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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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Private Daniel Spencer Rees

Royal Sussex regiment, 2nd Battalion, service no. G/28005.

Killed in Action September 18th, 1918, aged 27

Commemorated Vis-En-Artois Memorial, France

Daniel was born in 1891 to Thomas and Mary Rees who were grocers in Ship Street, Brecon. The family were at 17, Ship Street at this time although by 1901 had moved to number 8, still as grocers. By 1911 the family were living at 33, The Watton where Thomas was now listed as a corn merchant, although Daniel was boarding in East Dereham, Norfolk whilst working as a bank clerk, having previously attended the Brecon County School. The family later moved to Besford in Worcester.

Daniel enlisted in Hastings, initially with the Suffolk Regiment but later transferring to the Royal Sussex. He probably joined quite early in the war as he is linked with the British Expeditionary Force.

before being commissioned as a second lieutenant in the RWF in January,1915. He went to France with his Battalion in November 1915 and fought at the front. He successfully applied to transfer to the Royal Flying Corps and, after training in Britain he returned, to France to join the 11th Squadron at the front by July 1916.

Tom was born in 1895 to Thomas and Alice Rees of Cefnbrynich Farm, Defynnog. Tom's parent's later lived at Troedyrhiw Villa, Defynnog.

Tom attended Defynnog School before going to Brecon County Intermediate School in 1907. He was a student teacher in his final year before going to Aberystwyth University in 1913, where he was a member of the Officer Training Corps. He joined the Royal Welsh Fusiliers (RWF) in November1914 as a private, gaining rapid promotions to lance corporal and sergeant in the December before

Captain Tom Rees

Royal Flying Corps, 11th Squadron and Royal Welsh

Fusiliers, 14th Battalion

Died September 17th, 1916, aged 21

Buried in Villers-Plouich Communal Cemetery, France