Llanidloes (Dolhafren) Cemetery.

[GWF1967]

On Armistice Day I spent the afternoon following a town trail written by forum member “Nia” ( There's a jolly good book too). 

Starting at The War Memorial, the trail passes the homes and work places of many of the men named upon it. 

The trail includes Dolhafren Cemetery which has seven CWGC Great War graves. I stopped to pay my respects. Only  four of these men are recorded on the local War Memorial,  only one man has a traditional CWGC headstone. 

 Private Simon Jones. 203602, and Pte. Richard Lewis Davies. 203603  lie side by side. These lads lived on neighbouring farms, attended the same school, Sunday school and chapel. They appeared in front of the same appeals board, enlisted the same day at Wrexham, contracted “Influenzal Pneumonia” at Park Hall camp, Oswestry, and within a month, they died within 7 hrs of one another on 14th February 1917. 

 Two of the CWGC graves are recorded as a “neglected - grass mound”.   

 Graves Registration report from CWGC.

 

 

 

Edited 13 November , 2020 by GWF1967

[Kitchener's Bugle]

How sad, I wonder if anyone locally has contacted CWGC with a view to having two Headstones placed on the Grass mounds?

[Hywyn]

14 men died during that bout of Influenza/Broncho pneumonia. All in their first few weeks of service (Ignore the hyperlinks, they were to CWGC but don't now work since upgrades.)

 

It's some time since I cobbled this together. I seem to think that I searched the CWGC site (UK deaths/Jan to March 1917) looking for any other similar blocks of numbers elsewhere in the country that might have been down to an outbreak but couldn't spot one.

I've seen a query (years ago) from a relative re one of the below. It was a general query of the 'what did my relative do in the war' type but the family lore was that he had died 'from being gassed'. I'm not entirely certain now but the impression I have was that the lore did not mean 'being gassed' in training. I think that I have picked up during all these years here that there may be a link between 'gas' and 'influenzia/bronco pneumonia' but am happy to to be corrected one way or another. 

 

203630	WILLIAMS	Evan Hugh	Llain yr Eglwys, Llandwrog	08/02/1917	2959	Died Broncho pneumonia
203546	JONES	David Thomas	The Cottage, Llanerfyl	13/02/1917	1354	Died Broncho pneumonia
203602	JONES	Simon	Glynbrochan, Llanidloes	14/02/1917	1356	Died Broncho pneumonia
203603	DAVIES	Richard Lewis	Bryncoch, Llandinam	14/02/1917	497	Died Broncho pneumonia
203590	JONES	Richard	40 Carmel Square, Amlwch	17/02/1917	1336	Died Broncho pneumonia
203626	ROBERTS	Llewelyn	Fron Haul, Llabedr y Cennin	18/02/1917	2363	Died Broncho pneumonia
203754	ROBERTS	William Edward	Penybryn, Nantgwynant	19/02/1917	2362	Died Broncho pneumonia
203677	ABEL	John Pugh	Hendre Aur, Cwmbellan, Llanidloes	21/02/1917	1	Died Broncho pneumonia
203782	EVANS	Thomas	Hafod, Llanwddyn	25/02/1917	763	Died Broncho pneumonia
203628	GRIFFITH	Griffith	Maesboriau, Nantgwynant	26/02/1917	939	Died Broncho pneumonia
203663	BOWEN	Edward	Maesgwyn, Guilsfield, Welshpool	27/02/1917	203	Died Broncho pneumonia
203695	PARRY	Robert John	Ty Capel, Rhoslan, Criccieth	28/02/1917	2059	Died Broncho pneumonia
203734	JONES	Henry Owen	Tyngraig, Llangadfan, Welshpool	05/03/1917	1355	Died Broncho pneumonia
203968	HUGHES	Morris	Buarth, Morfa Nefyn	31/03/1917	1173	Died Broncho pneumonia

Edited 17 November , 2020 by Hywyn