Borth War Memorial

Borth is situated seven miles north of Aberystwyth, on the estuary of the River Dyfi, overlooking Cardigan Bay. The village was once a thriving fishing port, but is now better known as a popular holiday destination. Several of its caravan parks are overlooked by the Borth War Memorial, which sits on the cliff-top overlooking the town and Cardigan Bay. The men named on the Borth Memorial are also commemorated on several memorials which are located inside the Church. The photographs of the Borth men are from the Cambrian News archives and the National Archives.

The Great War, 1914-1918

Thomas Arter, First Engineer, Mercantile Marine. Thomas was born in 1880, the son of John and Ann Arter, of Bay View, Borth. He served with the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Harbury. Harbury was a defensively-armed merchant steamer. On Saturday 9 June 1917, she was 170 miles from Ushant, when she was torpedoed without warning and sunk by a German submarine. Thomas was among 12 men lost in the sinking that day. He was 36 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

William J. Hughes, Seaman, Mercantile Marine. William cannot presently be identified.

Daniel Evan Jones, First Engineer, Mercantile Marine. Daniel was born in 1886, the son of Jenkin and Margaret Jones, of Caradog, Borth. He served as an engineer in the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Canganian, a Cardiff registered steamer. On 17 November 1916 she was on voyage from Methil to Scapa Flow when she struck a mine which had been laid by the German submarine UC-29, and sank with the loss of 13 lives. Daniel was 31 years old when he died that day, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

David Kenneth Jones, Able Seaman, Mercantile Marine. David was born in 1901, the son of Edward and Mary Jones, of Glanmor House, Borth. He served with the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Heathpark, a steamship. On 5 October 1918, Heathpark was on voyage from Bilbao to Maryport with a cargo of ore, when she was sunk by the German submarine U-91 in the Bay of Biscay. David was among 15 men lost in the sinking. He was 16 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Henry James Jones. Henry was the son of Edward and Mary Jones, of Troedyrhiw, Borth. On 23 November 1917 he set out from Borth Bay aboard a small boat with James and Richard Davies, aiming to carry out some fishing, and also to salvage some floating debris, possibly cork, which they had seen floating in the bay. Nothing more was heard of them, so the lifeboat was launched at 05.00 pm, but no trace of the three was found. Their boat drifted ashore at Aberdovey bar later that day. Henry was just 13 years old, and because he is not a war casualty, is not commemorated by the CWGC.

William Jones, Second Mate, Mercantile Marine. William was born at Borth in 1847. He must have gone to sea whilst young, as no further trace of him can be found locally, and by 1880 he was Master of the Swan. The ship was stranded on Hasborough Sands on 5 November 1880, and William lost his Master’s certificate. He continued to serve at sea, and was torpedoed on 23 March 1918. William then served as Second Mate aboard the Cardiff registered SS Ruysdael. He was drowned when she was torpedoed by a German submarine in the North Atlantic on 7 September 1918. William was over 66 years old by then, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London. William is not commemorated at Borth.

John Morgan Lloyd, Sub Lieutenant, Royal Naval Reserve. John was born at Borth in 1865. He was a Royal Naval Reservist, and prior to the Great War was residing at 75, Broad Street, Barry. John was recalled to the colours in August 1914, and became Captain of the SS Firtree, whilst serving with the Royal Naval Reserve. He became ill, and died in hospital at Dakar on 2 December 1917, aged 51. John is buried at Dakar (Bell-Air) Cemetery, Senegal. He is not commemorated by the CWGC.

Desmond Maurice Macartney-Filgate, Second Lieutenant, Royal Air Force. Desmond was the son of Charles and Mary Macartney-Filgate, of Florence Place, Borth, and grandson of the late Townley Macartney-Filgate, of Lowtherstone, Balbriggan. He enlisted into the Royal Inniskilling Fusiliers, but was discharged after being found to be underage. He turned 18 in the 1917, and was commissioned into the Royal Flying Corps on 9 March 1918, being attached to the 42nd Training Squadron, Royal Flying Corps, where he trained as a pilot. Desmond was seriously injured in a training accident in May 1918, when his engine stalled on a training flight, causing his aircraft to dive into the ground. Desmond died on 31 May 1918, aged just 18. He is buried at Wye (Ss. Mary and Martin) Churchyard, England.

