Llantwit Major war memorial

LlantwitLlantwit Major war memorial

This war memorial commemorates local people who died in the First and Second World Wars. To discover who they were, choose a category below.

First World War
Second World War

llantwit_major_cross_plinthThe memorial was unveiled in October 1921 by Colonel Joseph Gaskell, who had lost his son Frank in the war. It stands on the base of a medieval preaching cross. The cross was destroyed by Parliamentarians during or after the Civil War in the 17th century, but the plinth was left in situ (see photo, right). In 1916 the plinth was used to display a captured German artillery gun!

The memorial includes the names of three siblings who died in the space of less than a year. Eva Martha Davies was a nurse at a military hospital in Cardiff and died in June 1918. Her brothers Bruce and Max died in Belgium and France respectively.

Photo of unveiling of Llantwit Major war memorial
The war memorial's unveiling ceremony © W Clarke, Llandaff

The memorial was designed and constructed by W Clarke of Llandaff. It’s made of Hopton Wood stone, a Carboniferous limestone quarried near Middleton-by-Wirksworth, Derbyshire. Hopton Wood stone was used as flooring in the Houses of Parliament and Chatsworth House, Derbyshire. Many Commonwealth War Graves Commision headstones are made of the same stone.

A concrete foundation was installed beneath the base of the medieval cross, for the structure to take the weight of the memorial.

With thanks to Llantwit Major History Society and Byron Jones. Also to Michael Statham, of the Welsh Stone Forum

Postcode: CF61 1SB    View Location Map

 

 

