Dinas Powys war memorial

Dinas Powys logoThe rough-stone cenotaph at the Twyn in Dinas Powys was dedicated in 1935 to the memory of the local men who died in the First World War. Names of people who died in the Second World War were added later. To read their details, choose a category below. 

First World War

Second World War

In 2010 the memorial was restored, with the help of a grant from the War Memorials Trust.

During the First World War, Nellie Roberts of Millbrook Road lost her husband Charles Rickinson Roberts and her son Charles Clifford Roberts at sea. They were serving with the Mercantile Marine and Royal Navy respectively.

Drawings of proposed Dinas Powys war memorialAlso named on the memorial is civilian Frank James Smith, killed while serving with the National Fire Service in Barry.

We are grateful to Derek Brushett for allowing us to summarise here his detailed research into the local dead of the First World War. Further information is available for those on the Dinas Powys Memorial who were killed in the FWW in the booklet 'Lest We Forget', published in 2014. For further details, please email: dabsearch@icloud.com

The war memorial was created by W Clarke of Llandaff. The drawings show Guy Clarke’s designs for a cross of Portland stone on a stepped base of local limestone. These designs were rejected in favour of the memorial we see today, built of carboniferous limestone from St Andrews Quarry. W Clarke was commissioned to make additions in 1947 which included four bronze tablets and a bronze wreath, pillars and chains around the memorial, crazy paving and a raised flowerbed.

With thanks to Derek Brushett, and to Michael Statham for the W Clarke of Llandaff information. Also to Adrian Hughes of the Home Front museum, Llandudno for the SWW research

Postcode: CF64 4DE    View Location Map

 

 

 

 

