.. Penry Morgan ..

Shaun McGuire contacted me concerning his `forgotten` great-uncle, Penry Morgan, whilst conducting research into his `Family History`;

.. Penry Morgan lies buried in the graveyard of St.Michaels and All Angels Church - Llantarnam ..

Private Penry Morgan

Guardsman 12980

.. 2nd Grenadier Guards ..

Wounded by a shell in the Battle of Neuve Chapelle - France March 12th 1915

Died 31st March 1915 Aged 26

 

.. `Lest we forget` ..

Penry was born in `New Town` Cwmbran , as recorded on his birth certificate, on the twenty-fifth of April, 1888 and as a young man like many others joined up for `the Honour of their Country`.

He `fought for his Country` in Flanders, France, during the First World War(1914-1918); whilst engaged, in a Battle at Neuve Chapelle (10th-13th March, 1915), which lay in the north-west of France, Penry, was wounded on the second day, the lower part of his leg being shattered by a shell, necessitating amputation and was later transferred to a hospital in London.

*After Private Morgan, left for the war, his only daughter, who has been named Nelly Doreen was born; he would never have seen his child, had his wife not taken her to London with her when she went to see her husband. Penry`s mother also visited her son whilst hospitalised  ... sadly on the 31st March, 1915, he died of his injuries.

Shaun related, that although it was unusual for a soldier's body to be `brought home` during what was later to become known as the `Great War`, Penry  was indeed, returned `home` to Oakfield Road, and a full military funeral followed; Penry`s coffin was conveyed on a gun carriage, a large number of mourners gathered and curtains in the houses, were drawn as the coffin passed, in respect of their `fallen son` .......

Doreen (Penry`s daughter), for a number of years would visit her father's grave and in doing so, pass the grave of John Williams (Victoria Cross) and see the wreaths and poppies left there, then move on to her fathers grave and find nothing.

When Shaun, first became aware of where his great uncle's grave was, he too, could not understand why no one had ever bothered to place a `remembrance Poppy` on Penry's grave; when on the anniversary of Rorkes Drift, the civic
dignitaries and ex-servicemen's associations were only a 100yds or so, at the grave of John Williams's. He then proceeded to write a letter to the South Wales Argus, which they published and  entitled 'Forgotten Soldier never had a poppy'

.. It transpired, the ex-military never knew the grave existed there..

He contacted CADESA (Cwmbran and District Ex-Servicemen's Association), who were very concerned and offered to attend a service of remembrance in `honour` of Guardsman Private Penry Morgan 12980- 2nd Grenadier Guards.

Shaun then contacted the Vicar, Reverend Gareth Evans, Penry`s `extended family members`, and the South Wales Argus who subsequently published two articles on Saturday 1st April and a follow up on the 3rd April 2006.

Sunday, 2nd April, 2006,

I (webmaster), along with thirty plus members of Penry's extended `family` including his daughter, Doreen Meredith, who is 91years old, gathered at the graveyard of St.Michaels and All Angels Church - Llantarnam, for a service conducted by the Reverend Gareth Evans.

L-R :- Allen Morgan (nephew), David and Frances Bowers (son-in-law and grand-daughter), South Wales Argus photographer, Penry`s daughter, Doreen Meredith (holding the wreath) and Vicar, Reverend Gareth Evans.

Members of the Gloucestershire Grenadier Guards , CADESA and Royal Engineers Associations  pay tribute to a fallen comrade ..

The order of service was as follows :-

Act of Remembrance

Let us remember before God and commend to his sure keeping those who have died for their country in war and in particular Penry Morgan whom we commemorate here today. Those whom we knew and whose memory we treasure; and all who have died in the service of mankind.

The Exhortation

"They shall grow not old, as we 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"

A contingent of ex servicemen-Gloucestershire Grenadier Guards, CADESA and Royal Engineers Associations proudly parade to `honour one of their comrades`

Gloucestershire Grenadier Guards Association with Doreen and Frances(daughter and grand-daughter).
Private Penry Morgan`s Grave

"At The Going Down Of The Sun And In The Morning We Shall Remember Them"

Click here to visit the website of Penry Morgan