Rhayader war memorial

PWMP logoRhayader war memorial

rhayader_war_memorialThe clock tower in the centre of Rhayader was unveiled in 1924 as a memorial to the local people who died in the First World War. Names of those who died in the Second World War were added later. To discover who they were, choose a category below.

First World War

Second World War

The stone carvings on each face of the tower include a depiction of a dragon killing an eagle, representing Wales and Germany respectively.

The memorial covers the parishes of Rhayader, Abbeycwmhir, Cwmdauddwr, Llanwrthwl, Nantmel and St Harmon.

Among those named is Major Harry Hickman Bromfield, who was Radnorshire’s chief constable (most senior police officer) before joining the war effort. He died in the Battle of the Somme in 1916.

Although Rhayader is far from the sea, four of the men named on the war memorial were senior officers in the Royal Navy. They include Lieutenant Martin Ricardo Gibson-Watt, who was awarded the DSC in 1941 for his service on HMS Dainty. In December that year his ship, HMS Kandahar, was sent to rescue two other ships which had hit mines near Libya. HMS Kandahar also hit a mine, with the loss of 73 men, including Martin. His parents lived at Doldowlod. He is also commemorated in Llanyre church.

With thanks to Phillip Jones, author of ‘Early Birds and Boys in Blue’ (a history of Radnorshire airmen)

Postcode: LD6 5BH    View Location Map

 

 

First World War

Where shown, click this icon for our page in memory of the person: Extra page icon