Reverend Edward Rupert Menlow Jenkins Menlove, Rifleman, R/23951, King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Edward was born at St. Martin’s, Oswestry, the son of Reverend John Jenkins Menlove and Mrs Lucy Mary Jenkins Menlove. His father was from Borth, and was vicar of St. Martin’s, and the family often visited relatives back at Borth. Edward was educated at Ellesmere and Oxford prior to becoming curate of Rhos. He then became curate of Bodelwyddan, and lived at Tycelyn prior to the war. He enlisted into the King’s Royal Rifle Corps and was posted to France in 1916, joining the 2nd Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps, which was attached to 2 Brigade, 1st Division. The division was on the Somme during the summer of 1916, preparing to take part in the Somme offensive. Edward was killed in action here on 9 September 1916, aged 31. He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Edward is commemorated at Bodelwyddan, but not at Borth.

Richard Standeford Pullen, MID, Lieutenant, South Staffordshire Regiment. Richard was the son of John Edward Pullen, of Standeford Mill, Wolverhampton, and the husband of Dora G. Pullen, of 84, Cleveland Road, Ealing, London. He had been commissioned on 10 April 1915 into the 1st Battalion, South Staffordshire Regiment, which was attached to 91 Brigade, 7th Division. Richard fought on the Somme with the division in 1916, and the following year it fought at Arras before moving to Ypres. He was killed near Ypres on 26 October 1917, aged 33, and is buried in Hooge Crater Cemetery, Belgium. Richard is not commemorated at Borth, although his son Geoffrey is.

Richard Rees, Seaman, Mercantile Marine. Richard was born at Borth in 1870, the son of Eliza Rees, of 3, New Street, Borth. His father was a mariner, and Richard followed in his footsteps by going to sea. Richard served on the SS War Tabard, a merchant steamship. He became ill, and died in hospital at Glasgow on 30 September 1918. No more is known of Richard, as he is not commemorated by the CWGC.

Thomas Richards, Seaman, Mercantile Marine. Thomas cannot presently be identified.

William Llewellyn Roberts, Ordinary Seaman, Mercantile Marine. William was born at Borth in 1903, the son of son of John Henry and Margaret Roberts. The family later resided at 70, Sunbury Road, Liverpool. William served with the Mercantile Marine aboard the SS Heathpark. On 5 October 1918, Heathpark was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-91 whilst in the Bay of Biscay. William was one of three Borth men killed aboard her that day. He was just 15 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

James Davies Williams, Private, 31899, 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars. James was born at Borth in 1891, the son of David and Annie Williams. The family later moved to 12, Hodson Street, Wigan, where James was raised. James enlisted at Aberystwyth into the 4th (Queen’s Own) Hussars, which was attached to the 3rd Cavalry Brigade, 2nd Cavalry Division. James landed in France on 14 May 1915, joining the battalion after it had suffered heavy casualties in the Neuve Chapelle sector. The 2nd Cavalry Division didn’t see much action during the whole of 1916, but in 1917 saw extensive fighting at Arras, and at Cambrai later in the year. The Cavalry was caught up in heavy fighting during the German offensive on the Somme in March 1918, then at the Lys the following month, and James was wounded during this desperate time. He was evacuated to hospital at Boulogne, where he died of his wounds on 26 April 1918. James was 27 years old, and is buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France.

John Williams, Seaman, Mercantile Marine. John was the husband of Elizabeth Williams, of Eltham House, Borth. He was a long serving mariner, and had been home on leave when he suddenly died in June 1916, aged 60. He was buried at Penygarn Cemetery. John was not a casualty of war, so is not commemorated by the CWGC.

