Biographies
The Eight Llandudno Men of D Troop Killed on 28 May 1940
Gunner Ronald John Ashley of Church Walks, son of Thomas and Ada Ashley, was 25 years old. He was employed at Llandudno railway station by London Midland Scottish Railways and had been married for two years.
He is buried at Wormhout Communal Cemetery.
Liverpudlian Gunner Vincent Kevin Barrie of Mowbray Road was 19 years old and a labourer. He was the son of Thomas and Catherine Barrie. Four of his brothers also served in the military during the Second World War.
He is remembered on the Dunkirk Memorial as the whereabouts of his grave is unknown.
Lance Serjeant Eric Stanley Beeton lived on Park Drive in Craig-y-Don. The 31-year-old was the son of Frank Stanley Beeton and Elizabeth Annie Beeton, of Llandudno and the husband of Josephine Mary Beeton.
He is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Gunner Harold Bowen of Adelphi Street was a cabinet maker by trade and was 37 years old. He was the son of William and Helen Bowen; and husband of Rose Bowen.
He is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Lance Bombardier John Coleman was the son of Llandudno surgeon, Dr Amos Coleman of Clement Avenue. He was 19 years old and was due to start medical school in September 1939 but declined in order to stay with his ‘mates’ in the Royal Artillery.
He is buried at Wormhout Communal Cemetery.
27-year-old Gunner Robert Edwards of James Street formerly attended Central School on Trinity Avenue. Both his brother and sister served in the military during the war.
He, too, is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Gunner George Morris, the son of George and Annie Morris, of Knowles Road was 19 years old and had only joined the Army a few months earlier. He, too, was a former pupil of Central School and was employed by a Craig-y-Don grocer before the war.
He is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.
Bombardier Frank George Lally Thompson was 19 years of age. His father, Frank, was the licensee of the Snowdon Hotel on Tudno Street. He was a member of Llandudno Cricket Club and apprenticed to a Llandudno accountant.
He is buried at Wormhout Communal Cemetery.
Gunner of D Troop 242 Battery who died on 21 May 1940
Gunner Bernard Kitchener Jones was the first casualty of D Troop 242 Battery when hit by shrapnel on 21 May 1940. He was 25 years of age. He was the son of Jack and Mary Jones of Llandudno.
He is buried at Ingoyghem Military Cemetery.
Dunkirk Memorial
Eric Stanley Beaton, Vincent Kevin Barrie, Harold Bowen, Robert Edwards: see left
Francis Bertram Carpenter of the 61st (C&DY) Medium Regiment died on 13 May 1940 aged 21. He was the son of Francis William and Evelyn Carpenter of Rocester, Staffordshire.
Arthur Ugo Cimatti was in D Troop 242 Battery. He was aged 30 when he was killed on Dunkirk beach on 11 June 1940. He was the son of Ugo and Jessie Clara Cimatti. Educated at John Bright school, he was a member of the Llandudno Operatic Society.
When the 69th Medium Regiment Royal Artillery was formed in 1939, it was not given its parent (61st) regiment’s subtitle (Carnarvonshire and Denbighshire Yeomanry) until 1942. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission uses the subtitle “Denbighshire Yeomanry” for both regiments irrespective of the date.
Albert John Gillbe was born in 1901 and came from London. He was recorded in the 1939 Register as a reservist in the Royal Artillery. He was in the 69th Medium Regiment. He died between 29 and 30 May 1940.
Ronald Hogwood died on 25 May 1940 aged 21. He was in the 61st (C&DY) Medium Regiment and came from Essex.
Albert Hughes was aged 21 when he was killed on 20 May 1940. He was in the 61st (C&DY) Medium Regiment. He was the son of Edward and Lizzie Jane Hughes, of Coed Poeth, Denbighshire.
Ralph Pettifer Lee of the 69th Medium Regiment was aged 19 when he was killed on 28 May 1940. He came from Co Durham.
William John Morgan of the 69th Medium Regiment was aged 25 when he was killed on 28/29 May 1940. He was the son of of J R and Annie Morgan, of Caernarfon.
George Morris (see above)
John Slee of the 69th Medium Regiment was aged 21 when he was killed on 28/29 May 1940. He came from Manchester.
Evan David Williams of the 61st (C&DY) Medium Regiment died on 27 May 1940 aged 19. He was the son of Elizabeth Williams and nephew of Mr E V Williams, of Trefriw, Caernarvonshire.