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WORLD WAR ONE

The Men Who Died

WORLD WAR ONE

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Cuthbert was born in1891 to Arthur, a county court bailiff, and May Maude, a headmistress. Whilst born in Merthyr, the family had moved to Llangorse by 1901 and Cuthbert earned a scholarship to Brecon County Intermediate School which he attended for six years (1903-09).

He then went on to Carmarthen College where he was boarding in 1911. He qualified as a teacher and began his career as head teacher at Felindre school, leaving there to take a post in the Upper Rhymney School in Glamorgan from where he enlisted.

Cuthbert enlisted in Cardiff in January 1916 and was initially posted to a Reserve Battalion but was mobilised in February 1917 and posted to the Monmouthshire Regiment (3/1) at a base camp in March and in June was posted to the South Wales Borderers, 11th Battalion in France. He was subsequently killed in action at Pilken Ridge.

Gwilym was born in about 1890 in Maescar, Defynnog, Breconshire the eldest child Jenkin Williams, and his wife Elizabeth, nee Price. His sister Margaret was born two years later. The family lived in the area for many years, initially in Mill Street, then Penybryn, later at Trephilip. Gwilym's father Jenkin Williams was a miller like his father; later a timber merchant. He served as a Justice of the Peace and Chair of Brecon Rural Council. Gwilym went to Defynnog Endowed School, then with a county scholarship to Brecon County school. After school he was articled to Mr. Trevor, surveyor to Swansea Rural Council; then had an appointment as a civil engineer with Mr. Ben Jones, public works contractor for Swansea. He was later, deputy surveyor back with Swansea Rural Council. Gwilym volunteered for army service and received a commission in 1915 as second lieutenant in the Brecknockshire Territorial Battalion of the South Wales Borderers. He was later discharged in 1917 due to ill health. He continued his studies and passed the examinations for the Surveyors Institute and enrolled as a Fellow. He contracted influenza which proved fatal. This was almost certainly part of the 1918/19 flu pandemic that was responsible for millions of deaths across the world at the time.

Second Lieutenant Gwilym Williams

South Wales Borderers, 4th Battalion.

Died May 22nd, 1918, aged 28

Buried at Defynnog (St Cynog) Churchyard

Private Cuthbert Gordon Thomas

Monmouthshire Regiment, Territorial Force, service no.

229317.

Killed in Action July 31st, 1917, aged 26years

Buried at Duhallow A.D.S. Cemetery, Ypres, France