Roll of Honour - Monmouthshire

The Royal British Legion

GOVILON WAR MEMORIAL

World War 1 & 2 - Detailed information
Compiled and Copyright © Govilon Heritage 2013

Thousands volunteered across Britain to fight for King and Country in the Great War of 1914 to 1918 before conscription was necessary. As soon as the local Company was called up in August 1914 a group of volunteers left together by carriage from Govilon Post Office. They joined "A" Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment (Territorial Force). So proud were some of the fathers that their sons were going off to war that they were keen to get into the picture too.

By 1918 the conflict had claimed the lives of 12 sons and daughters of the village. They had died in France, Belgium and Turkey. At least 4 of them were killed in the same battle at Ypres in Belgium in May 1915. In this battle alone only 29 of the 500 men in "A" and "D" Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment who arrived in France in February 1915 were left alive on the morning of May 10th For further information visit www.blaenau-gwent.gov.uk.

The Memorial in Govilon is unusual in that it commemorates a civilian casualty – May Prosser. It is believed she was killed in a local munitions factory.

A further plaque was added to remember the two casualties of the 1939 to 1945 conflict.

The Memorial is built in sandstone from the local quarry. Although originally situated in the centre of the village it was moved in 1937. It now provides an impressive entrance to the King George V Recreation Ground at the western entrance of the village.

In 2005 the British Legion helped restore the site to provide a fitting tribute to those who died during the two World Wars. The Memorial was re-opened by the school children of the village in a ceremony on the 11th November.

PRESS RELEASE:
Govilon War Memorial Re-Dedicated.

11th November 2005

A service was held at Govilon War Memorial on 11th November to re-dedicate the site after extensive repair work. The memorial, which forms a gateway onto the George V Playing Fields, has had a major facelift carried out with the help of Monmouthshire County Council and the Community Council.

Children from Govilon School laid poppies and sung at a service conducted by Rev. Peter Baines (Baptist Church) and Rev. Alex Pye (Church in Wales). Ex-serviceman, Ted Crookes, laid the wreath and Tudor Williams played the Last Post and Reveille. David Davies AM, MP and County Councillor Verona Nelmes were among those who attended. The service was reported on Radio Wales.

Ivan Beatty, the major driving force behind the work said, "War memorials stand at the heart of virtually every community in Wales, and are a poignant reminder of the many who lost their lives in so many conflicts. The Memorials are also a legacy of art and sculpture; the result of spontaneous and emotional response by bereaved families and communities.

Unfortunately many have become neglected and forgotten. It is therefore wonderful to see our memorial back in good condition and providing a fitting tribute to the sacrifice that 14 young residents of Govilon gave in the First and Second World Wars".

The Memorial in Govilon is unusual in that it commemorates a civilian casualty of the First World War - May Prosser. It is believed she was killed in a local munitions factory. It is also poignant to remember that at least 4 of the soldiers listed on the memorial died in the same week at the battle at Ypres in Belgium in May 1915. In this battle alone only 29 of the 500 men in "A" and "D" Company of the 3rd Battalion of the Monmouthshire Regiment who arrived in France in February 1915 were left alive on the morning of May 10th Further information on the memorial can be found on the village website at www.govilon.com

Bob Vaughan
Govilon Heritage

Private 2270, 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Killed in action 11 May 1915. Aged 20. Born Govilon, enlisted Abergavenny. Son of William and Mary Amyes, of Honeysuckle Cottage, Govilon. Went to the front 13 February 1915. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50

No further information currently available

possibly William Davies, Private 43639, Royal Defence Corps. Died in United Kingdom 30 April 1918. Enlisted and resident Abergavenny. Formerly 3390, Monmouthshire Regiment. Buried in Christchurch Cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire. Grave 2011.
or Private 48933, 45th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 6 September 1917. Aged 22. Son of Edmund and Mary Ann Davies, of 36, Winchestown, Nantyglo, Brynmawr, Breconshire. Awarded the Military Medal (M.M.), Buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Plot XVIII. Row H. Grave 6.

