Hay-on-Wye war memorial

Hay-on-Wye war memorial

This war memorial was unveiled in 1922 to commemorate the local men who died in the First World War. The names of those who died in the Second World War were added in 1947. To discover who they were, choose a category below.

First World War

Second World War

The memorial originally stood in the centre of Castle Square. It was moved to this niche in the castle wall in 1950. It commemorates the war dead of Hay and Cusop, a hamlet just over the border in Herefordshire.

Among those named on the war memorial is Richard Garnons-Williams, who played in Wales’ first ever international rugby match in 1881. He was born in Llowes and was in the army overseas in the Victorian era. He re-enlisted soon after the First World War began and died in 1915, aged 59.

Also named on the memorial is Roger Burney, who died while serving on a French submarine in the Second World War. He was a friend of the composer Benjamin Britten. In 1962 Britten dedicated his War Requiem to four friends, one of whom was Roger Burney.

There is more about the war dead in the booklet To The Fallen, researched by Tim and Eric Pugh and published by the Hay & District branch of the Royal British Legion in 2010. Copies are still available from the FW Golesworthy shop, 17 Broad Street.

With thanks to Tim and Eric Pugh, and to the Hay Warren Trust

Postcode: HR3 5DF    View Location Map

 

 

 

First World War

  • BAILEY, The Hon. John Lancelot, Captain. South Wales Borderers. Died 26 October 1918. Age 39. Kirkee 1914-1918 Memorial, India. Son of First Baron Glanusk and Lady Glanusk of Hay Castle; husband of Vivien Dora Bailey (née Carey) of 'Shirley', Dorchester Road, Weymouth. Uncle of George and Bernard Bailey, below.
  • BAILEY, The Hon. George Sergison, Second Lieutenant. Grenadier Guards, attached Special Reserve. Killed in action, 10 August 1915. Age 22.  Buried in Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, Pas de Calais, France, Plot II, Row B, Grave 13. Son of Second Baron Glanusk and Lord of the Manor of Hay, and Baroness Glanusk of Glanusk Park, Crickhowell. Brother of Bernard, below.
  • BAILEY, The Hon. Bernard Martin, Midshipman. Royal Navy – HMS Defence. Died 31 May 1916. Age 17.  Plymouth Naval Memorial. Son of Second Baron Glanusk and Lord of the Manor of Hay, and Baroness Glanusk of Glanusk Park, Crickhowell. His ship was sunk in the Battle of Jutland with the loss of 893 lives.
  • BAKER, Harold Horatio Roberts, Lance Corporal 372. Australian Infantry. Died 10 May 1915. Age 28. Buried at Lancashire Landing Cemetery, Turkey. Son of Joseph and Susannah Baker, of Hay; brother of Susannah Dorothy Pugh (née Baker) of Church Terrace, Hay, and Lewis Baker, below. Educated at Hay Council School and Hampton Grammar School. Employed as a clerk. Emigrated to Australia aged 23. Died of wounds in the ill-fated attempt to invade Turkey through Gallipoli.
  • BAKER, Lewis WS, Driver W/2939. Royal Field Artillery. Killed in action 20 June 1917. Age 22. Buried in Railway Dugouts Burial Ground, Ypres, Belgium. Lived in Ystalyfera. Son of Joseph and Annie Elizabeth Baker, Hay.
  • BINNEY, Edward Hibbert, Captain. Sherwood Foresters (Nottsa nd Derby Regiment). Died 11 October 1917. Age 21. Buried at St. Chad Churchyard, Wybunbury, Cheshire. Son of the Rev John EH Binney, of Ilkeston, Derbyshire.