World War Two, 1939-1945

Thomas Daniel Evans, Leading Aircraftman, 1176682, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Thomas was serving with the Royal Air Force, and was based at Singapore during the Japanese invasion of the Far East in December 1942. The fighting in Singapore lasted from 8–15 February 1942, when the huge garrison, comprising of around 80,000 British, Indian and Australian troops became prisoners of war, joining 50,000 taken by the Japanese in the Malayan Campaign. Sadly their surrender was in vain, as many of these men were destined to lose their lives in captivity under the tyrannical Japanese. Thomas died in captivity on 1 March 1943, and is commemorated on the Singapore Memorial.

Ieuan Morgan Griffiths, Chief Officer, Merchant Navy. Ieuan was the son of John and Anne Griffiths, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Hamla, a London registered steam freighter. On 18 August 1942, Hamla was on route from Rio de Janeiro for Britain with a cargo of iron ore when she was torpedoed by the German submarine U-506 and sunk. Ieuan was among the 42 men who died aboard her in the sinking. He was 34 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

John Emlyn Herbert, Master, Merchant Navy. John was the son of John and Margaretta Herbert, of Borth, and the husband of Edith Mary Herbert, of Heath, Cardiff. He served with the Merchant Navy as Captain aboard the SS Dungrange, a Grangemouth registered cargo steamer. After the Normandy invasion of 6 June 1944, Dungrange was employed in shipping arms, supplies and munitions to the Normandy Beach-head from the Isle of Wight. On 10 June 1944 she was on her third trip when a German E-boat attacked her off St Catherine’s Point, and sank the Dungrange with torpedoes. John was among 18 of her crew who perished that day. He was 45 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Raymond Hughes, Deck Boy, Merchant Navy. Raymond was the son of Richard David and Elizabeth Hughes, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Bradfyne, a Bideford registered steamship. On 22 November 1940, Bradfyne was on voyage from Montreal for Belfast, carrying 7,900 tons of grain, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100. Raymond was one of 39 men who perished aboard her that day. He was just 16 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Richard James Jenkins, Private, S/120085, Royal Army Service Corps. Richard was the son of James and Elizabeth Jenkins, of Borth. He served with 5 Field Bakery, Royal Army Service Corps during the war. Richard probably died of wounds suffered during the evacuation of Dunkirk, at Thanet, Kent on 11 April 1940. He was 21 years old, and is buried at Borth (St. Matthew) Churchyard.

John Hubert Hughes Jones, Volunteer, Home Guard. John was the son of William David Jones, and of Elizabeth Jones, of Chepstow, Monmouthshire. He served with the 3rd City of London (Farringdon) Battalion, Home Guard. John died on active service on 9 September 1940. He was 34 years old, and is buried at Penygarn Calvinistic Methodist Cemetery, Tirymynach.

John Ivor Kinsey, First Radio Officer, Merchant Navy. John was the son of David Thomas Kinsey and Margretta Kinsey, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Dalblair, which was a Newcastle-on-Tyne registered cargo steamer. On 29 August 1940, Dalblair was on route from The Tyne for Philadelphia in ballast, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100. John was among 24 men lost from a total crew of 42. He was 33 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Evan William Lewis, Boatswain, Merchant Navy. Evan was the son of Evan and Elizabeth Jane Lewis, of Borth, and the husband of Mary Elizabeth Lewis, of Rhyl, Flintshire. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Bradfyne, a Bideford registered steamship. On 22 November 1940, Bradfyne was on voyage from Montreal for Belfast, carrying 7,900 tons of grain, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-100. Evan was one of 39 men who perished aboard her that day. He was 46 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Stanley Thomas Lloyd, Second Engineer Officer, Merchant Navy. Stanley was the son of Thomas Jones Lloyd and of Alice Gertrude Lloyd (nee Harris), of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Empire Turnstone, a London registered steamship. On 22 October 1942, Empire Turnstone was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-621, and sank off Iceland. Stanley was 36 years old when he died that day, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Fred Matthews, Army. This man cannot presently be identified.

