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MEMORIES AND INFORMATION -
COUNTIES (A-E
and F-L)
THE 3rd FLINTSHIRE BATTALION
"D" Coy. -
THE HOLYWELL HOME GUARD
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Two invaluable articles were published in THE FLINTSHIRE
COUNTY HERALD on 1st and 8th December 1944 which provide a unique
record, respectively, of the life of the
Holywell Home Guard - "D" Company, 3rd Flintshire Battalion - and a list of all its
members at the date of stand-down, 3rd December 1944.
The information below is closely based on that contained in those
articles.
A BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ORIGINS
AND DEVELOPMENT OF THE HOLYWELL COMPANY
(as published in the
Flintshire County Herald, 1st December 1944)
THE EARLIEST DAYS
The Holywell Section of the
Local Defence Volunteers was formed at the end of
May, 1940 by the late Major J. Primer Burns
D.C.M., J.P., then chairman of the
Holywell Urban
District Council, from Volunteers who had
signed on at Holywell and Caerwys Police Stations
following
Mr. Anthony Eden's appeal on May 16.
1940. As a high proportion of the Volunteers were
ex-Servicemen of the last war, the Section
very quickly became efficient despite the few
weapons available. Uniform was an arm-band
bearing the letters L.D.V.
AS THE WEEKS AND
MONTHS PASSED
In October of same year
the Prime Minister, Rt. Hon. Winston
Churchill. changed the name to "Home Guard", and the
Section became D Coy. 3rd Flintshire Home
Guard, with three Platoons in
Holywell and one in
Caerwys, with static sections at
the
R.A.F.
Maintenance Unit and the
Courtaulds factory
at Greenfield.
Battalion HQ was in
Rhyl.
When the Military authorities
requisitioned the Drill Hall,
Alderman Thomas
Waterhouse J.P. kindly loaned the canteen at
Rackfield for the Company
HQ and
the local Platoon was located at
Compton House.
The Company was now equipped with American arms
and machine guns. grenades and military
clothing and were receiving instructions from
officers and N.C.Os. of the Regular Army.
In
February 1941, Major Burns resigned owing to
ill-health, and the following officers were
commissioned:
Company Commander,
Major Leo
Schwarz. D.C.M.
Second-in-Command,
Capt. D. A. Lewis.
M.C.
Lieut. J. T. Jenkins
Lieut. H. L. Hughes
The Company Rifle Range was
constructed in the old quarry at
Maesmynan (loaned
by Mr. H. W. Davey. J.P.) and various defence
works, by the voluntary labour of the members.
As
the strength of the Company grew, the following
additional officers were commissioned:
Capt. Arthur Owen
Jones (Medical Officer)
Lieut. E. A. Price
Lieut. E. J. Lewis. D.C.M.
Lieut E. R.
Skelton
Lieut, E. N. Williams
Lieut. R. R.
Fowler,
Lieut. D. Finlayson
(succeeding Lieut.
H. L. Hughes transferred to the Army)
2nd Lieut. B. Jones
Lieut. W. Hughes (transferred
from Llangefni).
STAND-DOWN
- December 3rd 1944
(As
all danger of invasion or incursion had
disappeared by the last weeks of 1944, the Home
Guard, in North Wales and elsewhere, was finally
stood down on Sunday, December 3rd 1944. The
day was marked by local parades by every Home
Guard battalion and
a major, national parade in Central London in
front of the King and Queen and the princesses;
this huge event included several representatives
from every single battalion throughout the U.K.
The Flintshire County Herald reported on the local
and national parades, as follows).
The 3rd Flintshire Battalion
Home Guard, which includes the Holywell Home
Guard, will assemble at Rhyl on Sunday next at
3 p.m. under the command Of
Lieut.-Colonel G. H.
Young, and will march past the saluting base
in front of the Pavilion. The Salute will be taken
by the Lord Lieutenant, Rear Admiral Rowley
Conwy.
A member of the Company,
Private
Leslie James Smith of
6, Mill Terrace, Caerwys
has been selected by the Battalion Commanding
Officer, 3rd Flintshire, to to be one of
representatives at the London March Past when the
Salute will be taken
by His Majesty the King.