  • BROMLEY, John, Private 8994. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Killed 31 August 1917. Age 27. Buried Doiran Military Cemetery. Awarded the Military Medal. Husband of Clara Jane Bromley of Upperton Cottage, Moorhampton, Herefordshire.
  • BROOKS, Edward Godfrey, Corporal 34929. Manchester Regiment. Killed in action 11 January 1917. Age 23. Commemorated on Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Born and lived in Hay, enlisted in Manchester. Son of house painter Thomas James Brooks of St Mary's Villas, Hay; husband of Elizabeth Pryce Brooks.
  • BUDDEN, Frank Thomas, Private 245167. Royal Warwickshire Regiment (formerly 1450, East Yorkshire Regiment). Killed in action 2 September 1918. Age 19. Buried in Bailleul Road East Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Born in Castle Street, Hay; enlisted in Bridlington, Yorkshire. Son of Sarah Annie Budden of 84 High Street, Rhymney and Frank Gardiner Budden (died 1904), licensee of an inn in Castle Street, Hay.
  • CLARK, Arthur F, Corporal 207399. Worcestershire Regiment (formerly 1298, Dorset Yeomanry). Killed in the battle of the St Quentin Canal on 29 September 1918. Buried at Pigeon Ravine Cemetery, Somme, France. Born and lived in Westbury; enlisted in Sherborne.
  • CROMPTON, Charles, (Acting) Sergeant 1688. South Wales Borderers. Killed 4 July 1915. Age 23. Commemorated on Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Egypt. Born at Oak Cottage in Brecon Road in 1892 and enlisted at Hay. His father was a carpenter.
  • DAVIES, Herbert Edward Gordon, Sergeant 12006. South Wales Borderers. Killed in action 10 November 1917. Age 32. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Born and enlisted in Hay. Husband of Lily Davies, of 4 Dulas Terrace, Hay.
  • DAVIES, Frederick James, Private 10674. South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds 13 September 1915. Age 21. Buried in Alexandria (Chatby) Military And War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Son of John and Agnes Davies, of 5 Garibaldi Terrace, Hay. His father was a signalman at Hay railway station. Fred had three siblings.
  • DUGGAN, George, Private 54915. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (formerly 4719 Monmouthshire Regiment). Killed in action 26 October 1917. Age 27. Commemorated on Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Born in Hay. Son of George and Gwen Duggan; husband of Mrs FL Duggan of Queensbury Villa, Newtown Road, Malvern. Worked as a mason’s labourer.
  • EDWARDS, William M, Private 266612. Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 14 May 1918. Age 20. Buried Harponville Communal Cemetery, Somme, France. Born in Grosmont, Herefordshire, lived in Hay. Son of James and Mary Jane Edwards, of Hay.
  • GARNONS-WILLIAMS, Richard Davies, Lieutenant Colonel. Royal Fusiliers (City of London Regiment). Killed 25 September 1915. Age 59. Commemorated on Loos Memorial. Born in 1856 in Llowes, the second child to the Reverend Garnons-Williams of Abercamlais and Catherine Francis. He rejoined the army after the outbreak of war and was posted to his original regiment, joining the Royal Fusiliers as a major on 26 September 1914. He was promoted to temporary lieutenant colonel on 3 October 1914, and transferred to the South Wales Borderers to command the Brecknockshire Battalion. Was a member of the first ever Wales international rugby team.
