John Howell Beynon - 580 Mumbles Road

580 Mumbles Road 

 580 Mumbles Road is now the Nishimura Japanese restaurant, according to Brian Davies's book "Mumbles and Gower Pubs".

“The hotel, now known as the Village Inn, dates back to 1734 when Phillip Powell granted a lease for Horsepool House.  It was then right on the seashore near the Horsepool, the sea-inlet and oyster skiff lay-up. By 1844 it was named the New Inn and the landlord, Herbert Lloyd, was a master mariner and oyster dealer. The old building was rebuilt and the name was changed to the Marine Hotel in 1888. Around this time, the Courts Leet met at the Marine, and the ancient appointments were made, including that of honorary ale taster.  The hotel was described as a splendid house, with good stabling and coach house. In the early 1930’s the Marine was one of Dylan Thomas’s first calls when he visited Mumbles, which he described as a “rather nice village, despite its name, right on the edge of the sea. The Marine’s name changed to La Parisienne in the 1970’s and later became Hudsons and then Vincent’s in the 1990’s; the name changed to the Village Inn in 2000”

South Wales Daily Post

The South Wales Daily Post, 21^st June 1940, published an article entitled “West Wales Heroes”, where it names John Howell Beynon, of Marine Hotel, as missing.

John Howell Beynon
Dunkirk Memorial
credit - findagrave

Dunkirk Memorial

John Howell Beynon, son of Sydney Wilfred Beynon and Lucy Gwendoline Thomas, served as a Fusilier with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st Battalion. He died on May 25^th, 1940, at the age of 25 and is commemorated on the Dunkirk Memorial.

Sydney and Lucy were married on 14 September 1912 at the parish church in Llangyfelach. Sydney was 27 years old and his occupation was recorded as an Analyst. At the time of the marriage, his residence was Llanelly, while Lucy was 21 years old and her residence was Morriston.

Sydney Wilfred Beynon and Lucy Gwendoline Thomas
marriage certificate
parish church, Llangyfelach

Three years later, John was born in Llanelly.

In the 1921 Census, the Beynon family were visiting Irene Bragg's residence at Castleton Place, Oystermouth, Mumbles.

1921 Census

Sidney, aged 35, was employed as an Analyst by Messes John Summed Sor Ltd in Stratton, Cheshire, although Sidney was currently unemployed. Lucy was 30 years old. Their children were

Sydney Basil, aged 7; John Howell Keith, aged 6; and Powell Bruce, aged 3.

Also present at the property was 38-year-old Mary E. Beynon, Headmistress at Llanmadoc School and employed by Glamorgan County Council Education Committee.

1939 Register

The Beynon family is recorded in the 1939 Register as residing at 580 Mumbles Road.

Sydney is listed as a Licensed Victualler, while Lucy is identified as a Hotel Manageress. Their two children are John, who works as a Bank Clerk, and Edward G., who is a student.

British Army List of Missing to be Circulated to POW Camps

Following John as “Missing”, the British Army published a list of soldiers, to all POW Camps.