650, when he hit some trees during a low flying exercise, and crashed. John was killed in the accident, and was brought home for burial at Bwlchygroes Independent Chapelyard.
Teifi Jones, Aircraftman 1st Class, 1123171, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Teifi was the son of John and Ellen Jones, of Cwmgilfachwen. He served in the RAFVR, and had been captured at some time by the Japanese in the Far East, and given the POW No. 2659. Teifi was taken to Sandakan Number 2 Camp, and the British were later moved from this camp to the Number 1 Camp about 15 April 1945. Survivors were then moved back to a wired section of Number 2 Camp on 29 May 1945. Teifi is recorded as having died of Malaria while a POW, on 21 July 1945. There is evidence of a large number of POW’s murdered by the Japanese on the ‘Sandakan Death Marches’ as they were killed, and their deaths attributed by the Japanese to disease. Teifi was 23 years old, and is remembered on the Singapore Memorial.
Evan Glyn Lewis, Trooper, 7914874, Royal Tank Regiment. Evan was born on 12 June 1917, the son of Evan and Achsah Lewis, of Pantrhiw. He enlisted into the army and was posted to the 46th (The Liverpool Welsh) Battalion, Royal Tank Regiment. The regiment formed part of the 8th Armoured Division and embarked in May 1942 for service in the Middle East, taking part in the campaign against Rommel’s Afrika Korps. The main weapon of the 46th Battalion was at the time the Valentine Tank. One Squadron of the battalion took part in the Battle of Alam el Halfa on 31 August and later that year took part in the Second Battle of El Alamein. The battle effectively saw the end of the Afrika Korps and the battalion was moved to Egypt. Evan was killed in Egypt on 22 December 1942, aged 25, and is buried at El Alamein War Cemetery, Egypt.
Details on the Memorials
I OGONEDDU DUW
AC I ANRHYDEDDU Y RHAI
CANLYNOL FU YN GWASANAETHU
YN Y RHYFEL MAWR 1914-1918.
COL. E. C. L. FITZWILLIAMS, C.M.G: R.A.S.C., BRYNTEIFI
CAPT. J. E. REES, R.A.M.C. (GILFACHGLYD)
L.CPL. C. W. TAYLOR, 4 W.R. (BLAENDYFFRYN FARM)
PTE. D. JONES, W.R. (LLAINFFYNNONDDEWI)
SPR. T. DAVIES, R.E. (FRON)
SPR T. D. JONES, R.E. (LLEINAU)
GNR. D. J. DAVIES, R.C.A. (GILFACHRONW)
PTE. J. HAMER, R.C.A. (GILFACHRONW)
PTE R. WILLIAMS, S.W.B. (RECTORY)
PTE E. H. REES, N.Z.EX.F. (GILFACHGLYD)
PTE T. HEAD, S. LANCS. (BWLCHMELYN)
PTE F. FAULKNER, 4 W.R. (TROEDRHIWRHWCH)
PTE J. LL. JONES, YORKS. REGT. (TROEDRHIWRHWCH)
PTE D. JAMES, A.V.C. (LAN)
PTE H. SIMPSON, 4 W.R. (BERCOEDGANOL)
AC HEFYD I GOFIO YN BARCHUS AM:-
SGR. E. W. DAVIES, 2 W.R. (ABERBANK SCHOOL HOUSE)
PTE. D. JONES, GREN. GDS. (CWMGILFACHWEN)
A ABERTHASANT EU BYWYDAU AR FAES Y GAD YN FFRAINC.
“LLAW Y DEWRION FU’N LLANW’R DORAU.”
AC ETO I GOFIO’N BARCHUS AM Y RHAI CANLYNOL
A GOLLASANT EU BYWYDAU YN Y RHYFEL 1939-1945.
O.S. J. EVANS, M.N.
TROEDYRHIW.
FLT. SGT. J. M. JONES, R.A.F.
BERCOEDISAF.
A/C T. JONES, R.A.F.
CWMGILFACHWEN.
TPR. E. G. LEWIS, LIVL. WELSH
PANTRHIW.
“EU HOES FER ETO SIERYD
O GLORIAU BEDD AR GLYW’R BYD.”
Details of Those Who Served and Returned
COL. E. C. L. FITZWILLIAMS, C.M.G., R.A.S.C. (BRYNTEIFI). Edward Crawford Lloyd Fitzwilliams was born at Straleven, Dunbartonshire, in 1872 the son of Charles Home Lloyd Fitzwilliams and Margaret Alice Fitzwilliams (nee Crawford), of Brynteifi, Llandyfriog. On 27 April 1899 he married Maud Collinssplatt. He was educated at Wellington College before being commissioned in the Welsh Regiment in 1899 and saw service in the Boer War. He commanded the 12th Divisional Train, Army Service Corps during the Great War and upon returning home to Wales became very active in local life, becoming JP and DL for Cardiganshire and Carmarthenshire as well as a member of the governing body of the Church in Wales, a Wales Area Representative for the British Legion, a Freemason and Grand Deacon of England. Edward died on 10 July 1936.
CAPT. J. E. REES, R.A.M.C. (GILFACHGLYD). John Edward Rees was born in 1887, the son of John and Sarah Rees, of Gilfachlyd, Bangor Teifi. He was commissioned into the Royal Army Medical Corps and served with the rank of Captain during the North Russian campaign of 1919. He died at home at Lindenhurst, Adpar on 18 July 1931 aged 44.
