LEST WE FORGET
List of Barry’s War Dead – April 1917
Rifleman Frank Rosser of the 2nd Battalion, The Rifle Brigade, died of wounds on the 7th April, 1917 at the beginning of the Arras offensive and is buried in Bray Cemetery, France. Aged 21, he was the son of the late Charles F. Rosser and Mrs. M. Walsh, of the Clarence Restaurant, 68, Holton Road, Barry Docks. Mrs. Walsh was officially notified that her son, who joined up soon after the commencement of hostilities, and was wounded before he attained his nineteenth birthday, had been killed. He was formerly employed by his uncle, Mr. A. J. Hopkins, the Bassett Hotel, Barry Docks, and was well-known in the district.

Lieutenant Hugh Howells of 65 Squadron, the Royal Flying Corps died on 10th April, 1917, in an accident whilst test-flying a new aeroplane. Aged 26, he was born in Bedlinog, the son of Rowland and Mary J. Howells and husband of Margaret Howells of Hill Crest, Friars Road, Barry. He was buried in Graig Congregational Chapel yard, and is also commemorated on the Screen Wall at Cardiff Western Cemetery

Private Edward John Jenkins of the 24th (Denbighshire Yeomanry) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was reported missing, presumed drowned at sea whilst on the HM Troopship “Arcadian” which was torpedoed and sunk on 15th April, 1917, 41.5 km north east from the island of Milo (Melos) whilst carrying troops to Alexandria, Egypt. Having no known grave, he is commemorated on the Mikra Memorial, Greece. Aged 38, he was the only son of John and Mary Jenkins, 6, Woodland Road, Barry Docks. He was employed as a coal trimmer, and was also a member of the Tabernacle Welsh Congregational Church, Barry Docks.

Third Engineer William Reginald Harries of the SS Emma, Merchant Navy, was killed on the 20th April as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine. On the 20th April, 1917, SS Emma, on a voyage from Baltimore and Fayal to Clyde with a cargo of maize, was sunk by the German submarine U-50 (Gerhard Berger), two hundred miles south-west south of Fastnet. Two persons were lost. Aged 22, he was the son of Mrs. Jane Harries of 2, Seaview Terrace, Cadoxton.

Engineer’s Steward Arthur Price Hughes, of the SS Kariba, Merchant Navy, died of exposure on 21st April, 1917 following an attack by an enemy submarine. On April 13th 1917, SS Kariba, on a voyage from Java and Dakar to Falmouth with a cargo of sugar, was sunk by the German submarine UC-27 (Gerhard Schulz), 260 miles west northwest from Ushant. The starboard lifeboat was smashed by the explosion but two boats got away, one of which, containing ten men, was picked up after having been twelve days adrift. The other boat was also picked up. The number killed or dead from exposure was thirteen. Aged 17, he was the son of Arthur William and Annie Hughes, of 1, Morlais Street, Cadoxton, Barry.

Bombing Sergeant Leonard Harvey Greening of the 7th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry was killed in action on the 22nd April, 1917. He is buried in Duisans Cemetery Etrun, France. Aged 22, he was the foster son of Mrs. Caroline Boss of 46, Jewel Street, Barry Dock, and had previously served in the Merchant Navy before leaving to enlist in the Army at the outbreak of war.
 
Sergeant Thomas Edward Penny of the 13th Battalion, Kings Royal Rifle Corps, was killed in action on the 23rd April, 1917. He has no known grave and thus is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. He was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Penny of 178, Woodlands Road, Barry. Before enlisting he had worked as a coal trimmer and played football for Pyke Street Old Boys.
 
Sergeant Albert H. Spear of the 7th Battalion, Royal Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 23rd April, 1917. He has no known grave and thus is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Aged 23, he was the husband of Maggie M. Spear of 45, Vere Street, Cadoxton, Barry and formerly worked for M. Monk, Butchers at High Street.
 
Second Lieutenant Arthur Phillips of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers was killed in action on the 23rd April, 1917. He has no known grave and thus is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France. Aged 33, he was the son of Arthur and Margaret Phillips of 18, Acland Road, Bridgend. Before joining up he was assistant Master at Romilly Road School and was a keen playing member of the Barry Cricket Club and Bowling Club.

Private William James Kirby of the 17th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, was killed action on the 24th April, 1917. He was buried at Fifteen Ravine British Cemetery, Villers-Plouich, France. The battalion war diary records that on Tuesday 24th April the battalion had taken part in a major attack in which the whole of the objectives situated on high ground overlooking the Hindenburg Line and its strong points were gained. Casualties for the day were one officer killed and three wounded; 27 other ranks killed and 58 wounded. ged 35, he was the son of James Kirby of Stoford, Yeovil, Somerset; and husband of Henrietta Kirby of 3, Wynd Street, Cadoxton, Barry. He was formerly employed by the Roath Furnishing Company, Barry Dock.

