Pennal war memorials

theme page link buttonPennal war memorials

The village’s war memorial commemorates local people who died in the First and Second World Wars. Alongside is a memorial to six airmen who died when their Wellington bomber crashed near Pennal in 1941. For details of the people commemorated, choose a category below.

First World War

Second World War

1941 plane crash

Among those named on the memorial is Arthur Moore Lascelles, who was awarded the Victoria Cross – Britain’s highest honour for bravery – for his actions in resisting a German advance on 3 December 1917. His citation said he was an “example to all”. Despite having been wounded, he returned to the fray and was killed in action on 7 November 1918, four days before hostilities ended.

The 1941 plane crash occurred during a routine cross-country training flight. The Wellington, from No 21 OTU at Moreton in Marsh, Gloucestershire, took off from its base at 11am with a pupil crew and a more experienced navigator. At about 11.40am it crashed into the hillside at Ffridd Rhosfarch, killing all on board. No definite accident cause could be established. It was thought that the crew had glimpsed the Dyfi estuary through the clouds and assumed it was the sea.

With thanks to Rab Jones and Phillip Jones

Postcode: SY20 9DL    View Location Map

 

 

 

First World War

  • DAVIES, David, Private. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action on 25 January 1916, aged 28. Buried in Le Touret Military Cemetery, France. Son of William and Elizabeth Davies of Llys Myfyr, Pennal.
  • GRIFFITHS, Richard, Private. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action on 31 October 1918, aged 27. Buried in Harlebeke New British Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Thomas and Mary Griffiths of Haulfan, Ffridd Gate, Pennal. Older brother of David Griffiths, below. Both brothers are also listed on Machynlleth War Memorial.
  • GRIFFITHS, David, Private. Sherwood Foresters Regiment. Killed in action on 28 September 1918, aged 22. Buried in Vadencourt British Cemetery, France. Son of Thomas and Mary Griffiths of Haulfan, Ffridd Gate, Pennal. Younger brother of Richard Griffiths, above.
  • JAMES, Thomas, Private. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died on 23 July 1916, aged 29. Buried in the Pennal Churchyard Extension. Son of John and Elizabeth James, Penrhynbach, Pennal. He was wounded during the Battle of the Somme and died in hospital in Bristol.
  • JONES, David Owen, Gunner. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Died on 13 January 1917, aged 34. Commemorated on the Basra Memorial, Iraq. Son of Owen and Jane Susannah Jones of Gwyndy, Pennal. Served in Mesopotamia.
  • JONES, E, Private.
  • JONES, JE, Private.
  • JONES, Thomas, Private. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of illness on 30 November 1915. Buried in Hill 10 Cemetery, Gallipoli, Turkey. A native of the Welshpool area of Montgomeryshire. Husband of Mary Catherine Jones (nee Roberts) of Tŷ Mawr, Pennal.
  • LASCELLES, Arthur Moore, Captain. Durham Light Infantry. Killed in action on 7 November 1918, aged 38. Buried in Dourlers Communal Cemetery Extension, France. Son of John and Mary Elizabeth Lascelles, Penmaendyfi, Pennal. Husband of Sophia Lascelles (nee Hardiman) and father of one son. He was awarded the Military Cross and the Victoria Cross for separate actions on the Western Front during 1917. He later returned to action despite losing the use of one arm and was killed in action four days before the Armistice.
  • LEWIS, John, Sergeant. Welsh Regiment. Killed in action on 7 July 1916, aged 45. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France. Son of Hugh and Ann Lewis on Pontbren, Cwrt, Pennal. A veteran of the Boer Wars in South Africa, he was killed in action in the fierce fighting for Mametz Wood during the Battle of the Somme.
  • MORGAN, Richard James, Gunner. Royal Field Artillery. Died of wounds on 30 October 1917, aged 32. Buried in Acheux British Cemetery, France. Son of David and Elizabeth Morgan of Fron, Pennal.
  • MORGAN, John, Gunner. East African Force, Royal Garrison Artillery. Died of dysentery on 28 November 1917, aged 27. Buried in Dar es Salaam War Cemetery, Tanzania. Son of Thomas and Ann Morgan of Pandy, Pantperthog. He is also commemorated on a memorial plaque in Pantperthog Village Hall.
  • PUGH, Richard, Private. Welsh Regiment. Died on 30 May 1915, aged 37. Buried in Calais Southern Cemetery, France. Son of Griffith and Ann Pugh, Tanyfron, Pennal. Served in France from October 1914 but accidentally drowned in Calais harbour the following year.
  • REES, Evan Bleddyn, Corporal. Devonshire Regiment. Killed in action on 24 October 1917, aged 25. Buried in Tyne Cot Cemetery, Belgium. Son of Evan and Jane Rees of Gwynfryn, Pantperthog. He is also commemorated on a memorial plaque in Pantperthog Village Hall.
  • WILLIAMS, Robert, Sergeant. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Reported missing, presumed killed in action on 26 March 1917, aged 21. Commemorated on the Jerusalem Memorial, Israel. Son of David and Mary Ann Williams of Talgarth Cottage, Pennal.
  • WILLIAMS, Robert, Private. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds on 29 December 1917, aged 20. Buried in Jerusalem War Cemetery, Israel. Son of Robert and Elizabeth Williams of Esgairgoch, Pennal.
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Second World War

