Risca Branch The Royal British Legion

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Risca Branch of the Royal British Legion. We provide support for the Risca Armed Forces community -

02/11/2026

In memory of Sidney Ralph Lewis who died November 2nd 1918.

Sidney, born in Walford, Ross on Wye on August 20th 1887, was the son of William and Annie Lewis.

He lived with his family in Ross attending Bishopswood School, where he started on July 11th 1891 until 1896. Sidney later moved to Risca, and married Ada E Williams in 1917, living in 5 Grove Road, Risca.

Sometime after 1915 he enlisted at Newport in the 6th Battalion South Wales Borderers.

The 6th Battalion went to France as the Pioneer Battalion of the 25th Division. They were at Vimy and Neuville St. Vaast in the spring of 1916 consolidating the craters of mines blown under the German lines.

They were continuously employed during the Battle of the Somme in the summer of 1916, on one occasion digging a 700 yard communication trench from one captured trench to another under heavy shell fire. Their next major action was at Messines in July 1917. They were moved further north in August for the Third Battle of Ypres. The winter of 1917 was spent digging reserve lines and in March 1918 the 5th and 6th Battalions fought against the German drive on Amiens.

Moved up north after this trying experience the 6th along with 2nd and 5th Battalions met the full force of the new German offensive on the Lys. On April 10th the Battalion lost 80 killed and wounded in a gallant attack on Ploegsteert village.

With the 6th Battalion, the 5th shared the Battle Honour of ‘Aisne, 1918’. Here the weary Battalions had to undergo the pressure of another attack and suffered 250 casualties.

In the subsequent advance to victory in the summer and autumn of 1918 the battalion was fully employed in repairing the communications, often in most difficult conditions and under heavy fire.

Sidney died at the 8th Casualty Clearing Station, Rouen, on November 2nd 1918 and is buried in Pont-de-Nieppe Communal Cemetery, France.

02/11/2026

In memory of William John Daniels who died November 2nd 1918.

William, born about 1900, was the adopted son of Elizabeth Jones of Tyn-y-Pwll Farm, Risca.

He enlisted in the 4th Battalion South Lancashire Regiment serving as 63727. On December 29th 1917 he transferred to the Machine Gun Corps as Gunner 131162.

The 6th MGC took part in the Battles of the Somme, Lys and the Hindenburg Line. William, age 18, died of pneumonia in the General Military Hospital, Rouen, France.

He is buried in St Sever Cemetery Extension, Rouen.

William’s headstone bears the inscription ‘Greater Love Hath No Man Than This’.

01/11/2026

In memory of Allan Famer-Little who died 1st November 1942.

Allan, born in Cross Keys on 28th October 1910, was the son of Albert and Emma Farmer-Little of 7 Tredegar Street, Cross Keys.

In 1939, Allan was living at 10 Park Lane, Wembley, working as a Baker's Roundsman. He married Doreen A Dunkin in 1940.

Allan joined the Royal Tank Regiment, Royal Armoured Corps, serving as a Corporal.
He died age 32, on 1st November 1942 and is buried in El Alamein War Cemetery. The inscription on his headstone reads, “In Loving Memory. To Live In Hearts, We Leave Behind Is Not To Die.

His burial place suggests he was killed during the Second Battle of El Alamein that took place near the Egyptian railway halt of El Alamein.

Allan’s brother Percival was mentioned in despatches during the war. His nephew Basil Jefferies, a Sergeant in the RAF was killed during a bombing raid to Hamburg.

01/11/2026

In memory of David Lewis who died NovembeIn memory of David Lewis who died November 1st 1917.

Born in Ebbw Vale in 1868, David was the son of Evan and May Lewis. David has proved elusive in his early years but in 1891 he was living at 1 Club Row, Ebbw Vale and working as a labourer in the steel works.

He next appears aged 49, when he joined the 312th Railway Construction Company (RCC), on January 26th 1917 at Abertillery. He lived at the Lodging House, St Mary Street, Risca.

He passed his medical examination three days later at Cardiff. His occupation was given as labourer, but he had stated he had no next of kin.

David was at home until February 17th when he embarked to go to France with the British Expeditionary Force, serving with the 312th RCC.

David died in the 17th Casualty Clearing Station, at Remy (Sidings) Lijssenthoek, from wounds received in action. As no next of kin was recorded a message was sent to the Police Superintendent at Risca Station to locate any relatives. Although the police searched, no trace of any relatives at Risca or Ebbw Vale were found.

At a later time, his sister Rose and brother Thomas were located and Rose received his personal items, pipe, purse, razor and knife, ring, 2 keys, souvenir and 1 Franc note. His British War and Victory medals were sent to Thomas.

David is buried in Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery, Belgium.

31/10/2026

In memory of Frederick Howell who died 31 October 1914.

Fred was born in Wiveliscombe, Somerset, son of John and Caroline Howell.

(On censuses he is usually named Howell, on his army records he is called Howells). In 1891, John was an agricultural labourer living in Church Street, Wiveliscombe. By 1911 Fred was in Risca living at 12 Wellspring Terrace, with his brother Robert’s family. Both are working as colliery labourers above ground.

He enlisted at Newport in the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers as Private 13042, going to France on September 13th 1914.

The 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers were at the forefront of the action at Gheluvelt where Fred was killed just a few weeks after arriving in France.

Fred is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

31/10/2026

In memory of Reuben Orman who died 31 October 1914.