First World War

  • Frederick John Ayre, Lieutenant. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 10/08/1918 in Norfolk after being invalided out of service with TB. Son of Thomas and Catherine Ayre. Worked as a doctor before the war in Llantwit Major, where he lived with his family, including his parents.
  • Richard Chatterton, Private 760769. Died 04/06/1917 aged 22. Canadian Infantry. Buried at Zouave Valley Cemetery, Souchez, France. Only son of Frederick and Frances Chatterton, of Geneva, New York, USA, and earlier of Vancouver. Born in Llantwit Major, where Frederick was licensee of the Globe Inn.
  • Mervyn Crawshay, Captain. Died 31/10/1914 aged 33. 5th Dragoon Guards (Princess Charlotte of Wales's). Buried at Cement House Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Tudor Crawshay, of Dimlands; great grandson of ironmaster William Crawshay, of Cyfarthfa Castle, Merthyr Tydfil. Mervyn had served in the South African War in 1902. Competed in the 1912 National Horse Show in New York’s Madison Square Gardens. Also commemorated by a tablet in St Illtud’s Church.
  • Bruce Vowles Davies, Gunner 105745. Died 12/08/1917 aged 29. Royal Garrison Artillery. Buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium Son of John and Mary Davies; husband of Janice E Davies. Lived at 3 West End Terrace with his wife and their four children. Was a bell ringer at St Illtud’s Church. Brother of Max and Eva, below.
  • Eva Martha Davies, Nurse. Died 16/06/1918 aged 21. 3rd Western General Hospital
    Voluntary Aid Detachment. Buried at St Illtud’s churchyard. Daughter of John and Mary Davies of Llantwit Major. Died of blood poisoning after working in a Cardiff military hospital.
  • Max John Davies, Corporal 108105. Died 10/08/1918 aged 24. Royal Engineers. Buried at Bagneux British Cemetery, Gezaincourt, France. Son of John and Mary Davies, of Llantwit Major.
  • Herbert Edward Davies, Private 16090. Welsh Regiment. Died of wounds May 21 1916 aged 18. Buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, France. Son of George and Ellen Davies, of 1 Upper Capel Street, Bargoed, and earlier of Colhugh Street, Llantwit Major. Also commemorated on Bargoed war memorial. Brother of Illtyd, below.
  • Illtyd Davies, Private. King’s Royal Rifles. Died August 1916 in a London hospital after being wounded in France. Buried at Gelligaer churchyard, near Bargoed. Son of George and Ellen Davies, of 1 Upper Capel Street, Bargoed, and earlier of Colhugh Street, Llantwit Major. His brother Ernest carried him from no man’s land.
  • Frank Deere, Corporal 56778. Died of wounds on 09/06/1917 aged 40. Royal Engineers. Buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension, Nord, France. Son of William and Frances Deere; husband of Mrs C Deere, of 4, West End, Llantwit Major. Brother of Herbert, below.
  • Herbert Deere, Sapper 91531. Died on 09/12/1917 at a hospital in Leeds aged 38. Royal Engineers. Buried in St Illtud’s churchyard. Son of William and Frances Deere; husband of Mary Jane Deere, of 21, Barons Close, Llantwit Major.
  • Francis Evans, Private 97235. Died 09/11/1920 aged 25. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried at Tabernacle CM chapelyard, Llantwit Major. Son of Francis and Louisa Evans, of 8, Barons Close, Llantwit Major. Was invalided home after serving in Salonika. Returned to the war in Egypt and Palestine, coming back to Britain in poor health in November 1919.
  • Frank Hill Gaskell, Lieutenant Colonel. Died 17/05/1916 aged 37. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Merville Communal Cemetery, France. Awarded the King Edward's Coronation Medal. Son of Col Jospeh Gaskell CBE and Emily Mary Gaskell, of Cardiff; husband of Violet Gaskell, of Boscobel, Llanishen. Had served in the South African War. Also commemorated in St Illtud’s Church and St John’s Church, Cardiff. Worked as a solicitor in Newport House, Llantwit Major.
  • Elias George, Private 507639. Died 08/11/1918 aged 32. Labour Corps. Buried at Tabernacle CM chapelyard, Llantwit Major. Son of William and Ada George, of Chantry House, Llantwit Major. Born in Llanmaes and brought up in Llantwit Major. Worked in Rhondda collieries before enlisting.
  • John George, Lance Corporal G/1031. Died 13/11/1917 aged 19. Royal Sussex Regiment. Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium. Son of William and Catherine George, of College Terrace. Worked in Rhondda collieries before enlisting.
  • Ernest Victor Griffiths, Private 282385. Died 23/10/1918 aged 20. Lancashire Fusiliers. Buried at Belle Vue British Cemetery, Briastre, France. Son of Evan and Annie Griffiths, of Bute Cottage, Llanmaes.
  • James Henry Hewins, Private 352475. Died 09/08/1918 aged 30. London Regiment. Buried at Heath Cemetery, Harbonnieres, France. Son of Charles and Eliza Hewins, of The Windmill, Llantwit Major. Was a farm labourer before the war.
  • Albert Thomas Hopkins, Private 19420. Died 19/10/1915 aged 40. Welsh Regiment. Buried at St Sever Cemetery, Rouen. Son of William and Elizabeth Hopkins, of Flanders Road, also of Colhugh Street. Died of the effects of gas poisoning.
