Ronald Dunn Bevan

Private Ronald Dunn Bevan – King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, 7^th Battalion

Early Life

The South Wales Daily Post, published on 28^th March 1919, carried a death notice for Private Ronald D. Bevan:

South Wales Daily Post

“As previously reported missing on March 28^th, 1918, now presumed to have been killed in action in France on that date, Private Ronald D. Bevan, second son of John D. and Agnes G. Bevan, of ‘Llwyn-y-brain’, Sketty, aged 19½ years.”

John Dunn Bevan and Agnes Griffiths King
marriage certificate
 Holy Trinity Church, Bridgwater, Somerset

Ronald Dunn Bevan was born in Swansea in 1899, the son of John Dunn Bevan and Agnes Griffiths King, who had married in 1888 at Holy Trinity Church, Bridgwater, Somerset.

1901 Census

At the time of the 1901 Census, the family was living at 206 Townhill Road, Swansea. John, aged 40, was a shipbroker, born at Llandilo Talybont, Glamorgan, while Agnes, 35, was from Bridgwater, Somerset. Their children were Randolph A. (11), Agnes L. (8), and Ronald D. (2).

1911 Census

By the 1911 Census, the family had moved to Eversley Road, Sketty. John Dunn, now 50, remained a shipbroker, while Agnes was 45. Their children at this time were Agnes Lillian (18), Ronald Dunn (12), Kenneth John (7), and Llewellyn George (5). Also in the household were John’s parents: John Bevan (83), a retired farmer from Cheriton, Glamorgan, and his wife Margaret (77), born in Porteynon, Glamorgan.

Military Service

Ronald enlisted in the King’s Shropshire Light Infantry, serving as a Private in the 7^th Battalion.

In March 1918, the British Army faced one of its greatest trials of the war. The German High Command launched Operation Michael, the opening phase of the Spring Offensive, aimed at breaking through Allied lines before American troops could arrive in strength. The attack fell heavily on the Arras sector, where British divisions—including the 7^th Battalion, King’s Shropshire Light Infantry—fought desperately to hold back the advance.

The fighting, later known as the First Battle of Arras (1918), was marked by overwhelming German artillery bombardments, stormtrooper infiltration tactics, and rapid territorial gains. Units were often cut off, surrounded, or destroyed in place as the front collapsed around them.

Death

Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects 

On 28^th March 1918, during this brutal fighting, Ronald was reported missing in action. His official record in the Army Registers of Soldiers’ Effects was later struck out, but a War Gratuity of £6 was eventually paid to his family. The South Wales Daily Post confirmed in March 1919 that he was presumed killed on the same date. He was just 19 years old.

Burial

Ronald Dunn Bevan
Arras Memorial
credit - findagrave

As Ronald’s body was never recovered, he has no known grave. His name is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, which honours over 35,000 servicemen of the British and South African forces who fell in the Arras sector and have no known resting place.

Legacy

Private Ronald Dunn Bevan is remembered locally on the St. Paul’s Church war memorial in Sketty, where his name stands among those of his community who gave their lives. His story represents the loss of youth during the Great War, a promising life cut short at only nineteen.