  • GOUGH, James, Private  200510 South Wales Borderers. Killed 24 October 1918. Age 39.  Buriad at Mhow New Cemetery, India. Only son of Elizabeth Gough of Newport Street, Hay. Born in Oldham, Lancashire. Was a timber haulier by trade.
  • GRANT, Henry Norman, Second Lieutenant. Lancashire Fusiliers. Killed in action 1 July 1916. Age 23. Buried in Redan Ridge Cemetery, Somme, France. Son of Henry Richard and Jane Victoria Grant, of 6 Castle Street, Hay, who ran a newsagents and printing business in Castle Street. Henry attended a local primary school, then Bullingham Convent School and Belmont Abbey School, Hereford. Worked at the United Counties Bank in Hereford before the war.
  • GRIFFITHS, Arthur Allan, Lance Corporal 1319. Welsh Guards. Killed 5 March 1917. Age 34. Buried in Sailly-Saillisel British Cemetery, France. Husband of Martha Griffiths, of Velun Cottage, Heol-y- Dwr. Left three children. Was a police constable in Hay. Had served in the Gloucester Regiment.
  • HAVARD, John (Jack), Private 6341. Canadian Infantry. Killed 15 June 1915. Age 30. Vimy Memorial, Pas de Calais, France. Born in Hay. Son of Thomas and Mary Havard, of 33 Lion Street, Hay. Worked as a decorator. Emigrated to Canada.
  • HINCKS, Bertram, Second Lieutenant. King's Royal Rifle Corps. Killed 18 December 1916. Age 26. Buried Delville Wood Cemetery, Longueval, France. Son of Dr T Samuel Hincks of Cartrefle (now Tinto House), Broad Street, Hay, a local doctor for 50 years; brother of Dr. Thomas Hincks, a doctor in Hay for 34 years. Uncle of John and Thomas Hincks, who both died in the Second World War (see below).
  • HOLBROW, Alfred Robert, Private M2/045707. Royal Army Service Corps. Died from wounds 8 February 1915. Age 35. Buried in Greenwich Cemetery, London. Son of innkeeper James Holbrow and Emma Holbrow, of 27 Castle Street, Hay; husband of Jessie Holbrow of Collingwood House, St. Ethelbert Street, Hereford.
  • HOLMES, Frederick HJ, Private 267472. Monmouthshire Regiment. Killed in action 23 April 1917. Age 30. Buried at Vis-en-Artois British Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Enlisted in Brecon. Husband of Mrs SJ Holmes, of Hill Gate, Llanwarne, Hereford.
  • HOPE, George Clarence, Private 43874. Welsh Regiment (formerly 1925, South Wales Borderers). Killed in action 30 December 1916. Age 20. Buried at Guards' Cemetery, Somme, France. Born and enlisted in Hay. His father was a rural postman and the family lived in Lion Street, Hay.
  • JENKINS, George, Lance Corporal 1370. South Wales Borderers. Killed 4th July 1915. Commemorated on Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Egypt. Born in Stretton Sugwas, Hereford, and enlisted in Hay. Son of Arthur and Isabella (née Stephens) Jenkins of Hay.
  • JONES, Charles Thomas Roger, Lance Corporal 26651. Grenadier Guards. Killed in action 13 April 1918. Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Born in Cusop, enlisted in Hereford. Son of wool stapler Arthur Jones and innkeeper Isabella Jones in 1898. Half-brother of Frederick Stephens, below, his mother being the widow of Alfred Hugh Stephens.
  • LEWIS, Charles, Private 1775. South Wales Borderers. Killed 4th July 1915. Age 19. Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Egypt. Born in Llyswen, enlisted in Hay. Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Lewis (later Read), of 6 Brecon Road, Hay. Brother of Thomas, below.