Reuben, the son of Simon and Esther Orman was born in Abertillery in 1888. The 1901 census shows Reuben and the family living in Cambrian House, High Street, Cross Keys.

He enlisted into the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers for 12 years on December 9th 1904 giving his age as 18, when he was in fact only 16. His attestation record shows he was 5ft 4½ins, weighed 8 stone 6 pounds and had a chest size of 36ins. He had a fresh complexion with grey eyes and brown hair.

He was discharged on January 19th 1905 for ‘Having been irregularly enlisted’ (Presumably for lying about his age). His service records haven’t survived but sometime later he re-enlisted into the same Battalion and entered France on August 14th 1914. A newspaper report told the story of Reuben and his brother Zeph, also killed in France.

“Sergeant Reuben Orman lived at Swansea where he was a member of the United Services Brigade and very popular with all classes. Information of his death from shrapnel wounds at Gheluvelt was received by his parents on Christmas Eve. The sergeant had taken part in the battle of the Aisne and other engagements and some of his letters home had been published in the Argus. He was in every sense a soldier and his promotion had been rapid. He is said to have expressed a wish that he might die fighting for his beloved country”.
South Wales Argus 01.01.1915

He died age 26 at Gheluvelt, Belgium along with hundreds of other men from the 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers.

Reuben is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, the Swansea Hebrew Congregation Memorial and a Roll of Honour from the Risca Road Synagogue Newport, now held in Gwent Archives, Ebbw Vale.

31/10/2026

In memory of Frederick Skinner who died October 31st 1914.

Fred, born in the Cwmbran area, was baptised on December 30th 1881 at Llanfrechfa Upper, the son of William and Mary Skinner, (nee Quilford).

Brought up with his family in Cwmbran, he moved to the Risca area to work in the local pit as a miner.

He enlisted in Cwmbran in the 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers as Private 8690, going to France on August 13th 1914.

The 1st Battalion South Wales Borderers were at the forefront of the action at Gheluvelt where Fred along with hundreds of others, was killed just a few weeks after arriving in France.

Fred is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.

29/10/2026

In memory of David William Bowen Dart who died 29 October 1916.

David, born in Abercarn in 1887, was the eldest son of Tom Walter and Mary Dart, (nee Bowen).

He attended Pontywaun County School in 1899. In 1901 the family lived at 18 Bridge Street, Abercarn, David was employed as an engine fitter’s apprentice. In 1911 he was working as a colliery fitter, whilst living at The Mount, Wattstown with his uncle David Livingstone Bowen, who was the local colliery manager.

David had returned from working as an engineer in South Africa to join his three brothers in fighting for the home-land.

He enlisted in Newport in the 2nd Battalion South Wales Borderers serving as Private 26491.

David died of Paratyphoid Fever in the War Hospital, Croydon, on October 29th 1916. He was buried in Abercarn Cemetery on November 4th.

David is remembered on a number of local memorials including Pontywaun County School, Celynen Collieries Workmen’s Institute, Tabernacle Baptist Church Newbridge and Abercarn and Newbridge Cenotaphs.

29/10/2026

In memory of Albert Gardner who died 29 October 1918.

Albert, son of Thomas and Catherine Gardner was born in Chelsea, Middlesex in 1890.

His father Thomas, a railway engine driver was born in Birmingham; his mother Catherine in Risca. The family lived in 149 Fifth Avenue, London for a number of years before Albert moved to south Wales to find employment as a miner. In 1911 he was living in 3 Glenside, Blackvein with his cousin Joseph Marsh and his family.

He enlisted in Newport in the Monmouthshire Regiment serving as Private 61208, later transferring to B Company 17th Battalion Royal Welsh Fusiliers as Private 94240.

The 17th (2nd North Wales) Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers was raised at Llandudno on February 2nd 1915. After training in Llandudno, they joined 113th Brigade, 38th (Welsh) Division on April 28th 1915. They moved to Windsor in August for their final training before going to France in December.

They saw action on the Somme at Mametz Wood in July 1916, where they suffered severe casualties, resulting in the Division seeing no major action for over twelve months. In 1917 they returned to action at the Third Battle of Ypres, before more fighting in 1918 at the Somme, Hindenburg Line and then the Final Advance in Picardy including the Battle of the Selle, October 17 – 25 1918.

It is assumed he was wounded in this battle as he died whilst in the care of the 130th Field Ambulance on October 29th 1918.

Albert is buried in Forest Communal Cemetery, France.

29/10/2026

In memory of Hubert Matthews who died 29 October 1942.

Hubert, born 27th June 1915, was the son of William Fuller and Alice Maud Matthews, (nee Richards). In 1921, they lived at 45 Commercial Street, Pontymister. Hubert and his elder brother Albert were in school. Their father was unemployed, having previously worked as an Electrical Engineer at Henry White’s Foundry in Pontymister.

In 1939, he still lived in Commercial Street, with his widowed mother and younger brother William; his father William had died in 1936. He was employed as a Wirer in the Nail Factory.

Hubert, a founder member of Pontymister Health and Strength Club, married Phyllis Widnall in late 1940.

Hubert signed up for the Royal Artillery, serving as a Gunner with 22 Light AntiAircraft Regiment. He was discharged from the Army on 10th August 1942 as “Ceasing to fulfil Army physical requirements” and died a few weeks later on 29th October.

He is buried in Danygraig Cemetery, Risca

Address

60 St Mary Street
Risca
NP116GQ

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+447544843798

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http://www.britishlegion.org.uk/

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