Betws-y-coed war memorial

link_to_welsh_translationBetws-y-coed war memorial, Memorial Hall, Betws-y-coed

The Memorial Hall was opened in 1929, on a site formerly occupied by the National School. The schoolmaster lived in Bryn y Bont, the cottage next door.

A wooden board inside the hall lists the local men who died in the First World War. The preface reads: “In grateful recognition of the men from this district who fell in the Great War 1914-1919.” Written after the names is: “Let those who come after see to it that their names be not forgotten.”

Another board lists three men and a woman who died in the Second World War. Preface: “In grateful recognition of those from this district who laid down their lives in the war 1939-1945.” Postscript: “Greater love hath no man than this: That a man lay down his life for his friends.”

To read the names and details of the war dead, including some who are not named on the memorial, please select one of the categories below.

With thanks to Adrian Hughes, of the Home Front Museum, Llandudno

Postcode: LL24 0BB

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First World War

Second World War

 

 

First World War
The following men from the Betws-y-coed area died in First World War service or from war wounds.

  • J Atkinson
  • David J Davies
  • Edward Edwards, Captain, died 21/03/1918, age 32.Lincolnshire Regiment 1st Bn. Awarded the Military Cross. Memorial: Pozieres Memorial, France. Son of Griffith and Jane Edwards, of Garth Aran Cottage, Betws-y-coed. Not named on Betws-y-coed war memorial.
  • Robert Hughes, Corporal 18245. Died 11/07/1916 aged 19. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Dantzig Alley British Cemetery. Son of Hugh and Alice Hughes of Oxford House, Bay View Road, Colwyn Bay. Born in Betws-y-coed. Spent many years working on his grandmother's farm, Coed Cynheliar, near Betws-y-coed. Volunteered for the army in November 1914.
  • Arthur Ewart Jones, Second Lieutenant, died 08/08/1915, age 28. Welsh Regiment 8th Bn. Memorial:Helles   Memorial,Turkey. Son of the Rev William and Margaret Anne Jones, of Glanllugwy, Betws-y-coed. Not named on Betws-y-coed war memorial.
  • Ernest Jones, Sapper 240093. Died 10/01/1918 aged 21. Royal Engineers. Buried Les Baraques Military Cemetery. Son of WH and ME Jones of Dwygyfylchi Hotel, Penmaenmawr. Born and lived in Betws-y-coed. Also named on Dwygyfylchi war memorial.
  • Stanley Jones, Private 26066. Died 23/12/1916 aged 20 years. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Artillery Wood Cemetery. Son of Hugh and Hannah Jones, of 2 Gethin Terrace, Betws-y-coed. Was a prominent member of the Tabernacle Congregational Church and Sunday School worker.
  • William Jones, Private, 69263, died 02/10/1918, age 26. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 8th Bn. Memorial: Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Son of Hugh and Hannah Jones, of 2 Gethin Cottage, Betws-y-coed. Was a miner before he was compelled to enlist in 1916.
  • James Muncaster Lovatt, Sergeant 303. Died 25/04/1915, age 34. Australian Infantry. Lone Pine Memorial. Son of James and Mary Elizabeth Lovatt of The Gables, Priory Avenue, Hastings. Born in Didsbury, Manchester. James Lovatt senior owned Coed y Celyn in Betws-y-coed and was formerly a Staffordshire magistrate.
  • David Isaac Morris, Private, 15275, died 01/04/1916, age 23. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10th Bn. Memorial: Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. Son of William and Margaret Morris, of Tŷ Canol, Siloam, Betws-y-coed. Not named on Betws-y-coed war memorial.
  • Robert William Morris, Private 33265. Died 26/09/1917. Hampshire Regiment. Tyne Cot Memorial. His parents lived in Singapore. He lived at Snowdon Villa with Rev Rawson Williams, whose son Alan (below) was also killed in the war. Educated at Llanrwst County School and University College, Bangor.
  • Owen Ellis Owen, Private, 25015, died 29/07/1916, age 37. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 17th Bn. Buried at St Michael’s Churchyard, Betws-y-coed. Son of John and Jane Owen. Born at Traws Afon, Betws-y-coed.
  • William Moses Roberts, Private, 11117, died 02/03/1915, age 50. Devonshire Regiment 1st Bn. Buried at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Robert and Ellen Roberts, of Bethesda; husband of Ellen Roberts, of Glan Dwr, Betws-y-coed. Left three children.
  • Robert Owen Roberts, Private, 3601, died 01/12/1917, age 25. Welsh Guards 1st Bn. Memorial: Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France. Son of David and Mary Roberts, of Pen-yr-Allt, Betws-y-coed.
  • Owen Roberts, Private, 40142, died 20/07/1916, age 21. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 10th Bn. Buried at: London Cemetery And Extension, Longueval, France. Son of Elizabeth Roberts (later Hughes Roberts), of Tŷ Newydd, Betws-y-coed. Known locally as Owen y Clynfryn. Worked in the post office before moving to England and becoming valet to the Duke of Somerset’s brother.
  • John Price Williams, Sapper 149401. Died 11/10/1916, age 32. Royal Engineers. Buried Contay British Cemetery. Son of Robert and Ann Williams of Llanrwst; husband of Hannah Williams of 8 Station Terrace, Betws-y-coed. John was injured on the 8 October 1916 and died of his wounds at a casualty clearing station. He left three children.
  • Alan Rawson Williams, Private, 26070, died 21/05/1916, age 25. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 17th Bn. Buried at: Rue-Du-Bacquerot No.1Military Cemetery, Laventie, France. Son of Rev H Rawson Williams and Mrs M Rawson Williams, of Cartrefle, Betws-y-coed.
  • David Williams, Private 36849. Died 10/07/1916 aged 24. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 14th Bn. Memorial: Thiepval Memorial, France. Son of William Williams, of 126 Manod Road, Blaenau Ffestiniog.
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Second World War
The following people from the Betws-y-Coed area died in active service in the Second World War.