William Milburn, Gunner, 794874, Royal Artillery. William was the son of Charles and Jane Elizabeth Milburn, and the husband of S. E. Milburn, of Borth. He served with 6 H.A.A. Regiment, Royal Artillery. The regiment sailed for the Far East in November 1941, and arrived at Singapore, where it was equipped. It then sailed for Sumatra on 30 January 1942, where it took up air defence duties for the local airfields. The following months, Japanese paratroopers attacked Sumatra, and the surviving garrison on the island was evacuated to Java. William was captured by the Japanese and some stage, and was sent to 114 Kilo Camp in Burma, working on the infamous ‘death railway’. He died in the camp on 20 December 1943, aged 32, and is buried at Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery, Myanmar.

Frederick James Bill Moore, Petty Officer Supply, P/M 39205, Royal Navy. Frederick was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Frederick Henry Wells Moore, of Craigwen, Glanywern, Borth, and the husband of Ruth Phyllis Moore, of Lyminster, Sussex. He served with the Royal Navy aboard HMS Greyhound, a G-class destroyer. Greyhound took part in the Norwegian Campaign in April 1940, and then in the Dunkirk evacuation in May. Frederick suffered gunshot wounds to the chest during the evacuation and died at Horton Emergency Hospital, Epsom on 11 August 1940. He was 35 years old, and is buried at Portchester (St. Mary) Churchyard, Dorset.

Geoffrey Hiram Standeford Pullen, Pilot Officer, 62021, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Geoffrey was born at Wednesbury, Staffordshire in 1916 the son of Lt. Richard Standeford Pullen and Dora I. G. Pullen. His father had been killed at Ypres on 26 October 1917, whilst serving with the South Staffordshire Regiment, so Geoffrey never saw him. Geoffrey resided at Rose Cottage, Dolybont, Porth prior to the war, and became a pilot with 405 (R.C.A.F.) Squadron, Royal Air Force. No. 405 Squadron was formed at Driffield, Yorkshire, on 23 April 1941, and flew the RCAF’s first bombing operation ten weeks later, equipped with the Vickers Wellington. Geoffrey was killed when his Wellington was shot down on one of the first raids, on 17 June 1941. He was 25 years old, and is commemorated on the Runnymede Memorial, Surrey.

David Daniel Jenkyn Richards, Aircraftman 1st Class, 1406999, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. David was the son of David and Jane Richards, of Borth, and the husband of Andree Jeanne Richards, of Newhaven, Edinburgh. He served with the Royal Air Force. David remained in the Royal Air Force after the war, and died at home on 23 May 1946. He was 25 years old, and is buried at Penygarn Calvinistic Methodist Cemetery, Tirymynach.

Donald Rudd, Flying Officer (Air Bomber), 55213, Royal Air Force. Donald was the son of William John and Gladys Mary Edwards, of Borth. He served with the Royal Air Force, as an Air Bomber, with 550 Squadron, RAF. On the night of 28 July 1944, Donald was a serving as Air Bomber aboard a Lancaster III, Serial LM455, which took off from RAF North Killingholme, bound for Stuttgart. German night-fighters intercepted the force of almost 500 bombers, shooting down almost 19 percent of the aircraft on the outward flight. Donald’s Lancaster was shot down and crashed near Blamont, Meurthe-et-Moselle, on the morning of 29 July 1944. Donald was 21 years old when he perished in the crash, and he is buried alongside his fellow crewmen at Blamont Communal Cemetery, France.

George William Smith, Corporal, 305538, Royal Horse Guards. George was the son of William and Dorothy Smith, and the husband of Gretta Smith, of Borth. He served with the 2nd Royal Horse Guards during the war. The unit formed part of the D-Day invasion force, as the reconnaissance force for the Guards Armoured Division, equipped with Daimler and Humber armoured cars. They took part in several dangerous assignments in Normandy, and in the subsequent break out from the beach-head, leading the Guards Division up through Northern France. George was killed during an engagement near Amiens on 1 September 1944. He was 23 years old, and is buried at St. Pierre Cemetery, Amiens, France. George is not commemorated at Borth.