First World War

  • Arthur John Blackmore. Private STK/1158. 10th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers. Killed on 7th August 1916 in Battle of the Somme, aged 31. Thiepval Memorial. Born in Shrewsbury. Son of Edwin and Jane Blackmore, who had moved with their family to Barry. Worked as a baker before the war.
  • Charles Collins. Private 13015. 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed on 30th September 1915 at the Battle of Loos, aged 22. Loos Memorial. Lived at Old Highwalls, Dinas Powys. Son of Charles and Mary Ann Collins.
  • Noel Edwin Cooper. Lieutenant. Huntingdon Cyclist Battalion, attd 1st/2nd Battalion, Suffolk Regiment. Gazetted from the Inns of Court Officer Training Corps. Killed on 16th October 1918 near Bapaume, France, aged 21. Buried at Beaulencourt British Cemetery. Son of Edwin and Adelaide Cooper of Greenwood, Mill Rd, Dinas Powys.
  • David William Evans. Gunner 139639. Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of wounds in hospital in Swindon on 29th December 1918, aged 36. Buried at St Andrew’s Church, Dinas Powys. Son of stonemason Owen Evans and Sarah Evans, of 4 Matthew Terrace, Eastbrook. Worked as a railway porter before the war, lodging at Ferndale, Rhondda.
  • William French. Private 12684. 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment. Killed on 1st July 1916, the first day of the Battle of the Somme, aged 36. Devonshire Cemetery, Mametz. Son of Samuel and Sarah French, of Perry Mill Cottage, Dodington, Somerset. Came to Michaelston-le-Pit with younger brother Reginald, working at Tile House Farm, Michaelston. Reginald also served.
  • William Henry George. Sergeant 370081 of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Died of war injuries in Dinas Powys on 8th June 1918, age of 48. Buried at St Andrew’s Church, Dinas Powys. Kept the Cross Keys pub in Dinas Powys, where he lived with his wife Emily and two children.
  • Arthur Hopkins. Private 202671. 19th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed on 23rd November 1917 at the Battle of Cambrai, aged 24. Cambrai Memorial. Sons of Thomas and Elizabeth Hopkins of Mill Farm, Michaelston-le-Pit. Brother of James, below. Three other brothers also served.
  • James William Hopkins. Private 12774. 9th Battalion, the Devonshire Regiment. Killed on 30th September 1915 at the Battle of Loos, aged 24. Remembered at the Loos Memorial. Son of Thomas and Elizabeth Hopkins of Mill Farm, Michaelston-le-Pit.
  • Alexander Hodgson. Captain, Mercantile Marine – SS Taxandrier. Presumed drowned after 13th February 1917, when his ship disappeared while carrying war materials from New York to Bordeaux. He was 45. Tower Hill Memorial, London. Son of Thomas and Ann Hodgson; husband of Emma, of Selhurst and later Penlee in Highwalls, Dinas Powys.
  • Henry Herbert Howells. Gunner 28621. Royal Field Artillery, 48th Brigade. Killed on 27th June 1917, aged 20. Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt. Son of farmers Richard and Maria Howells, of Rose Cottage, the Westra.
  • Ernest Johnson. Private 2734. Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed in action on 12 August 1915, aged 34. Buried at Cambrin Church Extension. Born in Alvington, near Lydney. Son of John and Sarah Johnson. Was a railway platelayer before joining the army. Lived with wife Rose and son in Eastbrook, at her parents’ home.
  • Richard Kitch. Sergeant 12685. Devonshire Regiment, 9th Battalion. Killed alongside his friend Bill French (above) on 1st July 1916, aged 26. Devonshire Cemetery, Mametz. Originally from Taunton. Son of Lucy Kitch. He served with South Wales Borderers in South Africa before coming to Michaelston-le-Pit as a farm labourer.
