LAMPETER - WALES
War Memorial
War Memorial
The origins of the town of Lampeter can be dated back to the building of the Norman castle of Pont Steffan, beside the River Teifi. The castle was destroyed in 1187 by Owain Gwynedd. Lampeter became a thriving market town in the following years, after being granted its charter in 1284, and has since become renowned for its University, St David's College. The War Memorial at Lampeter was sculpted by the renowned Tenby Artist, Sir William Goscombe John, who also produced the Carmarthen County War Memorial, and the Royal Welch Fusiliers War Memorial at Wrexham. It was unveiled on 14 October 1921, by Major J. C. Harford, of Falcondale, whose son John fell during the War. - West Wales War Memorial Project
Sergeant David John Reginald DAVIS 1301
Born: Born Cilfynydd, Glamorganshire, Wales Enlisted: 28-10-1914, Liverpool, New South Wales Occupation prior to Enlistment: School Teacher 3rd Australian Infantry Battalion Departed Australia 11-2-1915 Died of Wounds, 10-8-1915, Gallipoli, Dardanelles, Turkey aged 27years Son of David Rees Griffiths & Jane Griffiths, Goitre-issaf, Derry Ormond, Llangybi, Cardiganshire, Wales. Honoured: Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli Peninsula, Canakkale Province, Turkey Honoured Australian War Memorial Panel 36 |
David was the son of David Rees Griffiths and Jane Griffiths of Goitre-Isaf, Derry Ormond. He entered St. David's College from Lampeter College School in October 1909, and emigrated to Australia in 1911 to continue his education, becoming a school teacher. After the outbreak of war, David enlisted on 28 October 1914 at Liverpool, NSW into the 3rd Battalion, Australian Infantry. After undergoing basic training in Australia, David embarked as part of the 2nd Reinforcements for the 3rd Battalion aboard HMAT Seang Bee on 11 February 1915, and on 7 May 1915 was taken on strength by the battalion at Gallipoli, where it was attached to the 1st Brigade, 1st ANZAC Division, at Anzac Cove. He was in the trenches for a month when he became ill, and was hospitalised at Lemnos for a week, prior to rejoining the battalion, in time for the attack on Line Pine, David was shot in the thigh during the assault on Lone Pine on 8 August 1915. He was evacuated aboard the Hospital Ship SS Dunluce Castle, but died of his wounds at sea on route to Malta on 10 August 1915, aged 27. David was buried at sea, and so is commemorated on the Lone Pine Memorial, Gallipoli. He is named on several memorials as David John Rees Davies, but enlisted under the name David John Reginald Davis. - West Wales War Memorial Project