Machynlleth war memorial

Link to French translationbutton_lang_welshMachynlleth war memorial

This memorial was unveiled in April 1924 by the Marquess of Londonderry. His property in the Machynlleth area included Y Plas. Names of people who died in the Second World War were added to the memorial later.

To read details of the fallen, choose a category below.

First World War

Second World War

The memorial was designed by London-based architect James Leonard Williams. “Coffa’r Dewr” is inscribed near the top of the memorial. This translates as: “Memorial of the Brave”.

The men listed on the memorial include Rowland Jones, who was invalided after being wounded in Salonika in 1917. The ship carrying him home was torpedoed but he survived, and later rejoined the army on the home front. Also named is Rev Emlyn Holt Davies, who left his church job to provide pastoral care to Indian troops on the Western Front.

A little south of the memorial is the former Tabernacl chapel, whose own war memorial and Roll of Honour can be viewed inside the MOMA Wales arts centre.

About the memorial stone:

The memorial has columns of polished Aberdeen granite with caps of polished slate. It is mainly of a Triassic dolomitic conglomerate from Somerset, a strange choice of material. This stone was quarried around Draycot and Westbury-sub-Mendip and was widely used in that area for rubble-stone walling, gateposts and lintels, and for columns in Wells Cathedral. When used ornamentally it is referred to as “Draycot Marble” and is somewhat similar to Radyr Stone (from Cardiff). The memorial was constructed by AS Gilliam of Bryscom Quarries, near Draycot.

With thanks to Rab Jones for allowing us to draw on his detailed research. Also to Michael Statham of the Welsh Stone Forum

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To continue the Machynlleth in WW1 tour, walk a short distance southwards along the main road to MOMA Wales, on the left
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First World War

