Usk war memorial

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Usk war memorial, Priory Street, Usk

This memorial was unveiled in November 1922 to commemorate the local men who had died in the First World War. The names of men who died in the Second World War were added later and the memorial was rededicated to those who died “in the Great Wars”. To discover who the men were, choose a category below.

First World War

Second World War

We have also included details of some men who died in the wars and had local connections but are not named on the war memorial.

The memorial stands outside the Priory Church of St Mary. A memorial tablet inside the church lists men of the parish who died in the First World War.

John Haggett of Bridge Street lost his son Reginald, a Private with the Canadian Mounted Rifles, on 2 October 1916. That was 15 years and one day after his son Osmond was killed in the Boer War in 1901.

In the late 1930s the Rev Jonathan Maynard Knowles was curate at the church. He left to act as an army chaplain during the Second World War and was killed, aged 26, during the Dunkirk evacuation in 1940.

Local solicitor John Maitland Watkins, who had played a central role in raising funds for Usk’s Boer War memorial, lost his son Illtyd in the First World War.

Postcode: NP15 1BJ    View Location Map

 

 

First World War

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  • Bowen, Alfred John Hamilton, Lieutenant Colonel. Died 02/03/1917 aged 31. Monmouthshire Regiment. Awarded Distinguished Service Order and Bar and 3 times Mentioned in Despatches. Buried Guards’ Cemetery, France. Son of Alfred Edward and Emily Marianne Bowen of Usk; husband of Jean Gertrude Wilton of Winnipeg, Canada.
  • Carey, William, Lance Corporal 1396. Died 06/07/1916. Monmouthshire Regiment. Thiepval Memorial. Born Llanbadoc, Usk.
  • Colwell, S. Possibly: Lance Corporal 55179. Died 15/11/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Limerick (King's Island) Military Cemetery.
  • Cook, George William, Private 265113. Died 23/08/1917. Monmouthshire Regiment. Buried Bleuet Farm Cemetery.
  • Cook, Frederick Arthur, Private 57959. Died 14/06/1918 aged 20. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Soissons Memorial. Son of George William and Ellen Cook of Twyn Square.
  • Crichton, Mc. Probably: Crichton, McVeagh, Major. Died 19/12/1919 aged 43. 103rd Mahratta Light Infantry 1st Bn. Delhi Memorial (India Gate). Son of Major and Mrs H Crichton; husband of Marian E Crichton, of 3, Langley Tower, Surbiton, Surrey.
  • Davies, DB. Probably: Davies, David Beynon, Lieutenant. Died 11/08/1917 aged 30. Royal Flying Corps. Buried Ramscappelle Road Military Cemetery. Son of John and Nancy Davies of Esgereinon, Cross Inn, Cardiganshire. Lived at 23 Church Road, Abertridwr, near Caerphilly, before the war. Killed in aerial combat over Belgium.
  • Davies, George Herbert, Corporal 17621. Died 04/10/1916 aged 21. South Wales Borderers. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Mr and Mrs G Davies, of Rhadyr.
  • Day, Thomas, Private 27952. Died 13/11/1916. East Yorkshire Regiment. Thiepval Memorial. Born and lived in Usk. Formerly served with Northants Regiment.
  • De La Pasture, Charles Edward, Captain. Died 29/10/1914 aged 35. Scots Guards. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of Count Gerard Gustavus Ducarel de La Pasture, of Cefn Ila, Llanbadoc; husband of Agatha Mercedes Mosley.
  • Dowding, Frank Alfred, Private 27205. Died 03/03/1917. South Wales Borderers. Buried Amara War Cemetery.
  • Drowley, Edward Harcourt, Private M2/200200. Died 10/11/1917 aged 19. Army Service Corps. Buried Oxford Road Cemetery. Son of Charles and Catherine Drowley of Heathfield, Northwich, Cheshire. Native of Usk. Not named on Usk war memorial.
  • Evans, John, Private 12299. Died 09/04/1916 aged 39. South Wales Borderers. Basra Memorial. Eldest son of George and Mary Ann Evans.
  • Garside, L R. Private. Royal Fusiliers.
  • George, F B, Private. Army Service Corps.
  • George, W.
  • George, Peter, Sapper 201026. Died 15/07/1917. Royal Engineers - Inland Water Transport. Buried Basra War Cemetery.
  • Griffiths, Alfred James, Private 24953. Died 13/08/1915 aged 19. South Wales Borderers. Helles Memorial. Son of Alfred and Alice Griffiths of Yew Tree Farm, Gwehelog.
  • Griffiths, George Alfred, Sapper 159830. Died 24/10/1917. Royal Engineers. Loos British Cemetery. Born in Usk.
  • Haggett , Reginald Russell, Private 160635. Died 02/10/1916 aged 31. Canadian Mounted Rifles. Vimy Memorial. Son of John Perchase Haggett of Clarence House, Bridge Street; husband of Pamela Haggett.
  • Harrhy, Edgar, Corporal 265902. Died 25/06/1917. Monmouthshire Regiment. Buried Etaples Military Cemetery.
  • Harris, Ernest, Gunner 14874. Died 04/06/1916. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Faubourg d'Amiens Cemetery.
  • Haynes, E B, Second Lieutenant. Died 14/11/1918 aged 45. Royal Air Force. Buried Usk (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard. Husband of Florence Haynes of 26, Upton Road, Newport.
  • Jenkins, Thomas Melville, Private 13506. Died 02/04/1918 aged 23. 6th Dragoon Guards (Carabiniers). Buried Namps-au-Val British Cemetery. Son of Samuel and Sarah Elizabeth Jenkins of The Willows. Native of Newport.