  • Abel, Oswald.
  • Arthur, Thomas, Serjeant 14599. Died 09/05/1917 aged 38. South Wales Borderers. Buried Karasouli Military Cemetery. Son of John and Mary Arthur, farmers of Wernfawr, Llanganten; husband of Minnie Arthur of Silverton, 7, Pentonville, Newport. Was an accomplished cross-country runner and captain of Newport Harriers Athletic Club. Killed by a shell splinter as he led his men in Greece.
  • Bacon, Harry Lloyd, Lieutenant. Died 20/01/1918. Royal Navy - HMS Raglan. Buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Turkey. Son of Mr and Mrs Joseph Bacon, of the Warwick Temperance Hotel; husband of Emily Bacon (nee Jones) of Rhayader. Lost with 126 others after his ship was sunk.soldier icon
  • Bird, William.
  • Breese (Breeze on memorial), John Samuel, 13380. Died 17/12/1916 aged 30. King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. Thiepval Memorial. Brother of Mrs Eugenie Morris, of 23, Cross Street, Ystrad Rhondda. Born in Llanidloes.
  • Bromfield, Harry Hickman, Major. Died 10/09/1916 aged 47. Welsh Guards. Thiepval Memorial. Awarded Distinguished Service Order. Son of Henry and Mary Elizabeth Bromfield; husband of Ethel Philippa Bromfield, daughter of Sir Charles Phillips of Picton Castle, Haverfordwest. Served in the South African War. Was chief constable of Radnorshire. Left a son. Lived at Penlanole, Rhayader, before moving to The Leas, Knighton. Had served in the South African War, 1900-1902.
  • Bywater, John Charles, Private 40082. Died 28/05/1918. South Wales Borderers. Soissons Memorial.
  • Charlton, John (Jack), Private 11326. Died 24/04/1917. Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders. Arras Memorial. Second son of Mr and Mrs RJ Charlton, of The Gardens, Doldowlad.
  • Curtis, Arthur, Private 355054. Died 12/03/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Jerusalem War Cemetery.
  • Curtis, John, Gunner 170610. Died 06/08/1917 aged 19. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Sarigol Military Cemetery. Son of George Richard and Annie Curtis of Penporth House, Church Street.
  • Davies, Albert, Corporal 21117. Died 27/10/1917. Lancashire Fusiliers. Buried Dozinghem War Cemetery.
  • Davies, Ben. Possibly: Davies, Benjamin, Private 41265. Died 25/11/1917 aged 19. South Wales Borderers. Cambrai Memorial. Son of Harriet Davies of Woodside Cottage, Penybont Station.
  • Davies, G.
  • Davies, T.
  • Davies, John 64471. Died 08/10/1918 aged 21. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Bois-des-Angles British Cemetery, Crevecoeur-sur-l’Escaut. Son of Alexandra and Rachel Rees, of 46, Pentwyn Avenue, Penrhiwceiber, Glamorgan. John lived at the Crown Inn, Rhayader. He, or the John Davies below, is listed as JM Davies on the war memorial.
  • Davies, John, Private 17425. Died 10/09/1915 aged 50. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried Potijze Burial Ground Cemetery. Husband of Margaret Davies of St. Lythans House, Wenvoe, Cardiff.
  • Davies, John Rees, Pioneer 269540. Died 08/08/1917 aged 39. Royal Engineers. Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Son of J Davies of Oakfield, House, Llanafan; husband of M Davies of 33, Wye View Terrace, Builth Road.
  • Davies, Ralph Llewelyn John, Second Lieutenant. Died 05/05/1918 aged 18. Royal Air Force. Buried Llansantffraed Cwmdauddwr (St. Bride) Churchyard. Son of Llewelyn and Winifred Davies of The Firs. Educated at Llandovery College. Enlisted in Royal Flying Corps in 1917, six days after his 18th birthday. Died when his Sopwith Camel, D9544, crashed during a training flight.
  • Day, George Francis Hermitage, Second Lieutenant. Died 10/09/1916 aged 20. Royal Field Artillery. Thiepval Memorial. Son of the Reverend Dr and Mrs E Hermitage Day of Newton House, Belmont, Hereford, formerly of Abbeycwmhir.
  • Evans, David, Private 235774. Died 27/03/1917. Herefordshire Regiment. Jerusalem Memorial.
  • Evans, Henry.
  • Evans, John.
  • Evans, Reginald, Private 8194. Died 06/02/1918 aged 23. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Rhayader (St. Clement) Churchyard. Son of Thomas and Mary Evans of Caerherhert Lane.
  • Evans, Richard William, Serjeant 751. Died 25/04/1918 aged 59. Welsh Regiment. Buried Middlesbrough (Linthorpe) Cemetery. Long Service and Good Conduct Medal. Stepson of Richard and Sophia Probert of Castle Row. Not named on Rhayader war memorial.
  • Evans, WES, Gunner 128524. Died 16/09/1919. Royal Garrison Artillery. Buried Rhayader (St. Clement) Churchyard.
  • Farmer, Fred, Private 27744. Died 18/11/1916 aged 18. Border Regiment. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Mary Farmer of Lower Rhymmy.
  • Francis, Thomas.
  • Hamer, Frederick Arthur Bowen, Private 2283. Died Between 20/09/1917 and 23/09/1917 aged 24. Royal Fusiliers. Tyne Cot Memorial. Son of William Bowen and Eda Blanche Hamer of Hazelmere.
  • Hamer, Samuel. Initially was a Private in the Territorial Force, Breconshire Battalion.
  • Hughes, Albert Edward W, Private 3110. Died 06/09/1915. Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Buried Kildare (St. Bridget) Cathedral Cemetery.
  • Hughes, Edward.