L.CPL. C. W. TAYLOR, 4 W.R. (BLAENDYFFRYN FARM). Lance Corporal Taylor was presumably a farm worker at Blaendyffryn prior to the war and served with the 4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment.
PTE. D. JONES, W.R. (LLAINFFYNNONDDEWI). David was born in about 1880, the son of David and Anne Jones, of Llain Ffynon Ddewi, Bangor Teifi. He worked as a carpenter along with his father and his brother Evan prior to the war. David served with the Welsh Regiment during the war.
SPR. T. DAVIES, R.E. (FRON). Thomas was born in about 1883, the son of Evan and Rachel Davies, of Fron, Bangor Teifi. He worked as a Mason prior to the war, before serving with the Royal Engineers.
SPR T. D. JONES, R.E. (LLEINAU). Thomas Daniel Jones was the son of Thomas and Dinah Jones, of Lleinau Farm, Bangor Teifi. He enlisted in the Pembrokeshire Yeomanry on 26 July 1915 and had attested for overseas service before being transferred to a Tunnelling Company of the Royal Engineers on 19 June1916, with the service number 175522. He served in France from 8 July 1916 and suffered gunshot wounds to his arms and legs at Cambrai on 20 November 1917. Thomas spent several months in various hospitals before being discharged from the army on 18 February 1919 and returned to the family farm, marrying Mary Lewis in 1929 and raising three sons and a daughter. He died in 1966, aged 73, and is buried in Bangor Teifi Churchyard.
GNR. D. J. DAVIES, R.G.A. (GILFACHRONW). David John Davies was born in 1883, the son of Evan and Frances Anne Davies, of Gilfachronw, Bangor Teifi. He was educated at Pencader Grammar School prior to returning to his parents farm and served during the war with the Royal Garrison Artillery.
PTE. J. HAMER, R.G.A. (GILFACHRONW). Private Hamer was most probably a farm worker at Gilfachronw prior to the war. He was not working there during the time of the 1911 Census, so must have been there at some time between then and 1914. He also served with the Royal Garrison Artillery, presumably enlisting with David John Davies.
PTE R. WILLIAMS, S.W.B. (RECTORY). Richard was from Aberystwyth, but worked at The Rectory, Bangor Teifi prior to the war. He served with a Pioneer Battalion (either the 5th or 6th) of the South Wales Borderers in France for over eighteen months, and was honoured with a welcome home reception whilst on leave at Bangor Teifi in September 1918.
PTE E. H. REES, N.Z.EX.F. (GILFACHGLYD). Enoch Howell Rees was born on 1 May 1888, the son of John and Sarah Rees, of Gilfachlyd, Bangor Teifi. He served an engineering apprenticeship at Maesteg before migrating to New Zealand prior to the war, where he took up farming. He enlisted into the New Zealand Expeditionary Force on 29 June 1916 and was posted to their Army Service Corps. Enoch then sailed for England and disembarked at Plymouth on 29 December 1916. He remained in England for six months before being posted to France, but his health soon broke down and he was hospitalised to London. Enoch married Catherine Williams at Tabernacl Chapel, Bridgend on 12 June 1917 before being discharged from the NZEF on 9 November 1917. He died at Bridgend in 1969, aged 80.
PTE T. HEAD, S. LANCS. (BWLCHMELYN). Thomas was born in Bath in about 1880 and by 1901 had moved to Bangor Teifi. In 1904 he married Mary Cooper, a domestic servant from Manchester, at Bangor Teifi and the couple lived at Bwlchmelyn. Thomas worked as a general labourer. He served with the South Lancashire Regiment during the war. He died in 1958, aged 78, and is buried in Bangor Teifi Churchyard.
PTE F. FAULKNER, 4 W.R. (TROEDRHIWRHWCH). Alfred (Fred) Faulkner was born in Hexton, Middlesex on 9 September 1896, the son of George Faulkner. He worked for Thomas Jones at Troedrhiwrhwch Farm prior to the war. He enlisted into the 4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment on 20 June 1916, before being transferred to the 17th Welsh then to the 9th Welsh, spending eighteen months in France. He remained in the army after the war and joined the 1st Welsh at Pembroke Dock. He was discharged from the Welsh Regiment on 31 August 1920 after having served with the 1st Welsh in India and returned to Troedrhiwrhwch. Fred died at Carmarthen in 1980, aged 83.
PTE J. LL. JONES, YORKS. REGT. (TROEDRHIWRHWCH). Jenkin Llewelyn Jones was born on 7 September 1897, the son of Ben and Elinor Jones, of Troedyrhiw, Llandyssul. He worked for Thomas Jones at Troedrhiwrhwch Farm prior to the war and served with the Yorkshire Regiment. He died on 23 May 1988.
PTE D. JAMES, A.V.C. (LAN). David James was born in Bangor Teifi in 1890, the son of Hannah James, and was raised by his grandmother, Mary James, at Troedyrhiw. Hehad worked as a farm labourer at Lan prior to the war and served with the Royal Army Medical Corps with the service number SE/22828.
PTE H. SIMPSON, 4 W.R. (BERCOEDGANOL). Henry Simpson was born in London in about 1893, possibly the son of Henry and Lucy Simpson. Prior to the war worked for Evan and Hannah Evans at Bercoedganol Farm. He served during the war with the 4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Henry returned to Bangor Teifi after the war and married Elizabeth Jones in 1918. He died in 1964, aged 71, and is buried in Cynwyl Elfed.