  • Johns, T.
  • Jones, J, Sergeant. 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
  • Jones, Alfred William Stephen, Private 18504. Died 01/07/1916 aged 28. South Wales Borderers. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Mrs Mary Maria Jones of Baron Street.
  • Jones, Ernest George, Private 3270. Died 25/07/1917 aged 19. Welsh Guards. Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Son of Ernest and Emma Jones of Castle Street.
  • Jones, E S.
  • Knight, Charles Ernest Vickery, Private 41349. Died 10/03/1918 aged 19. South Wales Borderers. Buried Poelcapelle British Cemetery. Son of Walter Ernest and Elizabeth Knight of Mill Street.
  • Lewis, W. Driver. Army Service Corps.
  • Meredith, John Lionel, Private 19410. Died 11/10/1917 aged 19. Coldstream Guards. Dozinghem Military Cemetery. Son of Christie Meredith of Tenby House.
  • Mitchell, Charles, Private 88860. Died 20/12/1918 aged 19. Royal Defence Corps. Buried Middlesbrough (Linthorpe) Cemetery. Son of Edward and Mary Ann Mitchell. Brother of Edward John, below. Charles may be the Private C Mitchell who is listed on the memorial in the Priory Church of St Mary as having served with the 10th Manchester Regiment.
  • Mitchell, Edward John, Private 267351. Died 12/04/1918 aged 22. Monmouthshire Regiment. Ploegsteert Memorial. Son of Edward and Mary Ann Mitchell.
  • Mitchell, F J. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
  • Morgan E. Probably: Morgan, Frederick Ernest, Second Lieutenant. Died 23/11/1917. South Wales Borderers. Awarded Military Cross. Cambrai Memorial.
  • Pardoe, W. Probably: Pardoe, William, Driver 205597. Died 02/09/1918. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Hem Farm Military Cemetery. Lived at Glascoed.
  • Parry, Tom, Private 266199. Died 01/07/1916 aged 21. Monmouthshire Regiment. Thiepval Memorial. Son of Tom and Mary Jane Parry of Clearwell Cottage, Glascoed. Enlisted in Usk.
  • Payne, William Henry, Private 16740. Died 27/09/1918 aged 34. King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Buried Morchies Australian Cemetery. Son of William and Elizabeth Payne, of Mill Street, Usk. Not named on Usk war memorial.
  • Price, Moses Samuel, Sergeant 2926. Died 17/08/1916 aged 24. Australian Infantry. Buried Serre Road Cemetery. Son of Thomas and Temperance Price of Usk, and later Penyrheol, Llanishen, Cardiff, and Malpas Court Farm, Newport. Born in Usk. Worked as a farmer before enlisting. Left Melbourne in September 1915 and served in the Gallipoli campaign. Promoted to Corporal March 1916, Sergeant August 1916.
  • Price, William Henry, Private 9816. Died 25/04/1915 aged 23. South Wales Borderers. Helles Memorial. Son of Mrs A K Trigg of Cherry Tree, Gwehelog.
  • Price, Leonard, Able Seaman Wales Z/871. Died 22/12/1915. Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Buried Redoubt Cemetery, Turkey. Son of Elizabeth Davies of Castle Farm.
  • Rees, Henry Charles Stephens, Corporal 265264. Died 01/07/1916 aged 20. Monmouthshire Regiment. Buried Hawthorn Ridge Cemetery. Son of Thomas Rees of Fernleigh.
  • Roberts, W H. Private. Royal Flying Corps.
  • Saunders, Eric Stanley, Pioneer 182435. Died 19/06/1917 aged 32. Royal Engineers. Buried Poperinghe New Military Cemetery. Son of Charles James and Eliza Saunders. Born Raglan. Was a clerk in the Monmouthshire County Council offices. Enlisted in Usk.
  • Smith, Arthur John, Private 26409. Died 25/03/1918 aged 30. South Wales Borderers. Arras Memorial. Son of John Smith of 51, Brynheulog Street, Pen-y-Bryn, Gelligaer. Native of Usk.
  • Stickler, Herbert Joseph, Private 7006. Died 15/06/1915 aged 36. South Wales Borderers. Buried Twelve Tree Copse Cemetery. Husband of Jessie Maud Stickler of Maryport Street.
  • Thomas, Bertie William Goddard, Rifleman B/497. Died 15/04/1917. Rifle Brigade. Buried Aubigny Communal Cemetery.
  • Turner, James William Alfred, Private 238052. Died 22/03/1918 aged 35. Lincolnshire Regiment. Arras Memorial. Husband of Martha Maud Turner of Bridge Street.
  • Watkins, Iltyd Edwin Maitland, Captain. Died 07/05/1915 aged 25. Monmouthshire Regiment. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of John Maitland and Frances Watkins.soldier icon
  • Watkins, Reginald Evan, Private 123526. Died 24/03/1918 aged 19. Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). Pozieres Memorial. Son of Mrs Emma Watkins of 1, New Market Street.
  • Weare, Ernest,  Private 23534. Died 20/09/1915. South Wales Borderers. Buried Usk (St. Mary Magdalene) Churchyard. Educated at Usk Boys’ School.
  • Williams, Tom, Private 19096. Died 03/09/1916 aged 34. Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Buried Delville Wood Cemetery. Son of Mary Williams, of New Market Street.
  • Williams, George, Private 8023. Died 26/09/1914 aged 29. South Wales Borderers. La Ferte-sous-Jouarre Memorial. Son of William and Mary Williams of Berllanderry, Raglan; husband of Elizabeth Rose Williams of 4, Baron Street.
  • Window, Leonard Rees, Private 59663. Died 14/09/1919 aged 28. Machine Gun Corps. Buried Haidar Pasha Cemetery. Son of Mr R and Mrs E A Window of Priory Street.
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Second World War