  • Private Thomas Arnold, 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers. 39053. Died 10th November 1917, aged 26. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial. Born at Pentrehedyn Street, Machynlleth. Son of stonemason David Arnold and Mary Arnold (nee Davies). The family lived at Pantlludw Cottages, Machynlleth. Thomas was a waggoner before the war. His four brothers also served in the army.
  • Private George Arthur Caffrey, Royal Tank Corps. 201266. (Previously with Machine Gun Corps, number 2286.) Died 2nd September 1918, aged 23. Buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery. Son of railway engine driver George Caffrey and wife Minnie Caffrey (nee Easton). The family lived in Poplar Road, Machynlleth.
  • Private Thomas Cudworth, 17th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 61305. Died 1st September 1918, age 21. Son of railway engine driver Thomas John Cudworth and Gwen Lloyd Cudworth (nee Jones). The family lived at Snowdon View. Vis-en-Artois Cemetery, France.
  • Lance Corporal Thomas Owen Davies, 7th Battalion Canadian Infantry. 428278. Died of tuberculosis at Machynlleth 1st March 1921, aged 29. Buried in Penegoes Church Yard. Son of Owen Davies and Mary Ann Davies (nee Hurley). Thomas emigrated to Canada between 1911 and 1915. Some sources suggest that he was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal.
  • Acting Corporal Jethro Davies, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 10507. Died 25th September 1915, aged 22. Loos Memorial, France. Son of farmer Thomas Davies and Mary Davies (nee Roberts), of 29 Pentrehedyn Street. Jethro joined the Army in November 1910, apparently having lied about his age. Brother of Lewis, below.
  • Lance Corporal Lewis John Davies, 25th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 355817. Died of wounds 26th October 1918, aged 22. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Mary Davies, of 29 Pentrehedyn Street. Signed up with the Welsh Horse Yeomanry and was wounded while serving in Palestine in 1917.
  • Rev. Emlyn Holt Davies, Young Men’s Christian Association. Died 18th March 1918, age 43. Cerisy-Gailly Military Cemetery. Son of shoemaker David Edward Davies and Mary Davies (nee Holt). The family lived on Penrallt Street, Machynlleth, until Mary died. David remarried and moved to Aberystwyth. Emlyn was educated at Bangor and London and became a missionary in Calcutta, India. After health problems, he became a Pastor in England. In 1910 he married Winifred Mary Williams, with whom he had three daughters. In 1917 he went to work with the YMCA on the Western Front, providing pastoral care to Indian troops, but contracted meningitis and died in a military hospital. 
  • Lance Corporal Robert Davies, 1st / 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 705. Died of wounds 20th December 1915, aged about 20. Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. Born in Abercegir, near Machynlleth. Son of Richard and Elizabeth Davies. Served at Gallipoli.
  • Second Lieutenant William Ashton Evans, 9th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. Died of wounds 16th November 1916, aged 28. Contay British Cemetery, France. Son of railway engine driver William Henry Evans and Sarah Evans. The family lived in Brickfield Street, Machynlleth. Wounded at the Somme. Worked as an assistant schoolmaster near London before signed up, initially in the cavalry with the 16th (Queen’s) Lancers.
  • Second Lieutenant David Williams Evans, 14th Batt., Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died 8th October 1918, aged 24. Bois-des-Angles British Cemetery, France. Born Blaenau Ffestiniog. Son of quarry clerk William R Evans and Grace Evans.  David moved to Machynlleth to work for the National and Provincial Bank. Awarded the Military Medal in 1917.
  • Private Edward Evans, Royal Army Service Corps. M2/226786. Died 18th February 1920, aged 22. Pieta Military Cemetery, Malta. Son of slate loader Edward Evans and Hannah Evans (nee Edwards), of 24 Pentrehedyn Street, Machynlleth.
  • Private Hugh Philip Evans, 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 235410. Died 4th August 1917, aged 39. Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium. Born in Derwenlas. Son of quarryman Hugh Evans and Ann Evans, of Graigfach, Machynlleth. Hugh (junior) worked on the railway and rose through the ranks to become station master at Boughrood, near Brecon. In 1908 he married Violet Roselle Stephens, with whom he had at least one child. He signed up initially with the South Wales Borderers. 
  • John Evans
  • Private Evan John Ellis, 8th Battalion, The Welsh Regiment. 12443. Died 19th July 1916, aged 28. Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Son of John and Catherine Ellis (nee Edwards) of Maesglas, Machynlleth. Catherine did laundry work after the death of her husband, while Evan was young, and the family lived at Pantlludw Cottages, Machynlleth. Evan was a contractor’s assistant in the South Wales coalfield industry before the war.
  • Harry Fletcher
  • Private Richard Griffiths, 24th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 69416. Died 31st October 1918, aged 27. Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium. Son of horseman and groom Thomas Griffiths and Mary Griffiths (nee Beadle), of Haulfan, Fridd Gate, near Machynlleth. Brother of David, below.
  • Private David Griffiths, 2nd Battalion, Sherwood Foresters Regiment. 73954. Died 28th September 1918, aged 22. Vadencourt British Cemetery, France. Son of John and Catherine Ellis.
  • Private Griffith Ellis Griffiths, 17th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 77493. Died 3rd September, 1918, aged 19. Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France. Son of stonemason Griffith Griffiths and Gwen Griffiths (nee Whittaker), of 23 Pentrehedyn Street, Machynlleth.