Private 329785, 24th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died of wounds 2 October 1918. Aged 26. Born Abergaveeny, enlisted Bridgend, resident Govilon. Son of William and Rebeccca Eastup, Govilon. Formerly 1838, Glamorgan Yeomanry. Buried in Ste.Marie Cemetery, Le Havre, Seine-Maritime, France. Division 62 Plot V. Row G. Grave 10

Private 2263, 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Killed in action 2 May 1915. Aged 24. Born Govilon, enlisted Abergavenny, resident Blaina. Son of the late James Jones, of Burnt Cottages, Govilon. In the 1901 census he was the adopted son of John and MAry Ann Hill, aged 10, born Govilon, resident Station Cottage, Llanwenarth Ultra, Govilon. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50

No further information currently available

Private 49560, 13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died of wounds 30 August 1918. Born Llanfair Kilgeddin, enlisted Abergaveeny. Buried in Contalmaison Chateau Cemetery, Somme, France. Plot I. Row B. Grave 46

Private 31682, 3rd Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Died in United Kingdom 6 October 1917. Aged 18. Born Llanwenarthultra, enlisted Abergavenny, resident Govilon. Son of Edward and Mary Morgan of Govilon. Buried in Liverpool (Kirkdale) Cemetery, Lancashire. Plot/Row/Section VII. Non-Conformist Grave 1127.

Private 2636, 13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Died 8 May 1915. Aged 25. Son of Jane Morgan of Canal Bank, Govilon. In the 1901 census Godfrey was aged 12, born Llanwenarth Citra, living with his widowed mother, Jane, at Canal Bank, Llanwenarth Ultra, Govilon. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50

Munitions Worker, National Shell Factory, Rochdale. Died 3 April 1917 from the effects of tri-nitrol toluene poisoning contracted whilst working in the Shell Filling Factory. Aged 26. Born 19 February 1891. Grew up in Govilon but moved to Rochdale, Lancashire, to work in service to the Wilson Family. Admitted to Christ Church National School, Govilon, 22 October 1901, daughter of Francis Prosser (a labourer), resident Forge, Gilwera. Monmouthshire, previously attended school at Gilwera, Monmouthshire. In the 1911 census she was aged 20, born Gilwerm, Breckonshire, a General Domestic Servant, servant to the Wilson family, resident 50, King Street, South Rochdale, Rochdale, Lancashire. Her two elder sisters were also in service in the same town. During the War May worked at the National Shell Factory in Mellor Street, Rochdale. Daughter of Francis and Margaret Prosser of Oak Cottage in Govilon, Monmouthsire.

[Detail kindly supplied by Bob Vaughan]

Extract from Rochdale Observer - Saturday 7 April 1917, page 2:

A WOMAN WORKER'S DEATH

Private 2876, 1st/5th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 20 August 1915. Aged 24. Enlisted Brithdir, resident Brynawr, Breconshire. In the 1901 census he was the grandson of Sylvester and Elizabeth Sheen, aged 9, born Govilon, resident at Greenfield Cottage, Llanwenarth Ultra, Govilon. No known grave. Commemorated on Helles Memorial, Turkey (inlcuding Gallipoli). Panel 140 to 144

Private 2289, 3rd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment (Territorial Force). Killed in action 11 May 1915. Aged 19. Born Govilon, enlisted Abergavenny. In the 1901 census he was the son of Tom and Gwenllian Smith, aged 4, born Llan Pertholey, Monmouthshire, resident Bettws Farm, Llan Pertholey, Llantilio Pertholey. No known grave. Commemorated on Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, West-Vlaanderen, Belgium. Panel 50

Lance Corporal 4197949, 2nd Battalion, King's Shropshire Light Infantry. Died 7 July 1944. Aged 28. Son of Alfred Thomas Evans and Mary Evans, Govilon. Buried in St. Manvieu War Cemetery, Cheaux, Calvados, France. Plot VII. Row D. Grave 16

Private 7374805, Royal Army Medical Corps. Died 6 January 1943. Aged 24. Son of George Phillips and Sophia Phillips, of Govilon. Buried in the East part (newer part of the graveyard behind the chapel by the car park) of Llanwenarth Baptist Chapelyard, Monmouthshire. Grave A100.