  • LEWIS Thomas, Private 13879. South Wales Borderers. Killed 25 April 1915. Age 23. Helles Memorial, Turkey. Born in Llyswen, enlisted in Brecon. Son of Joseph and Mary Ann Lewis, of 6 Brecon Road, Hay. Died during the landing at Gallipoli as the Allies tried to invade Turkey.
  • LLOYD, Henry, Private 1478. South Wales Borderers. Killed 4th July 1915. Age 21. Heliopolis (Aden) Memorial, Egypt. Son of James and Elizabeth Lloyd of 16 Lion Street, Hay. 
  • MAGNESS, Albert, Private 241200. Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 18 April 1918. Buried at Gorre British and Indian Cemetery, Pas de Calais, France. Enlisted in Bargoed, lived in Hay. Husband of Mrs MA Magness of 14 Church Terrace, Hay. Worked for saddlery business Hartwells in Castle Street, Hay. Left three young children, Alan, Violet and Constance. Also listed on Rhymney war memorial.
  • MORGAN, John Lacey, Private 267501. Monmouthshire Regiment. Killed 12 April 1918. Age 19. Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Enlisted in Hay, lived in Sketty, Swansea. Son of Mr and Mrs W Morgan of 9 Chancery Lane, Hay.
  • MORRIS, Charles GN, Lieutenant. 6th Battalion, previously 9th Battalion, Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry. Killed in action 7 October 1916. Age 22. Thiepval Memorial, Somme, France. Son of Harry and Elizabeth Morris, of The School House, Hay. Educated at Hereford Cathedral School and Keble College, Oxford. His father donated the Memorial Chapel at St Mary’s Church, Hay, in his son’s memory.
  • PEARSON, EP, Private.
  • POWELL John Charles, Private. South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds 8 December 1917. Age 38. Buried at Abbeville Communal Cemetery Extension, Somme, France. Born in Hay, enlisted in Brecon. Son of John and Jane Powell, of Hay; husband of Mary Jeanie Powell, of Red House, Talgarth. Was manager of the HJ Stephens clothes shop in Talgarth before the war. Also named on Talgarth war memorial.
  • PRICE, Leonard, Saddler TS/10188. Royal Army Service Corps. Died of wounds 11 August 1918. Age 29. Buried in Villers-Bretonneux Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Son of Joseph and Sarah Price, who kept a grocery shop at Walnut Cottage, 34 Lion Street, Hay.
  • PRICE, James B, Private 12080. South Wales Borderers. Killed 27 January 1917. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Mrs Esther Price, of Peartree Cottage, Market Street, Builth Wells, later of Hay. Also named on Builth Wells war memorial.
  • PROSSER, Ivor G, Lance Corporal 201304. Private 201304. South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds 20 April 1918. Age 30. Buried in Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Son of George and Caroline Prosser of Hay. George was a timber haulier in Church Street.
  • PRYDDERCH, Rhys Thomas, Private 70532. Died of meningitis 23/03/1917. Age 34. The King's (Liverpool Regiment). Buried at Longuenesse (St Omer) Souvenir Cemetery. Son of William and Sarah Prydderch, of Lower Genffordd (or Geuffordd) Farm, Talgarth. As a Calvinistic Methodist minister, he sometimes preached in Talgarth’s Market Square, and had once been in charge of a church in Swansea.
  • REYNOLDS, Gilbert C, Corporal 200415. South Wales Borderers. Died of pneumonia 27 October 1918. Age 21. Kirkee 1914- 1918 Memorial, India. Born at Smallbrook Terrace, Hay, and enlisted in Hay. Son of Malcolm and Alice Reynolds of Cooper's Hall, Cusop.