  • Corporal Arthur George Gurney, 2nd Battalion, Welsh Regiment. 7870. Died 9th May 1915, aged 29. Le Touret Memorial, France. Born in Caernarfonshire.  In 1911 he was a postman living at 8 Iorwerth Terrace, Machynlleth, with his wife Catherine J Gurney and daughter Margaretta. Catherine died in 1917 and Margaretta in 1929, aged 18.
  • Guardsman Hugh David Hughes, 5th Battalion, Grenadier Guards. 31546. Died 12th July 1918, aged 18. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of huntsman David Hughes and Mary Hughes (nee Jones), of 108 Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth. Worked for the Post Office for four years before enlisting in the Army.
  • Thomas Hughes
  • Private Edward Burton Humphreys, 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 73279. Died 28th November 1917, aged 19. Larch Wood Cemetery, Belgium. Son of stonemason David Humphreys and Annie Humphreys of 34 Pentrehedyn Street, Machynlleth. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel. 
  • Private John (Jack) Richard Humphreys, 11th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 27908. Died 18th September, 1918, aged 24. Doiran Military Cemetery, Greece. Son of railway guard Edward Humphreys and Mary Humphreys, of Meirion House, New Street, Machynlleth.
  • Private Rowland Jones, 2nd/5th Garrison Battalion, Durham Light Infantry. 78068. Died 30th December 1919, aged 40. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of farm labourer Edward Jones and Margaret Jones (nee Ashton), of 61 Maengwyn Street, later 14 Iorwerth Terrace. Wounded while serving in Salonika with the Cheshire Regiment in 1917. Travelling home as an invalid, his ship was torpedoed but he survived and eventually served on the home front with the Durham Light Infantry. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel.
  • Corporal John Haydn Jones, 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 23041. Died 18th February 1916, aged 20. Guards Cemetery, France. Son of tailor Daniel Jones and Elizabeth Jones, of 13 Windsor Terrace, Machynlleth. Worked in his father’s tailoring business before the war.
  • Private Hugh Richard Jones, Army Cyclist Corps. 22222. Died 7th July 1918, aged 24. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of quarryman Richard Jones and Mary Ann Jones, of Rock Terrace, Machynlleth. Lived in Treharris, Glamorgan, before the war.
  • John Jones
  • Private John Rowland Jones, 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 1039 and 290255. Died 26th March 1917, aged 20. Gaza War Cemetery. Son of Boer War veteran and quarryman John Rowland Jones and of Annie Jones (nee Lewis), of 23 Doll Street, Machynlleth. Worked as stone cutter before the war.
  • Private Haydn Lewis, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. 2172. Died 29th March 1919, aged 25. Son of Henry and Jane Lewis. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Worked before the war in the family’s grocery store and bakery at Tower House, near Machynlleth Town Clock. Two of his brothers also served.
  • Private Edward Lewis, 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 4251 and 55299. Died 24th February 1917, aged 26. Mendinghen Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of quarryman John Lewis and Catherine Lewis (nee Jones). The family lived at Rock Terrace, later at New Street.
  • Acting Bombardier David Lewis, Royal Garrison Artillery. 187297. Died 14th April 1919, aged 26. Cologne Southern Cemetery. Son of gardener William Lewis and Sarah Lewis, of Meirion House, Derwenlas. Gave up his studies at Bangor Normal College to join the Army, initially with the Royal Regiment of Artillery. Transferred to the Royal Garrison Artillery in October 1917. He survived the war but continued to serve in the Army, based in Germany. There he fell ill with pleuro pericarditis at a field hospital in March 1919, and died the following month.
  • Private Percy Lewis, 3rd/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 4352. Died 3rd May 1916, aged 33. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of carpenter John Lewis and grocer Jane Lewis, of Milford House, 59 Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth. Graduated from Aberystwyth and taught science at secondary schools before joining the army. He fell ill while training and died in hospital in Chester.
  • Private John Watkin Lewis, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. 9158. Died of war wounds at Tregaron on 31st January 1920, aged 34. Buried in St Peter’s Churchyard, Machynlleth. Son of Margaret Lewis. Joined the Army in 1906, discharged in August 1917.
  • William Lloyd. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel.
  • Private David James William Mathews, 43rd Battalion, Canadian Infantry. 859618. Killed in action 26th October 1917, aged 28. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Born in Llanfair Caereinion. Son of physician and surgeon James Snodgrass Mathews and Mary Ann Mathews (nee Williams). The family lived at Bank Place, Machynlleth, until the father died in 1911. The remainder of the family emigrated to Manitoba, Canada.
  • Sergeant Edward Owen, 1st/7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 39. Killed in action 10th August 1915, aged 40. Helles Memorial, Turkey. Son of carpenter John Owen and Margaret Owen (nee Edwards), of Maengwyn Street, Machynlleth. Worked as a postman before the war. In 1908, Edward married Mary Ellen Gibson, with whom he had three children. The family lived at 1 Iorwerth Terrace. 
