Thomas Llewellyn

 

Thomas Llewellyn

The Welsh Guards were established on 26^th February 1915 by Royal Warrant of George V, to include Wales in the national component of the Foot Guards. The directive to raise the regiment had been issued by the King to Earl Kitchener, Secretary of State for War, on the same date. This made them the most recent addition to the Guards, following the creation of the Irish Guards in 1900. Subsequently, on 1^st March 1915, St. David’s Day, the 1^st Battalion Welsh Guards performed their initial King's Guard at Buckingham Palace.

On 17^th August 1915, the 1st Battalion embarked for France to join the Guards Division and begin its involvement in the First World War. The battalion's initial engagement occurred several months after its arrival, during the Battle of Loos on 27^th September 1915.  

Thomas Llewellyn was among the first soldiers to enlist with the Welsh Guards.

Herald of Wales

The Herald of Wales published an article on 5^th June 1915 titled "The Swansea Soldier Brothers", detailing the enlistment of the Llewellyn brothers.

Thomas was born in 1886, as the eldest son of Joseph Llewellyn and Hannah Lewis, who had married the previous year.

During the 1891 Census, the family resided at 225 Party Road, Penderry.

1891 Census

Joseph, aged 28, was employed as a collier, and Hannah was 31 years old.  Their three sons were:

Thomas, aged 5; William, aged 5; and Henry, aged 1.

By the 1901 Census, the family had increased in size and resided at 119 French Row, St. Thomas.

1901 Census

Joseph, aged 37, worked as a Spelterman, while Hannah was 41 years old. Their children were:

Thomas, 13, worked as a Pipe Maker at Spelter Works; William, 11, was a Messenger Boy; Henry, 11; Joseph, 5; and Hannah M., 3.

Matthew Richards, a 48-year-old boarder and furnace man at Spelter Works, was also present on the property.

In 1904, Thomas married Edith Evans.

By the 1911 Census, the family had increased in size and resided at 119 Vale of Neath Road, Port Tennant.

1911 Census

Joseph, aged 48, worked as a Spelterman, while Hannah was 51 years old. Their children were:

Thomas, 25, worked as a Spelterman; William, 23, who was a timber worker; Harry, 21, who also worked as a Spelterman; John, 19; David, 17; Joseph, 15, who worked in the Tin Works, and Hannah Mary, 13.

Army Register of Soldiers Effects

Thomas was killed in action on October 8, 1915, and is interred at Vermelles British Cemetery in France.