  • Ault, Kenneth, Squadron Leader 33214. Died 09/04/1942 aged 26. Royal Air Force. Singapore Memorial. Son of Percy Ault and Helena Ethel Ault of Bristol. Killed when Japanese fighters shot down his Blenheim aircraft, V5992, 11 Squadron.
  • Davis, Edgar John, Flight Sergeant - Air Gunner 984441. Died 22/03/1943 aged 27. Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. Buried Trostrey (St. David) Churchyard. Son of Edgar and Marjorie Davis; husband of Phyllis Eileen Davis.
  • Hobbs, Arthur Edward, Private 5189527. Died 03/06/1942 aged 22. Gloucestershire Regiment. Rangoon Memorial. Son of Alfred and Rosa Annie Hobbs.
  • Knowles, Rev Jonathan Maynard, Chaplain 4th Class 95803. Died 01/06/1940 aged 26. Royal Army Chaplains' Department. Mentioned in Despatches. Buried Oostende New Communal Cemetery. Son of Captain Jonathan and Viva Brabazon Knowles of Bordon, Hampshire. Studied at Radlay College, Oxford, and Corpus Christi College, Cambridge, where he was a rower. Ordained at St Mary’s Church, Usk, before the war. Died on active service during the withdrawal to Dunkirk. Of Ashley House, Maryport Street, Usk.
  • Marshall, C.
  • Mortimer, J E. Probably: Mortimer, Joseph Edward, Trooper 402999. Died 17/03/1945 aged 36. Royal Armoured Corps 3rd King's Own Hussars. Buried Berlin 1939-1945 War Cemetery. Son of Charles and Margaret Ann Mortimer; husband of Kathleen Mary Mortimer of Clifton, York.
  • Price, A E. Probably: Price, Albert Edward, Private 3910611. Died 07/09/1944 aged 24. Monmouthshire Regiment. Buried Schoonselhof Cemetery. Son of Albert Edward and Eliza Price; husband of Linda Kathleen Price.
  • Rennie, Charles Andrew, Captain 224079. Died 17/03/1945 aged 31. Royal Armoured Corps. Awarded Military Cross. Died of wounds and buried Maynamati War Cemetery. Son of John and Lucy Rennie; husband of Nan M Rennie of Clevedon, Somerset. Awarded MC after making two patrols 23 miles into enemy territory, where he gained valuable information and destroyed two enemy trucks, killing 36 Japanese servicemen.
  • Smith, D A.
  • Smith, E.
  • Stockham, H R. Probably: Stockham, Herbert Richard, Corporal 538541. Died 19/12/1941. Royal Air Force. Buried Stanley Military Cemetery.
  • Watkins, A H.
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