  • Ivor Hopkins, Able Seaman R/2963. Died 08/11/1917 aged 31. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Buried at St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen. Son of David and Elizabeth Hopkins, of The Old Swan Inn, Llantwit Major. Worked as a brewer before enlisting.
  • Ivor Thomas Hopkins, Private G/1627. Died 25/09/1915. Loos Memorial. Royal Sussex Regiment. Born in Treherbert, Rhondda. In 1911 was living with his widowed father John at Eastfield, East Street, Llantwit Major.
  • David Hughes, Driver 891030. Died 14/04/1917. Royal Field Artillery. Buried at Tabernacle CM chapelyard, Llantwit Major. Son of Thomas and Rosina Hughes, of West Street. Drowned in a boating accident in York.
  • Arthur Jones, Able Seaman 231814. Died 31/05/1916. Royal Navy - HMS Defence. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Son of Thomas and Emma Jones. Born in Llantwit Major. Was one of 779 lost when their ship was sunk during the Battle of Jutland.
  • Henry John Lake, Lance Corporal G/4569. Died 15/09/1916 aged 19. The Buffs (East Kent Regiment). Buried at Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont, France. Son of Robert Edward and Lydia Lake, of Brooklands Road.
  • David Arthur Legge, Sapper 546814. Died 13/04/1917 aged 27. Royal Engineers. Buried at Feuchy Chapel British Cemetery, Wancourt, France. Son of Andrew and Frances Legge, of Upper Nash, Lamphey, Pembrokeshire. Worked as a blacksmith in Llantwit Major and lodged with his employer in Wine Street.
  • Charles Price, Lance Serjeant 21577. Died 21/10/1918 aged 21. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Awoingt British Cemetery, France. Son of James and Elizabeth Price, of Mill House, Llanmaes. Worked as a cowman before enlisting.
  • David Rawle, Private 19365. Died 19/01/1917 aged 22. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Tabernacle CM chapelyard, Llantwit Major. Son of John and Emma Rawle, of Huntsman’s Cottage, West Street. Worked as a farm labourer. Fought in the Middle East and was invalided home with shrapnel wounds to the head.
  • Daniel Owen Rees, Gunner 606273. Died of influenza on 10/03/1919 aged 35. Royal Field Artillery. Buried at Etaples Military Cemetery, France. Son of Edward and Jennett Rees, of Plymouth House, Llantwit Major.
  • Sidney Roberts, Private. Killed in action in Belgium on 05/08/1917. Son of David Roberts of Brynhyfryd, Swansea. His mother was Mrs John Morgan, of the School House, Llantwit Major.
  • William Alfred Thomas, Sergeant 18162. Died 13/06/1916. Canadian Infantry. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of Richard Thomas; grandson of Rees and Jane Thomas, of Turkey Street. Emigrated to Canada and worked as a bricklayer. Brother of Sidney, below.
  • C Humphrey Rittson Thomas, Lieutenant. Died 16/06/1915 aged 22. South Lancashire Regiment. Buried at Ypres Town Cemetery Extension, Belgium. Son of George and Henrietta Elizabeth Thomas, of Orchard House, Boverton. Born in Penarth. Worked as an engineer at the Crown Patent Works, Cardiff, which produced a type of shipping fuel. Also commemorated on Penarth war memorial. Brother of John, below.
  • John Baron Rittson Thomas, Second Lieutenant. Died 18/04/1918 aged 20. Manchester Regiment. Buried at Quesnoy Farm Military Cemetery, France. Son of George and Henrietta Elizabeth Thomas, of Orchard House, Boverton. Also commemorated by plaque in St Illtud’s Church.
  • Sidney Thomas, Corporal 28681. Died 23/11/1915. Buried at La Plus Douve Farm Cemetery, Belgium. Canadian Infantry. Son of Richard Thomas; grandson of Rees and Jane Thomas, of Turkey Street. Emigrated to Canada and worked as a carpenter. Brother of William, above.
  • William Thomas, Private 21583. Died 20/02/1918. Welsh Regiment, transferred to Labour Corps (where his service number was 243100). Buried at St Illtud’s Churchyard. Son of William Thomas, of Colhugh Street. Transferred to home duties with the Labour Corps after being wounded in 1916.
  • Charles Tugwell, Acting Bombardier 55795. Died of TB on 10/09/1918 aged 33. Royal Field Artillery. Buried at Cathays Cemetery, Cardiff. Son of Edward and Mary Tugwell. Husband of Catherine Elizabeth Tugwell, of 50, Allerton Street, Cardiff. Born in Rumney, Cardiff. Lived at Hillhead, Llantwit Major, before the war. His home address was in Rhoose when he enlisted in 1914. One of his legs was amputated after an accident with a horse.
  • Thomas John Williams, Private 21561. Died of TB on 05/04/1917 aged 21. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Bethesda’r Fro United Reformed Chapelyard, Boverton. Son of Daniel and Ellen Williams, of the Parwg, Boverton.
  • William Newby Wyndham, Second Engineer. Mercantile Marine - HMT Larchwood. Died 14/01/1916 aged 23. One of eight men lost when their ship, carrying coal from Penarth, collided with another ship off north Devon and sank within minutes. HMT Larchwood was a collier, chartered by the Admiralty to supply coal to Royal Navy ships.
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Second World War