David John Thomas, Second Officer, Merchant Navy. David was the son of David and Hannah Thomas, and the husband of Ellen Josephine Thomas, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the MV Shelbrit II, a Swansea registered tanker. David died on 6 May 1940, aged 36, and is buried at Borth (St. Matthew) Churchyard. Shelbrit blew up and sank with the loss of all hands in the Moray Firth on 19 September 1940.

William David Thomas, Assistant Steward, Merchant Navy. William was the son of John Daniel and Lillian Thomas, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Clune Park, a Greenock registered cargo steamer. On 12 February 1941, Clune Park was part of Convoy SLS-64 on voyage from Freetown for Liverpool, and was about 200 miles southeast of the Azores when the German Cruiser Admiral Hipper sailed between the Convoy, and opened fire, sinking six ships and damaging another three before making her escape. Clune Park had been hit by several shells, but was still afloat, and transferred part of her crew to the SS Blairatholl. Eight men were lost in the transfer, one of whom was William. He was 30 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

John Douglas Walters, Gunner, 920412, Royal Horse Artillery. John had been born at Borth, son of Mr. and Mrs. T. Walters. The family later resided at Gwynfryn, Carmarthenshire.  John served with the 4th Regiment, Royal Horse Artillery, which was formed at Helmieh, Egypt in May 1939, moving to Mersa Matruh in early 1940. The battery fired the opening rounds of the campaign in North Africa against the Italians at Sidi Barrani on 8 December 1940, and as part of the 7th Armoured Division, fought in the Western Desert campaign, seeing action again in January 1941 at Bardia, the capture of Tobruk, and at Beda Fomm. John was killed during a period of intense pressure on the British lines around Tobruk on 30 May 1942. He was 26 years old, and is buried at Knightsbridge War Cemetery, Acroma, Libya.

Peter Mitchell Weldon, Deck Boy, Merchant Navy. Peter was born at Borth on 3 June 1920, the son of Charles Weldon and Catherine Weldon (nee Groome). He served with the Merchant Navy as a deck boy aboard the M.V. African Prince. Little is known of Peter but he was reported to have been shot dead by the military authorities in Rangoon on 3 March 1942, aged 19. He is not commemorated by the CWGC.

Enoch Gwynfryn Williams, Sergeant (Navigator), 1582620, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Enoch was the son of Thomas and Mary Williams, of Borth, and the husband of Joyce R. Williams, of Whitmore Reans, Wolverhampton. He served as a Navigator with the Royal Air Force. Enoch was killed when his aircraft crashed during a training exercise in Shropshire on 13 January 1945. He was 25 years old, and is buried at Wolverhampton Borough Cemetery, England.

Evan James Williams, Master, Merchant Navy. Evan was the son of Richard and Mary Williams, of Borth, and the husband of Margaret Jane Williams, of Childwall, Liverpool. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the SS Earlspark, a Greenock registered steamer. On 12 June 1940, Earls Park was on voyage from Sunderland to Bordeaux, with a cargo of coal, when she was torpedoed and sunk by the German submarine U-101. Evan was 59 years old when he died that day, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.

Harry Williams, Royal Air Force. This man cannot presently be identified.

Howard Lloyd Williams, Quartermaster, Merchant Navy. Howard was the son of Richard and Mary Williams, of Borth. He served with the Merchant Navy aboard the MV Abosso, a Liverpool registered ocean liner. On 29 October 1942, Abosso was on voyage from Cape Town to Liverpool, when she was attacked and sunk by the German submarine U-575. Only 31 people survived the sinking, out of around 182 crew, 20 gunners, and 190 passengers aboard. Howard was amongst the dead that day. He was 25 years old, and is commemorated on the Tower Hill Memorial, London.