  • David Lewis. Private 24671. Welsh Regiment, 12th Battalion. Died in hospital in Malta on 2 January 1919, aged 39. Pieta Military Cemetery. Born in Llantrithyd. Son of Edward and Maria Lewis, who lived at one time in Heol y Cawl, Dinas Powys. Was a boilerman at the Cardiff and Barry Truant School, Dinas Powys.
  • Frank Peachey Lewis. Gunner 487. Royal Garrison Artillery, 113rd Siege Battery. Killed on 18th July 1916, aged 25. Thiepval Memorial. Born in Crickhowell. Son of gardener James and Elizabeth Peachey Lewis, of Penarth and later Elmgrove Road, Dinas Powys. Worked as a dental mechanic before enlisting. Brother of John, below, also killed at the Somme. His two other brothers also served.
  • John Peachey Lewis. Corporal 7195. Machine Gun Corps, 89th Company. Killed on 18th October 1916, aged 31. London Cemetery and Extension, Longueval. Born in Crickhowell. Son of James and Elizabeth Peachey Lewis, of Penarth and later Elmgrove Road, Dinas Powys. Was a gardener before enlisting.
  • David Miles. Private G/1126. Royal Sussex Regiment, 2nd Battalion. Killed on 9th May 1915, aged 17. Le Touret Memorial, Lille. Born in Cadoxton. Son of David and Angelina Miles. Cousin of Edward, below.
  • Edward Miles. Private 32482 South Lancashire Regiment. Prince of Wales Volunteers. Killed on 31 December 1917 aged 21. Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Nephew of David and Angelina Miles.
  • Albert William Miller. Rifleman R/3723. King’s Royal Rifle Corps. Died on 21st December 1915 in hospital in Sheffield, aged 34, from wounds probably sustained at the Battle of Loos. Burngreave Cemetery Sheffield. Born in Northwick, Gloucestershire. Son of William and Emma Miller, of 7 Chamberlain Row, Dinas Powys. Three brothers also served.
  • John Gregory Morgan. Private 38899. Lancashire Fusiliers, 2nd/7th Battalion. Killed on 17th November 1917, aged 28. Tyne Cot Memorial. Born at Eglwysilan, between Pontypridd and Caerphilly. Son of William and Sarah Morgan, of Millbrook Road, Dinas Powys. Worked with his grandmother in the family’s butcher business in Caerphilly.
  • Leslie Cambridge Newman. Lieutenant. Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 7th Battalion. Fought at Gallipoli. Died of wounds on 27th December 1917, aged 20, while a prisoner of war in Lille. Buried initially by the Germans at Lille Southern Cemetery. Son of Herbert and Emilie Newman, of Carisbrooke, Cardiff Road, Dinas Powys. Educated at Barry County School. Before enlisting, worked at the London City and Midland Bank in Cardiff Docks.
  • William Joseph Oliver. Assistant Cook. Mercantile Marine – SS Turnbridge. Drowned on 18th July 1918 aged 14 when his ship was torpedoed off Ireland. Tower Hill Memorial London. Born in Grangetown, Cardiff. Son of Joseph and Annie Oliver of Westward Ho, The Murch, Dinas Powys. At the time of William’s death, Joseph was in France as a sergeant in the 59th Chinese Labour Corps.
  • David Charles Pearce. Lance Corporal 3067. South African Infantry, 2nd Regiment. Killed on 18th July 1916, aged 24. Remembered at the Thiepval Memorial. Son of William and Jemima Pearce, of 6 Barry Road, Eastbrook. Previously served with the Natal Light Horse in South Africa. Three of David’s brothers also served.
  • Frederick Richard Price. Rifleman S/2289. Rifle Brigade, 12th Battalion. Killed on 25th September 1915, aged 18. Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Born in Canton, Cardiff. Son of Frank and Ellen Price, who lived at times at Swan Terrace, Eastbrook, and 14 Elmgrove Place, Dinas Powys.
  • George Henry Price. Driver 450213. Royal Engineers, 85th Field Company. Killed on 7th November 1918, aged 20. Ramleh War Cemetery, Israel. Son of Charles and Maria Price, of the Square, Dinas Powys.
  • William Stebbles Procter. Captain. Mercantile Marine – SS Leeds Castle. Died on 16th September 1917, aged 50. Buried at Karachi. Born in Dartmouth, Devon. Son of James and Emma Procter. Husband of Edith Procter, of Penarth. They had two children and lived at Glascoed, Sully Road.