  • William Anderson, Pilot Officer 156592. Died 23/11/1943. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Awarded Distinguished Flying Cross. Runnymede Memorial.
  • Raymond Thomas Cule, Private S/143578. Died 25/09/1943 aged 25. Royal Army Service Corps. Buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Florence Crossley Cule.
  • Idris Davies, Captain. Tank Corps.
  • David Wyndham Davies, Flight Lieutenant 168659. Died 10/07/1946 aged 23. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Bridgend Cemetery. Son of Evan and Elizabeth Davies; husband of Peggy Doreen Davies of Loughborough, Leicestershire.
  • Wyndham Chatterton Davies, Guardsman 2736360. Died 14/04/1943 aged 28. Welsh Guards. Buried Llantwit Major (St. Illtud) Churchyard. Son of Thomas Chatterton Davies and Ellen Jane Davies.
  • Adolphus Howell Daw, Third Radio Officer. Died 16/01/1941 aged 25. Merchant Navy - SS Essex (London). Tower Hill Memorial. Husband of Louise Kathleen Marjorie Daw. Ship sunk while at Malta.
  • Charles Selby Daw, Chief Officer. Died 06/06/1941 aged 29. Merchant Navy - SS Queensbury (London). Tower Hill Memorial. Son of Henry and Florence Elizabeth Daw. Ship sunk off Montrose, Scotland.
  • John Vivian Elward, Corporal 536267. Died 13/02/1942. Royal Air Force. Singapore Memorial.
  • Desmond Charles Evans, Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1836534. Died 23/09/1944 aged 22. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Llantwit Major (Tabernacle) Calvinistic Methodist Chapelyard. Son of Illtyd and Blanche Evans; husband of Elsie Ellen Evans.
  • Henry Gwyn Evans, Sapper 2045238. Died Between 20/04/1941 and 23/04/1941 aged 28. Royal Engineers. Athens Memorial. Son of William and Sarah Evans; husband of Irene Evans.
  • John Thomas Evans, Able Seaman D/JX 230384. Died 07/01/1943 aged 32. Royal Navy. Plymouth Naval Memorial. Was serving as a Gunner aboard the merchant ship SS Benalbanach when the ship was struck by two German torpedoes in the Mediterranean Sea.
  • Thomas George, Fireman and Trimmer. Merchant Navy - SS Baron Newlands (Ardrossan). Died on 16/02/1942. Tower Hill Memorial. Born in Llantwit Major. Lived at West End, Llantwit Major. One of 18 lost when their ship torpedoed and sank immediately near Cape Palmas, Liberia.
  • William George, Stoker 2nd Class LT/KX 104599. Died 08/06/1940. Royal Naval Patrol Service. Lowestoft Naval Memorial. Son of Uriah and Mary Jane George.
  • Joseph William Lionel Hart, Sapper 941750. Died 23/09/1943 aged 25. Royal Engineers. Buried Thanbyuzayat War Cemetery. Son of Ernest and Frances Hart.
  • David Leonard Hopkins, Sergeant (Pilot) 574313. Died 12/02/1944 aged 21. Royal Air Force. Buried Moascar War Cemetery. Son of David and Margaret Hopkins.
  • Edwin M Howells, Private, Private 10545900. Died 08/04/1943 aged 34. Pioneer Corps. Brookwood Memorial. Son of Thomas and Rachel Howells of Trealaw.
  • Reginald John Lawrence, Fusilier 4198404. Died 04/05/1944 aged 32. Royal Welch Fusiliers. Buried Kohima War Cemetery. Son of Albert Joseph and Ellen Louisa Lawrence of Sigingstone.
  • Ronald Illtyd Lewis, Able Seaman D/JX 287333. Died 08/12/1942 aged 21. Royal Navy. Buried Simon's Town (Dido Valley) Cemetery. Son of Illtyd and Catherine Lewis of Llantwit Major.
  • John Matthew Munt, Gunner 1637279. Died 20/07/1944 aged 33. Royal Artillery. Buried Llantwit Major Cemetery. Son of Mathew John and Margaret Munt; husband of Gladys Margaret Munt of Llantwit Major. Not named on Llantwit Major war memorial.
  • Gwilym Thomas Owen, Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1007568. Died 28/04/1942 aged 28. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Kiel War Cemetery. Son of John and Laura Owen; husband of Violet Louisa Owen of Colwinston.
  • Morris Frank Phillips, Officers Cook P/MX 94899. Died 01/01/1943 aged 21. Royal Navy. Portsmouth Naval Memorial. Son of Monsell Frank and Letty Phillips.
  • Samuel Mark Smith, Guardsman 2733121. Died 12/08/1944 aged 32. Welsh Guards. Buried St. Charles De Percy War Cemetery. Son of William Henry and Elizabeth Smith; husband of Edith Smith of Hampstead, London.
  • John Price Thomas, Private. Welsh Regiment. Died of a brain tumour 1 January 1942. Buried in Llantwit Major cemetery. Was initially rejected by the army because he had lost a little finger but later allowed to join the Welsh Regiment.
  • Cyril William Turrell, Private 3959420. Died 06/08/1944 aged 27. South Wales Borderers (listed as Monmouthshire Regiment on CWGC database). Bayeux Memorial. Son of Mr. and Mrs. James Turrell.
  • Lawrence Clifford Wale, Private 10541349. Died 09/03/1945 aged 34. Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Buried Yokohama War Cemetery.
  • C C Welsh, Sergeant. Royal Air Force. Possibly: Welsh, Charles Gallagher Sergeant (Flight Engineer) 1837071. Died 13/03/1945 aged 30. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Clichy Northern Cemetery. Son of Charles Gallagher Welsh and Rachel Welsh; husband of Joan Welsh of Barry.
  • John Williams. Guardsman. Welsh Guards. Moved from Swansea to work on a farm in Llantwit Major. He served in the Welsh Regiment (Welsh Guards according to the war memorial) and is believed to have been a dispatch rider when he was killed by a sniper in 1944 in France.
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