Llay war memorial

Llay war memorial

The war memorial for Llay was unveiled in May 1951. To read details of the people named on it, choose a category below.

Most war memorials in Welsh communities were erected before the Second World War, but at that time there was little to commemorate in Llay. Notice that the memorial bears the name of only one man who died in the First World War.

That war interrupted work on digging the shaft for the new Llay Main colliery, which opened in 1921 and became Wales’ largest deep coal mine. Hundreds of new houses were built in the area as a result, and Llay’s church was consecrated in 1925. Despite the importance of coal to the war effort, many people from Llay served with the armed forces in the Second World War. The war memorial records those who were killed.

With thanks to Alwyn Evans of Clwyd Family History Society

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First World War

Second World War

 
 

First World War

  • Robert Oswald GARNER, Captain, Monmouthshire Regiment, "B" Coy, 3rd Bn. Died 8 May 1915 aged 31. Son of Robert and Fanny Gardner; husband of Amy Ashworth (formerly Gardner) of Vadoc, Llay. Oosttaverne Wood Cemetery, Belgium.
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Second World War

  • William Derrick ASTBURY, Gunner 4193923. Royal Artillery 93 (6th Bn. The Argyll and Sutherland Highlanders) Anti-Tank Regt. Died 23 Jun 1944 aged 21. Son of William and Mary Gwenyth (Gwyneth?) Astbury, of Llay. Bari War Cemetery, Italy.
  • Emlyn Griffiths BAINES, Lance Bombardier 844810. Royal Artillery 61 (The Denbighshire Yeomanry) Medium Regt. Died 21 May 1940 aged 25. Son of John David and Sarah Jane Beard, of Llay. Bourghelles Communal Cemetery, France.
  • William Lloyd BAKER, Private T/168072. Royal Army Service Corps. Died 16 Jun 1941 aged 24. Son of Walter and Gertrude Lillian Baker, of Llay. Gresford Cemetery.
  • Glyn BANNISTER, Ordinary Seaman C/JX 349879. Royal Navy – HMS Blean. Died 11 Dec 1942 aged 18 after his ship was torpedoed off Algeria. Son of George Lawrence and Lily Barmister, of Llay. Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
  • William Clifford Parsonage DAVIES, Steward D/LX 29186. Royal Navy – HMS Kite. Died 21 Aug 1944 aged 29 after his ship was torpedoed north of Russia. Son of Thomas and Beatrice Davies, of Llay. Plymouth Naval Memorial.
  • Reginald EDWARDS, Lance Corporal 1910075. Royal Engineers (12 Bomb Disposal). Died 2 Aug 1943 aged 30. Son of William and Edith Edwards; husband of Beryl Edwards, of Llay. Llay Cemetery.
  • Alfred ELLIS, Fusilier 4198147. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (4th Bn.). Died 17 Jul 1944 aged 25. Son of Arthur and Jane Ellis, of Llay. Banneville-le-Campagne War Cemetery, France.
  • Thomas William HUGHES, Lance Corporal 4193140. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (4th Bn.). Died 4 Sep 1944 aged 26. Dunkirk Town Cemetery.
  • Eryl Rowlands HUGHES, Sergeant Flt. Engr. 2215955. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (57 Sqdn.). Died 3 Jan 1944 aged 21.    Son of Robert Thomas Hughes and Mary Ellen Hughes, of Gresford. Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery.
  • A JONES, Fusilier. Royal Welsh Fusiliers
  • Edward Thomas Curwen ROBERTS, Ordinary Seaman C/JX 219803. Royal Navy – HMS Juno. Died 21 May 1941 aged 25. Son of Robert and Maria Roberts, of Wrexham.            Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent.
  • John Owen ROBERTS, Musician RMB/X 1604. Royal Marine Band – HMS Neptune. Died on 19 Dec 1941, aged 36, after his ship struck mines off Libya. Son of Hughie and Florrie Roberts; husband of Doris Roberts, of Llay. Portsmouth Naval Memorial.
  • George ROGERSON, Able Seaman D/JX 153640. Royal Navy – HMS Glorious. Died 8 Jun 1940 aged 19. Son of John and Emily Rogerson, of Llay. Plymouth Naval Memorial.
  • Stanley Noel STRATFORD, Marine PLY/X 106443. Royal Marines. Died 4 Aug 1942 aged 17. Son of Stanley and Elizabeth Stratford of Llay. Llay Cemetery.
  • Hugh THOMAS, Fusilier 4198914. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (1st Bn.). Died 18 Mar 1943 aged 23. Son of Edward and Mary Thomas, of Llay. Rangoon Memorial, Burma.
  • Raymond TILSTON, Corporal 4198279. Royal Welsh Fusiliers (4th Bn.). Died 27 Jun 1945 aged 25. Son of Eli and Gertrude Tilston, of Llay. Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt.
  • R WYNNE, Fusilier. Royal Welsh Fusiliers                                     
  • J WYNNE, Private. West Yorkshire Regiment.
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