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Sgt. Thomas G. Llewellyn
British Army 11th Btn. C Coy. South Wales Borderers
from:Pengam
(d.7th Jul 1916)
As I was growing up, I became aware that my paternal grandmother lost her brother during WW1, but knew little else other than no member of the family had ever been to France to find his grave, as he didn't have one. He was Sgt Thomas Llewellyn 21590, 11th South Wales Borderers.
In 2008, during a family holiday to Picardy, I decided to find out a little more about him. Being aware he didn't have a marked grave I visited the Theipval Memorial and found his name. Following a little research I discovered that he had been killed on 7th July 1916, during the Battle for Mametz Wood. As it wasn't far away I decided to try to find it. Following local directions, I drove down a small country lane to be confronted by a huge Welsh dragon memorial. I'd found Mametz Wood. I realised that I was the first family member to be here since he'd been killed, and that his body may still lie here, it was quite emotional.
He was only 19 years old and already a sergeant, but was killed on the first day of the Mametz Wood offensive, probably cut down by machine gun fire, with no opportunity to recover his body as the battle rumbled on for days.
I obviously never met him, but feel a close link, and don't want his memory to be forgotten, and the sacrifice he made to be not recognised. I will be travelling to Mametz Wood next July and standing next to that Dragon on 7th July 2016 on the centenary of his heroic death. He won't be forgotten.