  • Hughes, Matthew Henry, Private 10027. Died 19/10/1914. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried at Harlebeeke New British Cemetery. Son of Mr and Mrs D Hughes of Castle Row. Not named on Rhayader war memorial.
  • Ingram, Evan, Private 13109. Died 30/09/1915 aged 27. Devonshire Regiment. Loos Memorial. Son of Richard and Harriet Ingram of Hirfron Farm, Pantydwr.
  • Jones, Abraham. (Possibly a Private in Herefordshire Regiment.)
  • Jones, David. Probably: Jones, DL, Private 201801. Died 11/04/1919. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Llansantffraed Cwmdauddwr (St Bride) Churchyard.
  • Jones, John Owen, Lance Corporal G/67398. Died 21/03/1918 aged 33. London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers). Buried Chauny Communal Cemetery. Son of Philip and Margaret Jones; husband of Evelyn Jones of 6 Dumphries Place, Brynmawr, Breconshire. Worshipped at the Congregational Church.
  • Jones, James. Possibly Corporal in Herefordshires
  • Jones, Joseph. Possibly Corporal in Herefordshires
  • Jones, Thomas, Private 17197. Died 18/09/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Vis-en-Artois Memorial.
  • Jones, Thomas. Possibly Private 1st Scots Guards. Or could be Sgt TB Jones, RGA. Or could be Private Tom Jones, SW Borderers.
  • Jones, William Gordon, Private 85385. Died 30/10/1918 aged 19. Durham Light Infantry. Buried Lidzbark Warminski War Cemetery. Son of William and Annie Jones of Green Square, Llanfyllin, Montgomeryshire.
  • Keylock, Alfred James, Private 46127. Died 29/09/1918 aged 27. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Salonika (Lembet Road) Military Cemetery.
  • Leach, J, Private TR4/76524. Died 21/12/1920. Welch Regiment. Buried Llansantffraed-Cwmdeuddwr (St. Bride) Churchyard. Not named on Rhayader war memorial.
  • Leach, Stephen Thomas, Private 236547. Died 06/11/1917. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Beersheba War Cemetery.
  • Lewis, Gerald S
  • Lewis, Jason, Private 15436. Died 18/09/1918.
  • Lewis, Octavius Hughes, Private 17267. Died 25/09/1915 aged 25. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Menin Gate Memorial. Son of Thomas and Ann Lewis of Gilfach, Nantmel.
  • Lewis, OH.
  • Lloyd, Edward P.
  • Lloyd, Harry.
  • Lloyd Henry, Corporal 13143. Died 22/08/1915. South Wales Borderers. Helles Memorial.
  • Lloyd, Norton Garland, Private 3513440. Died 24/07/1920 aged 18. Manchester Regiment. Basra Memorial. Son of Mrs. E. Lloyd of The School House, Gaufron.
  • Lloyd, R E Lewis, Lieutenant. Died 12/01/1918. Royal Navy – HMS Opal. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Lived at Nantgwillt.
  • Mason, Frank, Serjeant 3/8677. Died 14/03/1918 aged 31. Dorsetshire Regiment. Buried Grevillers British Cemetery. Grandson of Elizabeth Owen of 3, Castle Road.
  • Meredith, Thomas Herbert, Corporal 1129. Died 26/06/1915 aged 38. Australian Infantry. Lone Pine Memorial. Son of Morgan Price and Jane Eliza Meredith of Newtown. Native of Rhayader. Was shot in the head in May 1915 during the attempted invasion of Turkey at Gallipoli, went to a Greek island for treatment and returned to the fray in June, but died as a result of the wound soon after.
  • Micah, Ben.
  • Morgan, Edward Pryce, Company Quartermaster Serjeant 355031. Died of eneteric fever 14/02/1918 aged 46. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Cairo War Memorial Cemetery. Husband of Mary Morgan of Drill Hall. Uncle of George Morgan, below.
  • Morgan, George, Private 8258. Died 21/08/1915. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery. Husband of AL Morgan of North Street. Nephew of Edward Pryce Morgan, above. Died from tetanus after being wounded. Left two children.
  • Morgan, Leonard Samuel, Private 238945. Died 16/02/1917 aged 19. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Abbeycwmhir (St. Mary) Churchyard. Son of Samuel and Mary Morgan of Mill House, Abbey Cwmhir.
  • Morris, Edwin Thomas, Private 09370. Died 09/12/1915 aged 22. Army Ordnance Corps. Buried Alexandria (Chatby) Military and War Memorial Cemetery. Son of Evan and Lucy Morris of Ty Cerrig. Brother of Evan, below.
  • Morris, Evan Price, Second Lieutenant. Died 08/10/1918 aged 27. North Staffordshire Regiment. Buried Bois-Des-Angles British Cemetery. Son of Evan and Lucy Morris of Ty Cerrig.
  • Middleton, W T, Private 19857. Died 18/08/1916 aged 24. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried Guillemont Road Cemetery. Son of Philip Middleton of Doleregllyn Cottage, Doldowlod.
  • Mills, David Joseph, Private 174967. Died of malaria 19/11/1917 aged 32. Army Service Corps. Buried Dar Es Salaam War Cemetery. Son of William Mills of Clewedog Cottage, Penybont Station, also of Brookside, Crossgates.
  • Mills, Thomas, Lance Corporal 8209. Died 19/08/1915 aged 25. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Azmak Cemetery. Son of C. and S. Mills of 29, Middleton Road, Oswestry. Was a booking clerk at Rhayader railway station.
  • Mytton, Thomas Davies, Private 55484. Died 09/06/1918 aged 26. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Mesnil Communal Cemetery. Son of Richard and Alice Mytton of Cwmhir Cottage, Abbey-Cwmhir, Penybont Station.
