[:en]The Chapel Memorials in Rhyd-y-main, Meirionnydd[:cy]Cofebau Capeli Rhyd-y-main, Meirionnydd[:]

[:en]In the Independent chapel in Rhyd-y-main (six miles from Dolgellau on the way to Bala), there is a brass plaque in a prominent position to commemorate the local men who were killed in the First World War. It is situated on the wall behind the pulpit, so that any worshipper who is looking at the minister will have the memorial in their line-of-sight.

 

The inscription reads:

ER  COFFAWDWRIAETH  SERCHOG  AM

Y  RHAI  A’U  HENWAU  ISOD  A

SYRTHIASANT  YN  Y  RHYFEL  FAWR

1914-1918

“MEWN  ANGHOF  NI  CHANT  FOD”

 

(In loving memory of those who are named below who fell in the Great War 1914-1918, “They shall not be forgotten”). After the list of names, including their home addresses, there is a verse from the Bible: “MYFI  YW  YR  ATGYFODIAD  A’R  BYWYD” (‘I am the resurrection and the life’: John 11:27). These words are familiar, and one can find similar inscriptions in chapels and churches all over Wales.

There are eleven names listed:

Lewis Jones                              Esgeiriau
Hugh Edward Evans                 Glan Eiddon

William Williams                        Ty Cerryg

William Evan James                  Braich-y-Ceunant

John Richard James                  Braich-y-Ceunant

William Hughes                          Ty Capel

Robert Griffiths                           Pen-y-Bont

Edward Evans                            Blaen-y-Ddol

Thomas Evans                           Coedrhoslwyd

Eiddion Thomas Marchant         Railway Cottage

Joseph Martin                            Bryncoedifor

 

Interestingly, these same eleven names are to be found in the memorial tablet of another local chapel. Siloh was a Calvinistic Methodist chapel between Rhyd-y-main and Bryncoedifor, founded in 1874 which is now a private dwelling. Its marble tablet is now located in the chapel’s graveyard.

Thus, whereas most chapels in Wales commemorate only those from their own congregation who served and fell, in this case both chapels have made the decision to jointly honour all the men from the area who were killed. At a time when there was a fair degree of rivalry between the different denominations, perhaps this is an indication that they saw that they were united by their grief more than they were divided by their doctrinal differences.

 

Almost all of the men commemorated here can also be found on Dolgellau’s war memorial. Research on these tells us more about them (the sources of information consulted are a booklet to be found in Meirionnydd’s archives in Dolgellau, and the website http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Merionethshire/Dolgellau.html ).

 

 

Edward Evans                     Son of John and Jane Evans of Blaenyddol, Rhydymain. Served with the 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action at Bullecourt 27 May 1917, aged 25. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial

Hugh Edward Evans           Son of Griffith and Mary Anne Evans of Glan Eiddon, Rhydymain. Served in the Royal Army Medical Corps, with the ‘Welsh Students’ Company’ that went out to Salonica. Died of malaria in Greece 28 October 1917, aged 23. Buried in Mikra British Cemetery, Kalamaria, Salonika, Greece.

Robert Griffiths                 [Commemorated on the Dolgellau memorial and in the CWGC records as Robert William Griffith]. Son of David and Elizabeth Griffith of 2, Penybont, Rhydymain Served with the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. Killed in action 20 December 1917, aged 20. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.

John Richard James              10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 25th Division. Killed in action on the Somme 28th November 1916. Buried in Euston Road Cemetery, Colincamps

William Evan James                10th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. 25th Division. Killed in action on the Somme 16th August 1916. Buried in Guillemont Road Cemetery, Guillemont

Both James brothers enlisted in London.

Lewis Jones              Son of John and Jane Jones of Esgeiriau, Rhydymain. Served in 1st Battalion, The Welsh Guards. Died of wounds at home 25 September 1917, aged 21. Buried in the graveyard of Rhyd-y-main’s Independent Chapel.