  • Lance Sergeant Thomas Edgar Owen, 1st/7th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 613 and 290052. Died 28th November 1916, aged 26. Baghdad (North Gate) War Cemetery. Son of labourer John Owen and Ann Owen, of Tanrallt Street and later Penrallt Street. Edgar worked was a Cambrian Railways engine cleaner before the war.
  • Private George Griffiths Parry, 15th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 291427 and 55996. Killed in action 31st July 1917, aged 28. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Born in Aberystwyth. Son of stonemason John Parry and Elizabeth Parry, of Cemmaes, near Machynlleth.
  • Lance Corporal William Pritchard, 1st/7th Bn., Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 290827. Killed in action 6th November 1917, aged 20. Beersheba War Cemetery. Born in the Newtown district. Son of waggoner William Edward Pritchard and Marion Pritchard, of Graigfach, Machynlleth. Survived the Gallipoli campaign but killed in Palestine.
  • Corporal Maldwyn Richards, 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. 320175. Killed in action 31st October 1917, aged 36. Jerusalem Memorial. Son of lead-mine manager Evan Richards and Eleanor (or Ellen) Richards, nee Thomas, of 11 Windsor Terrace. Joined the Army before the war and served with the Royal Scots Greys and Pembrokeshire Yeomanry.
  • Private John Ellis Roberts, 8th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment. 34229. Killed in action 21st October 1916, aged 27. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Born in Abercegir. Son of boot maker Richard Roberts and Jane Roberts, of Maengwyn Street and later 28 Penrallt Street. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel.
  • Driver William Baxter Roberts, Royal Field Artillery. 701699. Killed in action 31st July 1917, aged 33. Coxyde Military Cemetery. Son of butchers David and Elizabeth Ellen Roberts (nee Jones), whose shop was in Penrallt Street. In 1913 Baxter married Mary Lavinia Sharpe, with whom he had a daughter. The family lived in Cardigan.
  • Sergeant Lloyd Wynn Roberts, 1st / 7th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 1058 and 290266. Killed in action 26th March 1917, aged 34. Gaza War Cemetery. Son of famous harpist Lloyd Roberts and Ellen Roberts (nee Edwards). In 1900 he married Ellen Holt, with whom he had six children. The family lived at Hafodygarreg Cottages in Machynlleth. Survived the Gallipoli campaign but was killed in Palestine.
  • Private Roderick Roberts, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers. 27355. Died 16th October 1919, aged 23. Machynlleth Nonconformist Cemetery. Son of lead miner John Roberts and Jane Roberts (nee Hughes), of 1 Vale View, Machynlleth. Worked as a news boy with WH Smith at Machynlleth railway station before the war. Invalided home from the Middle East in 1918.
  • Alfred Robinson. Died 1920, aged 19. Service details not known. Son of Goat Inn publicans Charles and Ann Robinson (nee Davies). He also had a number of older half-siblings from his father’s first marriage. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel.
  • Private Henry John Rowlands, 13th Battalion, Tank Corps. 301963. Died 25th April 1918, aged 22. Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Born in Cwmparc, Rhondda. Probably raised by his grandparents, railway platelayer Richard Rowlands and Ann Rowlands, of 35 Pentrehedyn Street, Machynlleth. Worked for the Cambrian Railways before the war.
  • Private David Thomas, 15th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 61307. Killed in action 27th July 1917, aged 19. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of railway engine driver Griffith Thomas and Ellen Thomas (nee Vaughan), of 25 Wesley Terrace, Machynlleth. 
  • Private Richard Henry Thomas, 8th Battalion, Canadian Infantry. A22541. Killed in action 8th September 1916, aged 33. Vimy Memorial, France. Born in Derwenlas. Son of builder David Thomas and Jane Thomas (nee Edwards), of 34 Maengwyn Street (after David’s death in 1895). Richard was an ironmonger in 1911, and soon after emigrated to Canada where he married Laura.
  • Private David Rowland Williams, 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards. 2414. Died of wounds 12th September 1916, aged 23. La Neuville Cemetery, Somme, France. Son of house painter Humphrey Jones Williams and Catherine Williams, of 5 Chapel Terrace, Machynlleth. Survived the Gallipoli campaign with the 1st/7th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers but was discharged because of his wounds. Later re-enlisted, joining the Welsh Guards. Worshipped at Tabernacl Chapel.
  • Private John Richard Williams, 15th Bn., Loyal North Lancs. Regiment. 55555. Died of wounds 13th September 1918, aged 21. Hagle Dump Cemetery, Belgium. Son of watch repairer James Williams and Laura Williams (nee Breese), of Doll Street, Machynlleth, later Penegoes, and later 5 Bank Street. Initially served with the Welsh Regiment.
  • Sergeant William Louis Williams, 15th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 290125. Killed in action 27th July 1917, aged 29. Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium. Son of William Jones Williams and Elizabeth Williams (nee Jones), of 27 Doll Street, Machynlleth. Louie, as he was known, married Eleanor Harding in 1911. They lived at Rock Terrace, Machynlleth and had six children.
  • Private John Isaac Williams, 1st Bn., King’s Shropshire Light Infantry. 202121. Killed in action 30th November 1917, aged 36. Son of slate loader Isaac Williams and his wife Catherine Williams (nee Jones), of Graigfach, Machynlleth. John Isaac married Mary Lydia Williams. Together they had four children. They lived in Newport, Shropshire, in 1911, when John Isaac worked as a postman.
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Second World War