  • Mark Pulsford. Driver T260518. Army Service Corps, Horse Transport Company. Killed on 3rd March 1917, aged 35. Mont Huon Cemetery. Born in Bristol. Son of John and Elizabeth Pulsford. Worked as a quarry labourer. The family lived at 3 Elmgrove Place, Dinas Powys.
  • Charles Clifford Roberts. Ordinary Seaman J/18734. Royal Navy – HMS Queen Mary. Died on 31st May 1916, aged 19, when the ship was sunk at the Battle of Jutland. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Son of Charles Rickinson Roberts (below) and Nellie Roberts, of Mayfield, Millbrook Road, Dinas Powys.
  • Charles Rickinson Roberts. Second Engineer. Mercantile Marine – SS Redesmere. Died, aged 52, when the ship was torpedoed while carrying coal from Barry to Southampton on 29 October 1917. Tower Hill Memorial, London. Father of Charles Clifford Roberts, above.
  • Thomas Smith. Killed in action. No further details are known.
  • Archibald Thomas Spear. Gunner 112205. Royal Field Artillery, 103rd Brigade. Killed on 6th July 1918, aged 34. Granezza British Cemetery, Italy. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Spear, of Church Terrace, Highwalls, Dinas Powys. Cousin of John Spear, below.
  • John Spear. Private 26479. Welsh Regiment, 17th Battalion. Killed, aged 27, on 25th November 1917. Cambrai Memorial, Louverval. Son of Henry and Ann Spear of 9 Chamberlain Row, Dinas Powys. Spent his formative years at the Ely Workhouse School, Cardiff. Name added to Dinas Powys war memorial in 2014.
  • George Mervyn Stothert. Lieutenant. Welsh Regiment, 13th Battalion. Killed, aged 20, while on patrol during the Battle of Passchendaele on 10th June 1917. Mendinghem Military Cemetery. Son of George and Hannah Stothert of Rosebank, Old Mill Road, Dinas Powys. Mentioned in dispatches for gallant and distinguished service. Worked before the war in Cardiff for shipping company Elder Dempster & Co.
  • A E Taylor. Middlesex Regiment, 10th Battalion. Also of the Industrial School. Died in Mesopotamia in 1915.
  • Griffith Edwin Rhys Thomas. Private 532557. London Regiment, 1st/15th Battalion. Killed, aged 20, on 15th September 1916. Remembered at the Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Born in Dyserth, near Prestatyn, to schoolmaster Joseph Thomas and Margareta Thomas. She lived as a widow at Thistledene, Millbrook Rd, and later at St Cadoc’s, in Highwalls, Dinas Powys. Name added to war memorial in 2014.
  • Henry George Trott. Second Lieutenant of the 10th (1st Rhondda Battalion) of the Welsh Regiment. Formerly of the Royal Army Medical Corps. Killed, aged 30, on 16th August 1917. Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Ypres. Son of William and Ellen Trott of 2 Castlewood Cottages, Highwalls, Dinas Powys. A wheelwright by trade.
  • Edwin (or Edward) Venn. Able Seaman 201717. Royal Navy – HMS Good Hope. Killed, aged 32, in the Battle of Coronel off Chile on 1st November 1914. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Son of John and Eliza Venn. Born in Bristol. Lived with his wife Ellen and their two sons in Cogan and later at Rose Villa, Eastbrook.
  • Henry White. Gunner 421. Royal Garrison Artillery, 113th Siege Battery. Killed, aged 18, on 30th August 1916 in the Battle of the Somme. Peronne Rd. Cemetery, Maricourt. Son of John and Ada White. Lived at 1 Georges Row, later 20 Railway Terrace, Eastbrook.
  • George Henry Wright. Private 32627. Welsh Regiment, 16th ‘Cardiff City’ Battalion. Killed aged 18 on 10th July 1916 at Mametz Wood, Somme. Buried at Heilly Station Cemetery. Born at 9 Elmgrove Place, Dinas Powys, and later lived at Castlewood Cottages, Highwalls. His father was a sapper in the Royal Engineers.
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Second World War