  • Page, R Harold, Private 8226. Died 19/08/1915 aged 19. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Azmak Cemetery. Son of John and Matilda Page. Was born in Rhayader, where his father had a bakery and confectionery business. After his mother’s death, Harold lived at Bryncoed, Llandrindod, with grandparents Mr and Mrs Richard Breeze. Having been wounded in the attempted invasion of Turkey at Gallipoli, Harry was being carried on a stretcher when a single sniper’s bullet killed one of the stretcher bearers and Harry.
  • Palmer, Dave.
  • Perry, Jack William, Private 37206. Died 31/07/1917 aged 35. Worcestershire Regiment. Menin Gate Memorial. Son of David Perry of 4, Elan Village; husband of Harriett Amanda Perry of 191, Bromford Lane, Erdington, Birmingham.
  • Philips, David, Private 19903. Died 07/04/1916 aged 23. South Wales Borderers. Buried Gezaincourt Communal Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Sarah Phillips of Gammallt. Not named on Rhayader war memorial.
  • Price, F Archibald, Private 381535. Died 11/04/1918 aged 25. The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Loos Memorial. Son of R. Price of 7, Rock Cottages; husband of Mrs. S. Price of 15, Mill Street, Kington, Herefordshire.
  • Price, John Edward, Private 39644. Died 01/08/1917 aged 31. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Menin Gate Memorial. Son of Edward and Dinah Price of Upper Mill.
  • Price, Thomas R, Private 2022. Died 10/06/1915 aged 20. Montgomeryshire Yeomanry. Buried Rhayader (Tabernacle) Congregational Churchyard. Son of Richard and Harriet Price of Ffynonfair.
  • Prickard, Gerald Thornton, Second Lieutenant. Died 04/06/1915 aged 30. South Wales Borderers attached to Royal Dublin Fusiliers. Helles Memorial. Son of Reverend William Edward and Maria Georgiana Prickard of Dderw.
  • Pritchard, Samuel Charles, Guardsman 25621. Died 14/02/1917 aged 23. Grenadier Guards. Buried Grove Town Cemetery. Son of William and Fortune Pritchard of Hill House, Penybont.
  • Pryce, John.
  • Rees, Edward William, Private 3672. Died 01/12/1917 aged 19. Welsh Guards. Cambrai Memorial. Son of James and Mary Rees of Penpistyll.
  • Rees, James Humphreys, Gunner 214958. Died 24/03/1918 aged 21. Royal Field Artillery. Buried St Pierre Cemetery. Son of James and Mary Rees of Penpistyll Cottage.
  • Rees, Morgan. Private, Royal Army Service Corps.
  • Rees, William, Private 1948. Died 16/09/1916 aged 33. Welsh Guards. Buried Serre Road Cemetery. Son of Charles Rees of 24, Exchange Road, Neath.
  • Richardson, WM.
  • Scott, William, Private 242315. Died 23/09/1917 aged 23. Queen's Own (Royal West Kent Regiment). Buried Larch Wood (Railway Cutting) Cemetery. Son of Sarah Scott of Grove Cottage, Cwmdauddwr.
  • Stonebridge, William T, Private 55657. Died 08/05/1918 aged 21. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Tyne Cot Memorial. Son of Arthur and Lucy Stonebridge of Brynawel, Castle Road. Twice previously wounded, including in 1917 when a bullet passed through his throat. Worked at Deep Navigation Colliery, Treharris, Glamorgan, in his early and mid-teens.
  • Thomason, Bert (Herbert), Private 32077 aged 23. Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried Chapelle British Cemetery.
  • Thomas, David.
  • Thomas, Leonard James, Private 2438. Died 30/03/1918 aged 21. Welsh Guards. Buried Etaples Military Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Lizzie Thomas of Tycraig.
  • Thompson, William Thomas Arnold, Private 203678. Died 27/01/1918 aged 21. Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried Llansantffraed Cwmdauddwr (St. Bride) Churchyard. Son of John and Harriet Thompson of Bryn Villa.
  • Walters, David Rees, Private 42141. Died 03/08/1917 aged 25. South Wales Borderers. Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Alice Walters of Water Lane.
  • Weaver, Edwin. Private, Herefordshire Regiment.
  • Webb, William Edward, Private 236113. Died 24/10/1918 aged 24. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Harlebeke New British Cemetery.
  • Whitcombe, Gwilym, Private 236087. Died 06/11/1917 aged 25. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Beersheba War Cemetery. Son of George and Mary Whitcombe of Cefnfaes.
  • Williams, John. Possibly Breconshire Territorials or Private in Herefordshire Territorials
  • Williams, John E. Possibly Breconshire Territorials or Private in Herefordshire Territorials
  • Williams, Hugh Powell Evan Tudor, Captain. Died 15/10/1914 aged 40. Royal Navy – HMS Hawke. Chatham Naval Memorial.  Son of Colonel Hugh P Williams and Rosalie Ellen Williams of Dolgerddon, Rhayader; husband of Phyllis Williams of Upper Culham Farm House, Henley-on-Thames. Had joined the Navy in 1889 and was a gunnery specialist. Awarded Royal Humane Society's Medal in 1895 for jumping into the sea at Milford Haven to rescue a stoker from HMS Dragon. Lost when his ship was torpedoed near Aberdeen.
  • Wozencraft, A D, Private 424258. Died 06/06/1916 aged 36. Canadian Infantry. Menin Gate Memorial. Son of William and Jane Wozencraft.
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Second World War