  • ROBERTS, Sydney, Lance Corporal 8725. Lincolnshire Regiment. Died of wounds 28 October 1914. Age 32. Buried at Sheffield (Burngreave) Cemetery. Born in Greenwich, London. Husband of Catherine Roberts of Bridge Street, Hay.
  • SHEPPARD, Walter, Private 67866. South Wales Borderers. Died of wounds in Rhyl 30 September 1918. Age 18. Buried in St. Margaret’s Churchyard, Bodelwyddan, Flintshire. Born in Punjab, India, enlisted in Brecon. Was living at The Drill Hall, Hay, in 1911. Son of Amos Sheppard and Esther Lydia Ridgway (formerly Sheppard) of Brook Cottage, Oxford Road, Hay.
  • ST GEORGE CARTWRIGHT, Eric Percival, Second Lieutenant. Leinster Regiment, seconded to Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action 12 August 1916. Age 19. Buried at Becourt Military Cemetery, Somme, France. Youngest son of Arthur Cartwright, Inspector of Schools for Worcester District, and Ellen Mabel   Cartwright of Rothbury, Cusop, Educated at Bilton Grange, Rugby, and Charterhouse, where he was in the Officer Training Corps. Brother of Ronald, below.
  • ST GEORGE CARTWRIGHT Ronald William, Second Lieutenant. Royal Flying Corps and General List. Killed in action at Menincourt 26 February 1918. Age 23. Buried at Aubigny Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Son of Arthur and Ellen Mabel Cartwright of Rothbury, Cusop.
  • STEPHENS, Frederick HJ, Staff Sergeant. South Wales Borderers. Died 2 April 1919. Age 38. Buried at Suez War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt. Born in Hay. Son of Alfred Hugh Stephens and Isabella Thyea Stephens (later Jones); husband of Ada Stephens. Worked as a carpenter. His widowed mother married Arthur Jones, father of Charles Jones, above.
  • TONG, Frank, Trooper 384. Australian Light Horse. Killed 28 June 1918. Age 24. Buried in Shell Green Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. Born in Kington. Son of Mr C and Mrs Eliza Tong of 8 Brecon Road, Hay. Educated at Hay Council School. Was a sugar boiler's mate. Had also been a gamekeeper for Captain Kidston of Gwernyfed, Breconshire. Emigrated to Australia aged 21.
  • WATKINS, William M, Second Lieutenant. Royal Air Force (attached from Welsh Regiment). Killed 23 July 1918. Age 26. Buried at Tezze British Cemetery, Italy. Son of Mr and Mrs David Watkins of The Priory, Clifford, Herefordshire. He and his pilot, Lieutenant Van Dyke Fernald, died after finishing reconnaissance over the Italian/Austrian front.
  • WILLIAMS, George, Private 14684. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Killed 3 December 1915. Age 20. Buried at Y Farm Military Cemetery, Nord, France. Born in Cusop, lived in Hay. His father was a groom and gardener at Brynmelin, Cusop.
  • WILLIAMS-VAUGHAN, John Christopher Arthur, Second Lieutenant. South Wales Borderers. Died 15 July 1916. Age 25. Thiepval Memorial. Son of John Williams-Vaughan and Elizabeth Bertha Williams-Vaughan of The Skreen, Erwood, Radnorshire.
  • WOONTON, George, Sergeant 70059. Canadian Infantry. Killed 10 October 1915. Buried at La Laiterie Military Cemetery, Belgium. Born in Jersey, Channel Islands. Son of Mr and Mrs Woonton of Laurel Cottage, Hay. Was a boiler fitter. Enlisted November 1914 at St John, Canada.
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Second World War