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  • Barker, Sidney Arthur George, Private 14574595. Died 24/07/1944, aged 32. Wiltshire Regiment. Buried St. Manvieu War Cemetery. Son of George and Ethel May Barker; husband of Gwendoline Ann Frances Barker of Eastbrook.
  • Campbell, James.
  • Clark, David Ewart, Master. Died 30/06/1946, aged 53. Merchant Navy - SS Fort Assiniboine (London). Awarded OBE in January 1944. Buried St Andrews Major Cemetery. Son of Robert and Jane Ann Clark; husband of Margaret Clark of Dinas Powys. Not named on Dinas Powys war memorial but his death was classed as a war death.
  • Cooke, Mary, Writer 45150. Died 16/07/1945, aged 23. Women's Royal Naval Service. Buried St Andrews Major Cemetery. Daughter of Lionel John Ralph Cooke and Winifred Cooke, of St Hilary, Westra, Dinas Powys.soldier icon
  • Cox, Donald Patrick, Second Lieutenant 214249. Died 07/03/1942, aged 27. Royal Artillery. Singapore Memorial. Son of Alfred and Ida Cox; husband of Betty Cox.
  • Dunford, David Walter, Cook. Died 03/01/1943, aged 23. Merchant Navy - SS St Merriel (Newport). Buried Bone War Cemetery. Son of James and Sarah Blanche Dunford.
  • Dillon, Frederick Hugo, Captain 75524. Died 13/10/1943, aged 30. Royal Artillery - The Royal Devon Yeomanry. Buried Minturno War Cemetery. Son of Frederick and Ida Mary Dillon; husband of Helen Mary Dillon of York.
  • Elliott, Albert John, Cook. Died 07/11/1942, aged 32. Merchant Navy - SS Roxby (West Hartlepool). Tower Hill Memorial. Son of William Brown Elliott; husband of Jane Ann Elliott.
  • Hill, James Raymond, Leading Aircraftman 1316867. Died 20/08/1944. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Bari War Cemetery.
  • Hartrey, Arthur Walter, Fireman and Trimmer. Died 13/09/1942, aged 22. Merchant Navy - SS Empire Beaumont (Middlesbrough). Tower Hill Memorial.
  • Hartrey, Ernest Henry, Flight Sergeant 1316863. Died 22/11/1945. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Suda Bay War Cemetery.
  • John, Robert Eynon, Flight Sergeant 1027861. Died 05/11/1943, aged 31. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Sollum War Cemetery. Son of Albert and Martha John of Cardiff; husband of Lorna Dulcie John of Cardiff. BSc (University of Wales).
  • Laman, Kirkland Frederick Ernest, Major IA/611. Died 16/02/1942, aged 36. 1st Punjab Regiment. Awarded Military Cross and Mentioned in Despatches. Singapore Memorial. Son of Major EK Laman, MBE, MC, and Edyth Sybil Laman. Also served in Tochi Scouts.
  • McGill, John Rowland, Private 10588741. Died 27/11/1944, aged 42. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Buried Kirkee War Cemetery. Son of James and Mary McGill; husband of Aileen McGill.
  • Merrett, Norman. Flying Officer, Pilot, 90381. Died 10/08/1940, aged 27. Royal Air Force (Auxiliary Air Force) 614 Sqdn. Michaelstone-le-Pit (St Michael) Churchyard. Son of Herbert Henry Merrett and of Marion Linda Merrett (nee Higgins); husband of Beatrice Kirk Merrett.
  • Macpherson, Robert Reid, Flight Lieutenant 45459. Died 13/10/1941, aged 27. Royal Air Force. Runnymede Memorial. Son of John and Elizabeth Taylor Macpherson.
  • Marke, David Hilary, Serjeant 2740156. Died 01/06/1946, aged 19. Welsh Guards. Buried Munster Heath War Cemetery. Son of Albert Victor and Nellie Marke.
  • Morgan, Cyril John, Air Mechanic (E) 1st Class FX/Died 05/11/1943, aged 34. Royal Navy - HMS Goshawk. Buried Port Of Spain (St James) Military Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Mary Ann Morgan; husband of Norah Lillian Morgan.
  • Minchinton, Ernest John, Major 121106. Died 20/05/1944, aged 24. Royal Welsh Fusiliers attached Indian Army. Rangoon Memorial. Son of William John and Mary Ann Minchinton.
  • Nankivell, Arthur Rex, Warrant Officer 658944. Died 05/05/1945, aged 26. Royal Air Force. Buried Coriano Ridge War Cemetery. Son of Arthur and Francess Nankivell.
  • Pitt, Terence Alan Launcelot, Serjeant 2569014. Died 29/10/1944, aged 28. Royal Corps of Signals. Buried Schoonselhof Cemetery. Son of Frank Reynolds Pitt and Ellen Jane Pitt.
  • Reynhart, David Arthur.
  • Reynhart, Victor Wallace, Second Radio Officer. Died 11/04/1943, aged 26. Merchant Navy - SS Lancastrian Prince (London). Tower Hill Memorial.
  • Richards, Gethyn William, Cabin Boy. Died 18/10/1940, aged 20. Merchant Navy - SS Fiscus (Cardiff). Tower Hill Memorial. Son of Mrs MM White of Barry.
  • Robins, William Frederick. Probably: Gunner 1098348. Died 12/09/1944, aged 35. Royal Artillery, 88 Field Regt. Singapore Memorial. Son of Mrs C Connor, of Kennington, London.
  • Smith, Frank James, Civilian. Died 16/12/1942, aged 34. Husband of Gladys Smith of 2 Elm Grove Place. Died at Barry Fire Station where serving with the National Fire Service.
  • Williams, Harry Gordon, Chief Officer. Died 02/12/1940, aged 55. Merchant Navy - SS Goodleigh (London). Tower Hill Memorial. Son of H and Mary Williams; husband of Eva Agnes Williams.
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