  • John L Evans
  • Private Lewis Holt, Army Catering Corps. 10630952. Killed on 29 March 1943, aged 25, when his army camp was hit by a shell. Buried at Taukkyan War Cemetery, Myanmar. Born in Pontypridd. Son of Ellis Holt and Mary Ann Holt (nee O’Hara), of 4 Maesglas, Machynlleth. His brother John also served. Lewis was second cousin of William Ivor Holt, below.
  • Signalman William Ivor Holt, Royal Corps of Signals. 14527324. Died 1 February 1945, aged 27. Commemorated on Groesbeek Memorial, Netherlands. Son of general labourer John Owen Holt and his wife Catherine Mary Holt (nee Jones), of 4 Tan-yr-allt Street, Machynlleth. William married Norah Helen Davies in 1942 and they had a son, born after William’s death. She married his younger brother in 1948 and had two children by him.
  • Bombardier David George Jones, 1/1 Maritime Regt., Royal Artillery. 4188931. Killed in action on 17 May 1942, aged 21. Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • Corporal Emlyn Jones, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 4189032. Killed in action on 27 May 1940, aged 30. Commemorated on Dunkirk Memorial.
  • George Jones
  • Sergeant Stanley Jones, 1st Battalion, The Queen’s Royal Regiment. 14594404. Killed in action 27 July 1945, aged 37. Buried at Rangoon War Cemetery. Born in Llanrhaiadr-ym-Mochnant, Powys. Son of farmer Thomas Jones and his wife Anne Jones. In 1930, Stanley married Ethel Williams of Machynlleth and they settled in the town.
  • Signalman James Howard Latham, Royal Corps of Signals. 14234893. Killed in action 1 February 1945, aged 22. Buried at Schoonselhof Cemetery, Belgium. Son of William Henry Latham and his wife Annie Elizabeth Latham (nee Thomas).
  • Sergeant Bernard John McGinn, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. 1375485. Died 28 April 1942, aged 21. Buried at Rheinberg War Cemetery, Germany. Probably born as Bernard John Thomas in Pontypool. Son of Winifred Anne Thomas. In 1930, his mother married Major James Terence McGinn and they settled in Porthcawl, and Bernard adopted his stepfather’s surname.
  • Fusilier David Francis Prosser, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 4193168. Died 3 July 1944, aged 27. Buried at Movilla Cemetery, County Down. Probably son of William Austin Prosser and his wife Annie Prosser (nee Jones). The family moved to live in Machynlleth in the early 1920s.
  • Captain Brian Dominic Rafferty, Royal Berkshire Regiment and SoE. Awarded Military Cross and Croix de Guerre. 129641. Died 29 March 1945. Brookwood Memorial, Surrey. Born in Sculcoates, Yorkshire. Son of Thomas Austin Rafferty and Keyna Rafferty (nee Rogan). The family moved to Newlands, Machynlleth. Brian was parachuted into France and helped organise the French Resistance in the Massif Central Region. Captured in 1943 and executed at a camp in Bavaria. His sister, Modwena Keyna Rafferty, served as a special agent during the Second World War.
  • Lieutenant John Edmund Cameron Thompson, Royal Navy. Awarded Distinguished Service Cross. Killed in action on 18 June 1945, aged 22. Commemorated on Fleet Air Arm Memorial, Hampshire. Born in Chester. Son of Lieutenant Colonel Sir Thomas RL Thompson and Millicent EJ Thomson (nee Tennyson-D’Eyncourt). His parents divorced in 1936 and his father moved to Morben Hall, Derwenlas, with his second wife, Ellinor M Thompson (nee Pugh).
  • Stoker 2nd Class David Richard Vaughan, Royal Navy. D/KX 527951. Died on 12 February 1944, aged 19, while a passenger on a troop transport ship which was sunk by a Japanese submarine. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Son of David and Cissy Vaughan (nee Jones). Married Rachel Johnson in 1943. She later married his twin brother, Peter.
  • Gunner Cyril Ellis Williams, Royal Artillery. 1796292. Died of malaria on 6 January 1945, aged 23. Labuan War Cemetery, Malaysia. Born in Clydach Vale, Rhondda. He lived at 39 Treowain, Machynlleth.
  • Gunner Hugh Thomas Wynne, Royal Artillery. 4205796. Died 1 July 1944, age 32. Ryes War Cemetery, Normandy, France. Son of John and Jane Wynne (nee Arthur). Hugh married Gwen May Davies in 1939.
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