  • Billingham, David Bridges, Fusilier 4189230. Died 20/06/1946 aged 37. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried Rhayader (St. Clement) Churchyard. Son of David and Harriet Billingham; husband of Emma Frances Billingham.
  • Clive-Davies, Arthur Corfield Somerset, Sergeant 1332179. Died 01/08/1942. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Runnymede Memorial.
  • Davies, Mervyn. Possibly: Private 14574334. Died 14/06/1945 aged 20. The Queen's Royal Regiment (West Surrey). Buried Rangoon War Cemetery. Son of Evan James Davies and Blodwen Davies of Llandrindod Wells.
  • Evans, David.
  • Gibson-Watt, Martin Ricardo, Lieutenant. Died 20/12/1941 aged 21. Royal Navy. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Son of Major James Miller Gibson-Watt and Marjorie Gibson-Watt of Doldowlod.
  • Ingram, Edward, Guardsman 2736377. Died 25/08/1941 aged 26. Welsh Guards. Buried Nantmel (St. Cynllo) Churchyard. Son of Thomas and Ada Ingram; husband of Sylvia Alice Ingram of Cwmfelinfach, Monmouthshire.
  • Jones, John Eric, Bombardier 924117. Died 24/05/1944 aged 30. Royal Artillery. Buried Nantmel (St. Cynllo) Churchyard. Son of Edward and Mary Ann Jones of Upper-Gaufron, Nantmel; husband of Florence Josephine Jones of Upper-Gaufron.
  • Kinsey, Sidney, Crowther, Private 4198018. Died 19/09/1944 aged 27. Welch Regiment. Buried Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. Son of Richard and Margaret Elizabeth Kinsey.
  • Lloyd, Alan Cecil Colin, Aircraftman 2nd Class 577935. Died 28/07/1942 aged 19. Royal Air Force. Buried Heliopolis War Cemetery. Son of Arthur Henry and Emily E. G. Lloyd.
  • Lloyd, James, W.
  • Marshall, Albert E.
  • Mason, Albert, Fusilier 4197065. Died 15/05/1940 aged 21. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried St. Agatha-Rode Churchyard. Son of Arthur Price Mason and Alice Mason of Nantmel.
  • Morgan, Thomas, Sergeant 924905. Died 18/05/1941 aged 23. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Runnymede Memorial. Son of Thomas and Catherine Ellen Morgan.
  • Morgan, Thomas Ivor Valentine, Private 4191496. Died 04/08/1944 aged 27. York and Lancaster Regiment. Buried St. Manvieu War Cemetery. Son of Thomas Hugh and Dorothy Louisa Morgan.
  • Price, D Thomas.
  • Price, John I. Possibly: Price, John Idris, Corporal 510925. Died 13/08/1940 aged 29. Royal Air Force. Buried Maidstone Cemetery. Son of Richard and Evelyn Price; husband of Olive Julia Price of Salisbury.
  • Pugh, Sidney George, Private 14664595. Died 02/03/1945 aged 23. Welch Regiment. Buried Taukkyan War Cemetery. Son of William Henry and Kate Pugh of Nantmel.
  • Sladen, David Ramsay, Second Lieutenant 77698. Died 26/05/1940 aged 21. Rifle Brigade. Buried Calais Southern Cemetery. Son of Brigadier-General David Ramsay Sladen CMG DSO and Isabel Sladen of Rhydoldog.
  • Stephens, Evan Llewellyn, Private QX7852. Died 26/06/1943 aged 38. Australian Infantry. Buried Kanchanaburi War Cemetery. Son of John William and Emmeline Mary Stephens.
  • Williams, David Ivor, Lance Corporal 7683759. Died 20/07/1943 aged 34. Corps of Military Police. Buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery.
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