Great War Memorial Plaque – St. Mary’s Priory Church, Usk

First World War Memorial Plaque in St. Marys Priory Church, Usk.

A first world war memorial plaque is displayed on the north wall of the nave, St. Mary’s Priory Church, Usk.

St. Mary’s Priory Church, Usk

The brass plaque, made by masons G. Maile & Son Ltd, Euston Road, London,  commemorates forty one names in three columns, each with rank and regiment. It is inscribed:-

TO THE GLORY OF GOD AND IN THE GRATEFUL MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS PARISH WHO FELL IN THE GREAT WAR.

~~~

“THIS TABLET WAS PLACED HERE BY THE WOMEN OF USK”

Usk First World War Memorial Plaque | St. Mary’s Priory Church

Column 1:-

• Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. H. Bowen, DSO and Bar, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment. ^(1)(2)(3)
• Lance-Corporal S. Colwell, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
• Private G. W. Cook, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
• Private F. A. Cook, 9th Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
• Private T. Day, East Yorkshire Regiment.
• Lieutenant D. B. Davies, Royal Flying Corps.
• Private J. Evans, South Wales Borderers.
• Private L. R. Garside, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
• Private F. B. George, Army Service Corps.
• Sapper P. George, Royal Engineers.
• Private A. Griffiths, South Wales Borderers.
• Sapper G. A. B. Griffiths, Royal Engineers.
• Gunner E. Harris, Royal Field Artillery.
• Trooper R. R. Haggett, Canadian Mounted Rifles.

(1) – In his book, First World War Memorial And Graves, Volume 1, Ray Westlake records that Lieutenant-Colonel Alfred John Hamilton Bowen lived in Usk  and was killed in action on 2nd March 1917 near Sally-Saillisel in France.

(2) – Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. H. Bowen is buried in Guards’ Cemetery, Combles, France.

(3) – Lieutenant-Colonel A. J. H. Bowen is also commemorated on the 4th panel of the Pontypool war memorial.

Column 2:-

• Second-Lieutenant E. B. Haynes, Royal Flying Corps. ⁽³⁾
• Trooper M. Jenkins, 6th Dragoon Guards.
• Private A. W. S. Jones, South Wales Borderers.
• Sergeant J. Jones, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
• Private E. G. Jones, Welsh Guards.
• Private C. E. V. Knight, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers.
• Driver W. Lewis, Army Service Corps.
• Private J. L. Meredith, Coldstream Guards.
• F. Mitchell, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
• Private C. Mitchell, 10th Manchester Regiment.
• Private E. Mitchell, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
• Second-Lieutenant E. Morgan, South Wales, Borderers (awarded the Military Cross).
• Private W. H. Price, South Wales Borderers.

(3) – Second-Lieutenant E. B. Haynes, No. 1 (S) Aircraft Repair Depot, Royal Air Force is buried in the churchyard. He was 45 years old when he died on 14th November 1918.

The Grave of Second-Lieutenant E. B. Haynes, No.1 (S) Aircraft Repair Depot, Royal Air Force.

Column 3:-

• A. J. L. Price, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve.
• Sergeant S. Price, Australian Imperial Forces.
• Corporal H. C. S. Rees, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
• Private W. H. Roberts, Royal Flying Corps.
• Private J. Stickler, South Wales Borderers.
• Private A. Smith, South Wales Borderers.
• Rifleman B. W. G. Thomas, Rifle Brigade.
• Private J. W. A. Turner, 10th Lincolnshire Regiment.
• Captain I. E. M. Watkins, 2nd Monmouthshire Regiment.
• Private R. Watkins, Machine Gun Corps.
• Corporal E. Weare, 12th South Wales Borderers.
• Private G. Williams, South Wales, Borderers.
• Private T. Williams, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
• Private L. R. Window, Machine Gun Corps.