Joseph Martin                Son of Samuel and Mary Martin of Trewent, Altamon, Launceston, Cornwall. Served in 13th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Killed in action 29 October 1916, aged 24. Buried in Essex Farm Cemetery, Ypres.

Eiddion Thomas Marchant         Son of Mr. and Mrs. Thomas Nelson Marchant of Railway Cottage, Rhydymain. Served in 233rd Company, Machine Gun Corps. Killed in action at Ypres 4 October 1917, aged 21. Commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

William Williams               Served in 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. Died of wounds 21 September 1918. Buried in Thilloy Road Cemetery, Beaulencourt

 

 

Of the other two men commemorated, it is quite likely that William Hughes can be identified –

William Hughes         [Probably] Son of William and Ann Hughes of 91 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog. Served in 1/5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers. Wounded in action on the Marne Front and died of wounds on 30 May 1918, aged 19. Commemorated on the Soissons Memorial

 

However, the research that is available does not identify Thomas Evans of Coedrhoslwyd.[:cy]Yng Nghapel yr Annibynwyr yn Rhyd-y-main (chwe milltir o Ddolgellau ar y ffordd i’r Bala), gwelir plac pres mewn lle amlwg i goffáu dynion lleol a laddwyd yn y Rhyfel Byd Cyntaf. Fe’i lleolir ar y wal y tu ôl i’r pulpud fel y’i gwelir  gan unrhyw un sy’n addoli yno wrth iddo edrych ar y gweinidog.

Mae’r arysgrif yn darllen:

ER  COFFAWDWRIAETH  SERCHOG  AM

Y  RHAI  A’U  HENWAU  ISOD  A

SYRTHIASANT  YN  Y  RHYFEL  FAWR

1914-1918

“MEWN  ANGHOF  NI  CHANT  FOD”

 

Wedi rhestru eu henwau ynghyd â’u cyfeiriadau ceir adnod o’r Beibl: “MYFI  YW  YR  ATGYFODIAD  A’R  BYWYD” (Ioan 11:27). Mae’r geiriau’n rhai cyfarwydd a gellir dod o hyd i arysgrifau tebyg mewn capeli ac eglwysi ar draws Cymru.

Rhestrir un ar ddeg o enwau:

Lewis Jones                              Esgeiriau

Hugh Edward Evans                 Glan Eiddon

William Williams                        Ty Cerryg

William Evan James                  Braich-y-Ceunant

John Richard James                  Braich-y-Ceunant

William Hughes                          Ty Capel

Robert Griffiths                           Pen-y-Bont

Edward Evans                            Blaen-y-Ddol

Thomas Evans                           Coedrhoslwyd

Eiddion Thomas Marchant         Railway Cottage

Joseph Martin                            Bryncoedifor

 

Mae’n ddiddorol fod yr union un enwau i’w gweld ar gofeb capel lleol arall. Capel yn perthyn i’r Methodistiaid Calfinaidd rhwng Rhyd-y-main a Bryncoedifor oedd Siloh a sefydlwyd yn 1874 ond sydd bellach yn dŷ annedd. Mae’r goflech farmor bellach i’w gweld ym mynwent y capel.

Felly, tra bod y mwyafrif o gapeli Cymraeg ond yn coffáu y sawl o’u cynulleidfa hwy a wasanaethodd ac a syrthiodd yn y rhyfel, yn yr achos hwn y mae’r ddau gapel wedi penderfynu anrhydeddu pobun o’r ardal a laddwyd. Ar adeg pan fodolai rhyw gymaint o gystadlu rhwng y gwahanol enwadau, dichon fod hyn yn dangos fod y galar oedd yn eu huno yn fwy na’r gwahaniaethau athrawiaethol oedd yn eu gwahanu.

 

Gellir dod o hyd i bron bob un a enwir yma ar Gofeb tref Dolgellau. Mae ymchwil i hanes y dynion hyn yn dweud llawer mwy wrthym amdanynt. (Y ffynonellau a chwiliwyd am wybodaeth yw llyfryn sydd ymhlith archifau Meirionnydd yn Nolgellau, a gwefan http://www.roll-of-honour.com/Merionethshire/Dolgellau.html ).