  • WYNNE, Hugh, Gunner. Royal Artillery. Killed in action on 1 July 1944, aged 32. Buried in Ryes War Cemetery, France. Son of John and Jane Wynne of Machynlleth. Husband of Gwen Mary Wynne (nee Davies) of 7 Graiandy Street, Pennal. Also listed on Machynlleth War Memorial.
  • LEWIS, Idris Gwynfryn, Private. Royal Army Medical Corps. Died of wounds on 11 October 1944, aged 25. Buried in Faenza War Cemetery, Italy. Son of Lewis and Margaret Anne Lewis of Cwmllinau, Montgomeryshire. Lived with his sister at Talgarth Cottage, Pennal, before the war. Also listed on Cemmaes War Memorial and on a plaque in Sama Chapel Cemetery, Cwmllinau. Not named on Pennal War Memorial.
  • JONES, Stanley, Sergeant. Queen’s Own (West Kent) Regiment. Killed in action on 27 July 1945, aged 37. Buried in Rangoon War Cemetery, Myanmar (Burma). Son of Thomas and Ann Jones. Husband of Ethel Jones (nee Williams). Also listed on Machynlleth War Memorial and on a plaque in St. Peter’s Church, Machynlleth. Not named on Pennal War Memorial.
  • ORMOND, Herbert (“Hop”) Edward, Squadron Leader. RAF Volunteer Reserve. Died of pneumonia on 14 February 1943, aged 42. Buried in the Pennal Churchyard Extension. Son of Ernest William and Eleanor Ormond of Penmaendyfi and Pennal Towers, Pennal. Husband of Cicely Ormond (nee Grantham-Hill) and father of two children. He was Acting Chief Air Traffic Controller at RAF Tangmere in Kent when he was taken ill.
  • THRUSTON, Edmund Wybergh, Commander. Royal Navy. Died on 20 November 1941, aged 37. Commemorated on the Chatham Naval Memorial, Kent. Son of Edmund Heathcote and Lucy Thruston who had close links with Pennal Towers, Pennal. Husband of Nina Dorothy Thruston (nee Nisbet). Awarded the Distinguished Service Cross. Died when his ship, HMAS Sydney, was sunk off the coast of Australia.
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Plane crash on 17 August 1941

  • George Hewison, Sergeant (Air Gunner) 1379096. Died aged 30. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at St John’s Westgate and Elswick Cemetery, Newcastle-on-Tyne. Husband of Kathleen Hewison, of Benwell, Newcastle-on-Tyne.
  • Allan Jackets, Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 994357. Died aged 21. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at Hull Eastern Cemetery. Son of Thomas William and Ada Annie Jackets, of Hull.
  • George Joyce Matthews, Pilot Officer (Observer) 100059. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at St Nicholas’ Churchyard, Cottesmore, Rutland. Of Olverston, Bristol.
  • Herbert George Mole, Sergeant (Pilot) 1375799. Died aged 27. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at East London Cemetery, Plaistow. Son of Herbert William and Mable Mole, of Kew, Surrey.
  • John Francis Moore, Sergeant (Wireless Operator/Air Gunner) 1252146. Died aged 21. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried at Tywyn cemetery. Son of Gerald and Margaret Moore, of Janesboro, Limerick, Ireland.
  • James Francis Paul Stuart, Sergeant (Pilot) R/62632. Died aged 21. Royal Canadian Air Force. Buried at Tywyn cemetery. Son of Robert Archibald and Hilda Macdonell Stuart, of Cornwall, Ontario, Canada.
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