“Lest we forget” the saying goes is the opening line of P.M. Iden’s poem We Will Remember Them, but as another year passes people’s memories of the names of those who appear on our town and village memorials are disappearing as well. The focus for this year’s Armed Forces Day on the 27th June is remembering those in the forces past, present and future. Consequently, St Teilo’s Church, Llantilio Pertholey is hoping to uncover the history of the men whose names appear on the church war memorial and the lives of the five men whose war graves can be found in the churchyard. We have already been lucky thanks to the help of the Curator at the Berkshire Yeomanry Museum we have already uncovered the history about Captain William Humphrey Thomas. Captain Thomas was born in India, educated at Eton and Oxford and died in Egypt whilst serving with the 1st Berkshire Yeomanry. So why does a memorial exist to him at a small village church in South Wales? The answer his parents lived in the area at the time of his death. First World War Lieutenant Colonel Ronald Hastings Lascelles Captain Jestyn Llewelyn Mansel Lieutenant Eric George Henry Bates Company Sergeant Major Richard Wall (8853) Corporal Peter Pembridge (21386) Gunner Oliver Pembridge (164776) Private Albert Powell Private Charles John Arthur Bedford (49702) Private Alfred Gibbons (1729) Private Robert Howell Radcliffe (19333) Gunner Archibald M Jones (164776) Artificer Percy Sollers (M/31726(PO)) Private John Henry Laker (47355) Private George Nathaniel Watkins (040881) Private William Morgan (1314) Private John James Worthington (1647) Private H Taylor (266758) Private Frank Lewis (266198) Private Manley Walter Holmes (3432) Private George William Steen (39371) Private Arthur Godfrey Evans (2021) Private Reginald James Pritchard (1653) Sergant William Pritchard (111) Private Albert Edward Baldwin (53748) Private D. S. Morris (1901) Private Albert E. Jones (290010) Rifleman Ernest Jones (2215) Second World War Flight Sergant (Air Gunner) Douglas Desmond Holmes (1657031) Sergeant Frederick Glyndwr Holmes (1315697) Able Seaman Sydney M. Matthews (C/JX195691) Private William George Pritchard (3914753) Flight Sergeant M. G. Savery Flying Officer John William Lewis (147932) One of the battles that Captain Thomas was part of took place at El Mughar on the 13th November 1917; the passage below is taken from regimental records; ‘El Mughar 13/11/17 – B and D Squadrons of the Berkshire Yeomanry, under Captain LHC Hatton and Captain WH Thomas respectively were now sent up at a gallop and successfully thought their way into the village on foot. This was a very unpleasant task amongst the cactus hedges and houses where the enemy were hiding. The Squadrons met up with the infantry in the village taking 400 prisoners, fighting going on in the village until 5pm. By 6pm all enemy resistance had been crushed.’ Captain Thomas was awarded the Military Bar and Cross after his death ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. ‘It was entirely owing to his courage and fine leadership that the advance was successfully carried out and the objective gained’ (London Gazette 24th August 1918). If you are aware of any of the personal stories of the men mentioned below please let me know so that we can include their stories in our project – contact jaimegrak3k@aol.com Captain Thomas was awarded the Military Bar and Cross after his death ‘for conspicuous gallantry and devotion to duty. ‘It was entirely owing to his courage and fine leadership that the advance was successfully carried out and the objective gained’ (London Gazette 24th August 1918). If you are aware of any of the personal stories of the men mentioned below please let me know so that we can include their stories in our project – contact jaimegrak3k@aol.com