 

Edward Evans           Mab John a Jane Evans, Blaen-y-ddol, Rhydymain. Gwasanaethodd gydag ail Fataliwn y Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Fe’i lladdwyd yn Bullecourt 27 Mai 1917, yn 25 oed. Fe’i coffeir ar Gofeb Arras.

Hugh Edward Evans           Mab Griffith a Mary Anne Evans, Glan Eiddon, Rhydymain. Gwasanaethodd gyda ‘Chwmni Myfyrwyr Cymreig yr R.A.M.C.’ a aeth allan i Salonica. Bu farw o falaria yng ngwlad Groeg, 28 Hydref 1917, yn 23 oed. Fe’i claddwyd ym Mynwent Brydeinig, Kalamaria, Salonika, Groeg.

Robert Griffiths                 [Fe’i coffeir ar gofeb Dolgellau ac yng nhofnodau CWGC dan yr enw  Robert William Griffith].  Mab David ac Elizabeth Griffith, 2, Penybont, Rhydymain. Gwasanaerthodd gyda 9fed Bataliwn, Y Gatrawd Gymreig. Lladdwyd ef ar faes y gad 20 Rhagfyr 1917, yn 20 oed. Fe’i coffeir ar Gofeb Thiepval.

John Richard James              10fed Bataliwn, y Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Lladdwyd ef ar faes y Gad yn Somme 28 Tachwedd 1916. Fe’i ganwyd yn Nolgellau ac ymrestrodd yn Holborn, Llundain. Fe’i claddwyd ym mynwent Euston Road, Colincamps    Braich-y-Ceunant

William Evan James                10fed Bataliwn y Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Lladdwyd ef ar faes y gad yn Somme 16 Awst 1916. Ganwyd yn Nolgellu ac ymrestrodd yn Holborn, London. Fe’i claddwyd ym mynwent Ffordd Guillemont, Guillemont  Braich-y-Ceunant

Ymunodd y ddau frawd James yn Llundain.

Lewis Jones              Mab John a Jane Jones, Esgeiriau, Rhydymain. Gwasanaethodd ym Mataliwn cyntaf y Gwarchodlu Cymreig. Bu farw o’i anafiadau yn ei gartef 25 Medi 1917, yn 21 oed. Claddwyd ef ym mynwent capel yr Annibynwyr Rhyd-y-main.

Joseph Martin                Mab Samuel a Mary Martin, Trewent, Altamon, Launceston, Cernyw. Gwasanaethodd gyda 13 Bataliwn, y Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Lladdwyd ar faes y gad 29 Hydref 1916, yn 24 oed. Claddwyd ym Mynwent Essex Farm, Ypres.

Eiddion Thomas Marchant         Mab Mr. a Mrs. Thomas Nelson Marchant o Railway Cottage, Rhydymain. Gwasanaethodd yn 233 Cwmni Corfflu’r Dryllau Peiriannol. Lladdwyd ar faes y gad yn Ypres 4 Hydref 1917, yn 21 oed. Fe’i coffeir ar Gofeb Tyne Cot, Gwlad Belg.

William Williams               Gwasanaethodd gydag ail Fataliwn y Ffiwsilwyr Brenhinol Cymreig. Bu farw o’i anafiadau 21 Medi 1918. Claddwyd ym mynwent Thilloy Road, Beaulencourt

 

Am y ddau arall a goffeir, mae’n debyg y gellir adnabod William Hughes –

William Hughes         [Yn ôl pob tebyg] Mab William ac Ann Hughes, 91 High Street, Blaenau Ffestiniog. Gwasanaethodd 1/5 Bataliwn, Cyffinwyr De Cymru. Anafwyd ar Ffrynt y Marne a bu farw o’i anafiadau ar 30 Mai 1918, yn 19 oed. Fe’i coffeir ar Gofeb Soissons.

Fodd bynnag, nid yw’r wybodaeth sydd ar gael yn gymorth i adnabod Thomas Evans, Coedrhoslwyd.[:]