Remembering the Fallen - Pt2

Philip Pugh was the first of two sons of William and Elizabeth Pugh of Llynclys to die in the Great War. Philip was killed in action in Palestine on 26 March 1917 at the age of 23. He is buried in the Gaza War Cemetery.

Philip was born in Crickheath, where he was a member of the local community worship at Llanyblodwel church. At the time of the 1911 census, he worked as a quarry labourer. When he enlisted at Newtown on 30 November 1914, he gave his occupation as chauffeur. He also served in Gallipoli, landing there on 8 August 1915.

His name is recorded in the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for the First World War, which was created in 1928 and includes the names of “the men and women of Welsh birth and parentage and of all the men belonging to the Regiment of Wales who gave their lives in the war of 1914-1918.” Additionally, he is remembered in the context of St Michael the Archangel, a symbol of hope for many families who lost loved ones during this tumultuous time.

William Wynn Pugh died of his wounds on 30 October 1917 at the age of 20. He is buried in Dozinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium.

William (listed by his father on the 1911 census return as “Wynn”) was the second of the sons of William and Elizabeth Pugh of Lilac Cottage, Llynclys Hill to lose his life in the Great War. He was born in Llanidloes, Montgomeryshire, and baptised there on 27 December 1897.

His loss was reported in the Wellington Journal & Shrewsbury News on 1 December 1917:

“Mr. and Mrs. Wm Pugh, Llynclys Hill, near Oswestry, have suffered a second sad bereavement by the death on Oct. 30 from wounds received in action on the Western front of their son, Pte. W. W. Pugh. (20), K.S.L.I., who had only recently returned with his battalion from the Far East. He had been in the army over two years. The eldest son, Pte. Philip Pugh, R.W.F., [was] killed in action at the first battle of Gaza on the Palestine front, and before joining the army was a motor-driver. In expressing sympathy with the parents, his officer writes: “He was one of the best boys in my platoon”.”

William’s name is recorded in the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for the First World War, which was created in 1928 and contains the names of “the men and women of Welsh birth and parentage and of all the men belonging to the Regiment of Wales who gave their lives in the war of 1914-1918”.

Charles Rowlands was killed in action on 1 July 1916 at the age of 22. He is buried in Vlamertinghe Military Cemetery near Ypres in Belgium.

Charles was born in Crickheath. His parents were William and Mary Jane Rowlands of Crickheath Hill. Before the war, Charles worked as a groom. He enlisted in Oswestry in November 1914 and arrived in France on 31 December 1915.

His loss is also commemorated on the war memorial in Morton churchyard, and on a roll of honour donated to Pant Memorial Hall and now kept in Oswestry Town Museum.

Richard Watkin died of his injuries on 23 November 1917 at the age of 46, following an accident at his barracks in Cairo a week earlier. He is buried in the Cairo War Memorial Cemetery in Egypt.

Richard’s parents were Richard and Mary Ann Watkin of Bryn Farm. He was baptised here on 23 August 1870. 

At the time of the 1911 census, Richard was working on his father’s farm alongside an older sister and three younger brothers. He enlisted in the Montgomeryshire Yeomanry on 3 May 1915, when he claimed to be 35 years old, and was transferred to the Royal Welsh Fusiliers in December 1916. He had arrived in Egypt on 4 March 1916.

Richard’s service records contain documents from the court of inquiry held immediately following the accident which led to his death, including the transcript of his own statement.

The court of inquiry found that this was indeed an accident.

Richard Watkin is commemorated on his parents’ headstone here in the churchyard.

His name is recorded in the Welsh National Book of Remembrance for the First World War, which was created in 1928 and contains the names of “the men and women of Welsh birth and parentage and of all the men belonging to the Regiment of Wales who gave their lives in the war of 1914-1918”.

William Michael died in Oswestry Cottage Hospital on 8 December 1918, at the age of 25, following an accident. He is buried here in the churchyard.

William was the only son of Thomas and Jane Michael of Hill View, Porthywaen. Before the war he worked as a railway porter with the Cambrian Railway Company.

William Thomas died of tuberculosis on 23 November 1916 at the age of 41. He is buried here in the churchyard, with his grave being marked by its only Commonwealth War Graves Commission headstone.