  • William Arthur Davies , Corporal, 4198292, died 13/10/1944, age 28. Royal Welch Fusiliers 7th Bn. Buried at Uden War Cemetery, Netherlands. Son of Mr and Mrs Arthur Davies; husband of Menna Davies, of Betws-y-Coed. Not named on Betws-y-Coed war memorial.
  • Kenneth Dickson Dickie, Leading Aircraftman, 1651581, died 29/02/1944, age 36. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at Heliopolis War Cemetery, Egypt. Son of Thomas Ness Dickie and Sarah Ann Dickie, of Betws-y-Coed. Not named on Betws-y-Coed war memorial.
  • Owen Glyn Edwards, Sergeant, 1293442, died 17/10/1942, age 29. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve, 61 Sqdn. Buried at Ecuisses Communal Cemetery, France. Son of Thomas John and Mary Jane Edwards, of Llanrwst.
  • Herbert Harrison Lewis, Fusilier, 4199354, died 17/07/1944, age 27. Royal Welch Fusiliers 7th Bn. Buried at Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery,France. Son of Charles W and Annie Lewis; husband of Sarah Lewis, of Betws-y-Coed. Not named on Betws-y-Coed war memorial. The 7th battalion RWF landed at Normandy on the 25 June 1944 and were soon involved in fierce fighting. On the night of the 16/17 July, they were fighting around Evrecy. Herbert was killed in action and buried locally. His body was reinterred at Banneville le Campagne cemetery in 1946.
  • Herbert Kitchener Murrin, Leading Airman, FAA/FX. 76383, died 30/05/1940, age 23. Royal Navy HMS Kestrel. Memorial: Lee-On-Solent Memorial.
  • Peter Shaw, Pilot Officer, 173547, died 11/06/1944, age 22. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve 166 Sqdn. Buried at: Mareil-Le-Guyon CommunalCemetery,France. Son of John Standen Shaw and Gladys Kathleen Shaw, of Betws-y-Coed. Not named on Betws-y-Coed war memorial. Peter was educated at Liverpool College and on leaving was an engineering apprentice with the Liverpool Corporation. Aged 18 he volunteered for the Royal Air Force and trained in America and Canada. By June 1944 he was with 166 Squadron. On 10 June he was pilot of a Lancaster bomber with a crew of seven tasked with bombing a railway marshalling yard at Achères near Paris. The plane crashed in the French village of Mareil-le-Guyon, where the crew are buried together. Peter’s father, a bank manager, was a squadron commander in the Royal Flying Corps during the First World War. 
  • Annie Eirlys Thomas, Private, W99925, died 27/05/1943, age 23. Auxiliary Territorial Service. Buried at St Michael’s Churchyard, Betws-y-Coed. Daughter of WR Thomas and Annie Thomas, of Betws-y-Coed.
  • Llewelyn Rhys Williams, Aircraftman 1st Class, 626643, 12/07/1940, age 21. Royal Air Force. Buried at St Michael’s Churchyard, Betws-y-Coed. Son of Thomas Parry Williams and Winifred Williams, of Betws-y-Coed.
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