Abergwyngregyn war memorial

Abergwyngregyn-logoAbergwyngregyn war memorial

The memorial tablet in the lychgate-type structure was unveiled in January 1921 to commemorate local men who lost their lives as a result of the First World War. To discover who they were, see below.

The tablet was made by the Williams Penlon Works in Bangor. Local residents raised £49 to pay for it.

It was originally inside St Bodfan’s Church. After the church’s closure in 1994, villagers had no access to their local war memorial.

In 2018 the Abergwyngregyn Regeneration Company (ARC) negotiated the tablet’s release from the church. The new structure at the entrance to the churchyard was purpose-built by G A Williams & Sons, of Y Felinheli. The project was funded by residents, visitors, crowdfunding, ARC, the Dŵr Anafon Charity, the Aber Falls Distillery, Welsh Water, Cadw and the War Memorials Trust. The memorial was rededicated, in its new location, in 2020.

During the project, a local Roll of Honour was rediscovered, in poor condition. After conservation, it was framed and now hangs in Caffi Hen Felin. It lists 74 men who served in the armed forces in the First World War – roughly a quarter of the village’s population – and shows which ones were killed or wounded.

Postcode: LL33 0LY    View Location Map

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First World War

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

  • Robert Thomas Hugh Ellis, Second Lieutenant. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 19th Bn. Died 12 October 1917 aged 21. Buried at Messines Ridge British Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Humphrey and Catherine Ellis of Llys Menai, Menai Avenue, Bangor. Born in Tai’r Meibion. Educated at Friars School, Bangor, and Ruthin School. Worked at Lloyds Bank in Amlwch and was engaged before enlisting.
  • Richard Frederick Evans, Trooper. Denbighshire Hussars Yeomanry. Died 18 September 1918. Buried at St Peter’s Churchyard, Presteigne, Powys. Son of Mr and Mrs Evans of Vicarage Cottage, Evancoyd, Presteigne. Was a 20-year-old footman at Gorddinog, near Abergwyngregyn, in 1911. Enlisted in September 1914 and was invalided home from Egypt with TB in August 1916. He died of TB at his parents’ home.
  • Richard William Griffith, Sapper 166678. Royal Engineers 124th Field Coy. Died 29/05/1917 aged 33. Bured at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium. Son of John and Margaret Griffiths, of Llanllechid; husband of Elizabeth Griffiths, of Cae Haidd, Llanfairfechan. Born in Bethesda. Brought up his aunt and uncle at Rallt, Crymlyn.
  • George Grubham, Deck Hand 12216/DA. Royal Naval Reserve – HMS Victory. Died 29/05/1917 aged 30. Buried at Pennyfuir Cemetery, Oban, Scotland. Son of Mrs Mary Grubham of 3 Jubilee Cottages, Llanfairfechan. Was a golf groundsman at Gorddinog and engaged to Lizzie of Mona View, Llanfairfechan. While stationed on a ship in Scotland, he was exposed to fumes from an extinguisher and later died of pneumonia at Oban Cottage Hospital.
  • David Jones, Private 21962. King's Shropshire Light Infantry 7th Bn. Died 02/09/1918 aged 19. Buried at Morchies Australian Cemetery, France. Born in Abergwyngregyn. Son of David and Winifred Jones, of Tanrallt Cottage (near Capel Gilfach, between Aber and Tan y Lon) and later of St Asaph. Enlisted in October 1915 aged 16. His brother Robert Peter Jones also served. His siter Mary Catherine Jones was a nurse at Alder Hey Military Hospital.
  • Llewelyn Morris, Private 3270. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st/6th Bn. Died of illness 07/09/1915 aged 27. Buried at St Bodfan Churchyard, Abergwyngregyn.  Born at Prince Llewelyn Cottage. Son of John and Elizabeth Morris; husband of Ellan C Morris (nee Jones) of 2 New Terrace, Llanfairfechan. Was a forestry labourer before the war. In August 1915 his battalion took part in the attempted invasion of Turkey at Gallipoli.
  • Richard Owen, Private 11621. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 1st Bn. Died 30/11/1918 aged 30. Buried at Montecchio Precalcino Communal Cemetery Extension, Italy. Son of Richard and Elizabeth Owen of Bryn Meddyg, Abergwyngregyn. Born near Moelfre, Anglesey. When he returned home on leave from Salonica in February 1918, a newspaper described him as a Driver with the Royal Garrison Artillery. He died shortly after the war ended.
  • John Ellis Roberts, Private 25115. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 17th Bn. Died 12/07/1916. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, France. Husband of Mary Ann Roberts (nee Howarth) of St Helens. Grew up at Wig Crossing. Worked at the university college farm before enlisting. His three brothers also enlisted, and their two sisters were nurses in France.
  • Robert Henry Roberts, Private 3005. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 7th Bn. Died 10/08/1915 aged 24. Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey. Son of Hugh and Ellen Roberts, of Pentre Du Crossing Cottages. Worked at the Star Stores, Barmouth, before enlisting. Three brothers also served.soldier icon
  • Edward Birley Lever Rushton, Captain. Northamptonshire Regiment 2nd Bn. Died 25/09/1916 aged 25. Buried at Vermelles British Cemetery, France. Mentioned in Despatches. Born in Gresford, Wrexham. Son of Federick Lever Rushon and Francise Alice Birley. Alice lived at The Cottage (now Nant-y-Felin), Abergwyngregyn, as a widow. Brother of Frederick Hornby Rushton, below.
  • Frederick Hornby Rushon, Lieutenant. Royal Irish Regiment 2nd Bn. Died 15/09/1914 aged 26. Buried at La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial, France. Awarded the Military Cross. Born in Gresford, Wrexham. Son of Federick Lever Rushon and Francise Alice Birley. Alice lived at The Cottage (now Nant-y-Felin), Abergwyngregyn, as a widow.
  • Thomas Barron Winter, Second Lieutenant. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 13th Bn. Died 22/04/1918 aged 19. Buried at Bouzincourt Ridge Cemetery, France. Son of Thomas Winter, Professor of Agriculture at University College of North Wales, Bangor, and Margaret Winter. The family lived at Bryn Menai, Llanfairfechan, in 1911. Educated at Friars and Giggleswick schools. Won a scholarship in 1913 to study at the university, where he joined the Officer Training Corps.soldier icon
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