Lance Corporal Sidney Stuart Jenkins of the 1st Battalion, Honourable Artillery Company, was wounded on the 23rd April and died of his wounds on 28th April, 1917 in the Liverpool Merchants Hospital, Etaples. He was buried nearby in Etaples Military Cemetery, France. In August 1915 he joined the Honourable Artillery Company before being posted to France in December 1915. Aged 25, he was the son of James Arthur and Annie Agnes Jenkins of 282, Holton Road, Barry, late Classics Master at Friends’ School, Saffron Walden, Essex. He was educated at the Barry County School, was a winner of the John Cory Scholarship, then progressed to Cardiff University where he graduated with a BA degree.

Sergeant Albert Tinton of the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers, was killed in action on the 23rd April, 1917 and is buried in Wancourt Cemetery, France. The Battalion War Diary records that on the 23rd and 24th April the Fusiliers in support of the Suffolks, attacked along the Hindenburg Support line. Casualties to the R.W.F. in this action were five officers and 30 other ranks killed; nine officers and 70 other ranks wouned.

Fireman John Sidney Simmonds of the SS Rio Lages, Merchant Navy, was killed on the 26th April as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine. On the 26th April, 1917, SS Rio Lages was torpedoed and sunk by German submarine U-69 when 155 miles northwest by west of the Fastnet when on route from Cienfuegos for Queenstown with a cargo of sugar. Aged 26, he was the son of David Simmonds and the late Mrs. Simmonds; husband of Alice Emily Simmonds of 35, Bassett Street, Barry.

 Private Arthur Kerman of the 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, “The Cardiff Pals,” was killed in action in Salonika on the 28th April, 1917. He is buried in Karasouli Military Cemetery, Greece. Aged 19, he was the son of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Kerman, of the Horse Shoe Inn, St. Athan. At one time a student at the Barry County School, he was formerly employed as an apprentice engineer at the Channel Dry Dock, Barry.

Lieutenant David Evan Davies, 12th Squadron Royal Flying Corps, was killed in action on 29th April, 1917 whilst flying BE2e 2738 with his observer Lieutenant G.H. Rathbone. Along with another BE2e crew they took off from their airfield at Avesnes-le-Comte at 1645 hrs on 29th April to carry out artillery observation sorties over the Front. These two British aircraft were unlucky enough to encounter “the formidable Red Baron” – Baron Manfred von Richthofen and his brother – Lothar, Davies and Rathbone becoming von Richthofen’s 51st victory.  Von Richthofen’s Combat Report read: “At 1925 hours, near Rouex, this side of the lines. Together with my brother, we each of us attacked an artillery flyer at low altitude. After a short fight my adversary’s plane lost its wings. When hitting the ground near the trenches near Rouex, the plane caught fire.”

Davies and Rathbone’s bodies were never located, so as they had no known grave they were both commemorated on the Arras Flying Services Memorial to the missing, France.

Davies was born in 1892, the son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Davies of 175, Crogan Hill, Cadoxton, Barry. ‘Dan’ Davies was educated at Barry County School and Cardiff University College. A brilliant scholar, he graduated Master of Science at Cardiff before taking up a Government post which took him to the West Indies. Returning home when the war started, he enlisted as a private in the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and served in France for a year before he was recommended for a commission in the Royal Flying Corps. After pilot training, Davies was sent to join 12 Squadron at Avesnes-le-Comte in France.

Private Walter Arthur Cadogan , 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers, was killed in action on the 30th April, 1917 in the attack on Shatt al Adhaim – “the Boot”, in Mesopotamia. On that day they suffered over 200 casualties. Walter had been born in Barry in 1893 and was the second son of Margaret and Edward Cadogan of 38, Lionel Road, Cardiff. His younger brother Egbert, who was born when the family were later living in Cardiff, was also killed later in 1917.
 
Steward Walter S. Farrant of the SS Horsa, Merchant Navy, drowned on the 30th April as a result of an attack by an enemy submarine. On 30th April, 1917, SS Horsa, on a voyage from Port Briera to Cardiff with a cargo of iron ore, was sunk by the German submarine U-93 (Edgar von Spiegel von und zu Peckelsheim), 195 miles South West by West of Fastnet. Eleven persons were lost. Aged 17, he was the son of Samuel and Sarah Farrant of 20, Sydenham Street, Barry.

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old;
Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.
At the going down of the sun and in the morning
We will remember them.

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