  • BURNEY, Roger, Sub-Lieutenant. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve – French submarine Surcouf. Lost when Surcouf sank on 19 February 1942. Age 22. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Son of Lt. Col. Arthur Edward Cave Burney and Dorothy Burney (later Young) of Oakfield, Hay. Was Cambridge graduate. Composer Benjamin Britten dedicated his 1962 War Requiem to Roger and three other friends. Roger’s brother Christopher was a British special agent in France and survived incarceration at Buchenwald concentration camp.
  • EVANS, David, Corporal.
  • DAVIES, Kenneth George Charles, Flying Officer 44522. Royal Air Force. Died 9 February 1942. Age 23. Alamein Memorial. Son of Mr and Mrs George R Davies of Llowes Court, Llowes, Radnorshire; husband of Joyce Davies (née Mayall), of Hay. Kenneth and Joyce were married at St Mary’s Church, Hay. Kenneth was a Welsh international schoolboy rugby player. Joined the Royal Artillery in 1939, received a temporary RAF commission in September 1941 and was posted the the Western Desert air HQ. Named on the war memorial in St Mary’s Church, Hay, but not on Hay War Memorial. Also remembered on County School war memorial, Llandrindod Wells.
  • DIXON, Lancelot Steele, Pilot Officer (Pilot) 77348. Royal Air Force. Died 9 April 1940. Age 23. Buried at Hay Cemetery. Son of Hugh Wainwright Dixon and Christine Dixon, of the City of London. Christine lived at Clock Mill, Clifford, at the time of his death. As a newly qualified pilot he flew over Clock Mill, tipped his wings in greeting and crashed, as his mother watched. His tombstone features a large sculpture, by his mother, of Icarus. Not named on Hay war memorial.
  • EVANS, Percival James Samuel, Flying Officer. RAF Bomber Command. Killed 3 August 1943. Age 23. Son of Percival Charles and Frances Elizabeth Evans of Hay. One of nine children, three of whom went into the RAF and one into the army. Was the projectionist at Hay Plaza cinema before the war, and a chorister at St Mary’s Church. Lost during a mission near the Germany/Denmark border.
  • GIBSON-WATT, Martin Ricardo, Lieutenant. Royal Navy – HMS Kandahar. Killed 20 December 1941. Age 21. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Son of Major James Miller Gibson-Watt (South Wales Borderers) and Marjorie Gibson-Watt, of Doldowlod, Radnorshire. Lost after his ship struck a mine while going to aid HMS Neptune near Libya.
  • HINCKS, John Hawkesford, Second Lieutenant. Royal Sussex Regiment. Killed between 27 May 1940 and 29 May 1940 during the defence of Dunkirk. Age 29. Buried at Caestre Communal Cemetery, France. Son of Hay doctor Thomas Ernest Hincks (died 1932) and Laura Louise Stewart Hincks of Bexhill, Sussex. His brother, Thomas Stuart Hincks, also died on active service. John and Thomas’ father and grandfather were both doctors in Hay for many years.
  • HINCKS, Thomas Stuart, Lieutenant. Ceylon Pioneers, attached to Ceylon Auxiliary Pioneer Battalion. Killed 2 November 1943. Age 35. Buried at Trincomalee War Cemetery, Sri Lanka. Son of Hay doctor Thomas Ernest Hincks (died 1932) and Laura Louise Stewart Hincks of Bexhill, Sussex; husband of Sheila Hincks of Tonbridge, Kent.
  • HOWARD, John, Private.
  • JENKINS, Ernest, Corporal 3054179. Royal Scots. Died 1 October 1942. Commemorated Sai Wan Memorial, Hong Kong. Son of Albert and Emily Jenkins of Chapel House, Oxford Road, Hay. Was a Japanese prisoner of war after the fall of Hong Kong in December 1941. Died when the Japanese troop transport ship, the Lisbon Maru, was sunk by an American submarine off Shanghai. The ship failed to show markings denoting that it was carrying prisoners of war.
  • JENKINS, John, Private 14088773. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Died 10 June 1947. Age 20. Buried at Hay Cemetery. Son of William and Margaret Emily Jenkins, of Hay; brother of Ken Jenkins of Lion Street, Hay. Died on a hospital ship on arrival back in the UK after drinking contaminated water on overseas service. The whole of John’s platoon died from the same illness.
  • LEHTO, John Alex Carl, Private. Monmouthshire Regiment. Killed 18 July 1944. Age 23. Buried at Ranville War Cemetery, France. Son of John Alec and Florence May Lehto of Black Lion Green, Hay. Killed during operation “Goodwood” in the battle for Normandy.
  • PREECE, John, Able Seaman.
  • STAPLETON, Michael, Aircraftman 2nd Class 1881651. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Killed 4 April 1946. Age 20. Buried in Habbaniya War Cemetery, Iraq. Son of Charles and Alice Stapleton, who kept a bakery and cake shop in Belmont Road, Hay.
  • TURNER, ERNEST, Lance Corporal 4199604. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Died 12 July 1944. Age 34. Buried at Banneville-La-Campagne War Cemetery, France. Son of Lillian Agnes Turner (later Bedford); step brother of Mrs Polly Wells of Cusop.
  • WILLIAMS, Glyndwr, Leading Aircraftman. Son of Police Sergeant Williams and his wife, of Cusop. Probably: Glyndwr Arthur Williams 412301, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Killed 10 March 1947. Buried in Tel El Kebir War Memorial Cemetery, Egypt.
  • WILLIAMS Kenneth, Private 14756023. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Killed 19 April 1945. Age 19. Buried at Becklingen  War Cemetery, Germany. Son of Alfred Allen Williams and Madeline Olive Williams, of Hay. Kenneth was educated at Hay Council School. Worked at Hay Post Office, and for Hay carpenter George Newton.
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