In common with other Home Guards, 4th Battalion
Flintshire Home Guards will attend the parade in
London on Sunday:
Sergt. R. D. Parry,
B Coy.,
Northop Hall
Pte. T. H. Whitley, C
Coy.,
Mold
Pte. Charles H. Roberts,
D Coy.,
Nannerch
The 5th Flintshire Battalion will be
represented by :
Capt. G. A. Wright,
Caergwrle
Pte.
L. Williams, Caergwrie
Pte. Kibble,
Holywell |
"D" Coy., 3rd FLINTSHIRE
NOMINAL ROLL, DECEMBER 1944
(as published in the
Flintshire County Herald, 8th December 1944)
3rd FLINTSHIRE BATTALION
Battn. Commander:
initially
Lt.-Col. G. E. Hamelryk, O.B.E., and
later,
Lt.-Col. G. H. Young
"D" COMPANY, HOLYWELL
COMPANY
HEADQUARTERS STAFF
Coy.
Commander: Major Leo Schwarz. D.C.M.
Second
in Command: Capt. D. A. Lewis, M.C.
Med.
Officer: Capt. A. O. Jones
Coy. Qtrmstr.:
Lieut. E. A. Price
Intelligence Officer:
Lieut. E. N Williams, M.M.
Training Lieut.:
Lieut. R. R. Fowler
Coy. Sgt.-Mjr.: J.
L. Roberts, New Quay
Coy Q. M. Sgt.:
H. Owen, Penymaes
Petroleum N.C.O.: Sergt. W. E.
Gatherwood
Liaison: Sergt. J. Birchall
Gas N.C.O.: Sergt. W. Atherton
Transport: Sergt. N. G. Pierce
Intelligence: Corpl. E. L. Evans
Pioneer Corpl.: Cpl. A. E. Langley
German
Interpreter: L/Cpl. A. E. Jones, Calcot
Orderly Room Clerk: Pte. B. P.
Carney
Ass. O.
R. Clerk: Pte. Ll. Williams. Providence Terr.
Q. M. Stores: Pte. T. Edwards. Bryn
Mawr Rd.
2/Lt. W. T. Hughes,
N.P. Bank (transf. from A Coy.
3 Btn. Anglesey H. G.).
Seconded for Duty with
Army Cadets.
Cpl. J. A. Johnson, “Plas
Motfa”
Pte. G. R. Petrie, "Ingledene"
Seconded for
duty with A.T.C.
Pte. T. F. Price,
Nodder
Pte. R. F. Smith, 12 Woodland
Drive
Women Home Guards
Miss E. M. Star (Q.M.
Stores), Dest Drive
Miss M. T. Schwarz
(Sigs.), “Naom Coln”
Miss B. Jones (Sigs.), Dee
View Road
Miss H. J. Williams (Sigs.),
St. Peter's Estate
Mrs Nora Dykins (Ordr.
Office), “Gerddi Bruno”
**********
D1 PLATOON
Pl. Comdr.:
Lieut. J. T.
Jenkins
Pl.
Sergt.: H.
Birch, "Marilyn"
Sgt. F. Tooley (Sigs.), Fron
Lodge
L/Sgt. Foster, "Aysgarth"
Cpl. T. W. Carney (Sigs.), Dewi
Ave.
L/Cpl. J. O. Tweedie
(Sigs.). "Cartref”
L/Cpl. E T Townley (Sigs).
"Mayfield"
L/Cpl. J. Dyson, M.M.,
Abbots Lodge
L Cpl. A. Bailey, Coron.
Est.
Pte. E. Bellis, Old
P. O, Penyball
Pte. W. J.
Blackwell, Highgate Cott.
Pte. G. H. Clark.
Moor Lane
Pte. B. Cummins, St.
Peters Est.
Pte. B. Davies, 1 Lily Terr.
Pte. J. Hibbert, 25
Hillside Rd.
Pte. C. Jones,
143 High St.
Pte. J. Jones, 54 Coron. Est.
Pte. J. E. Jones, 12 Park Lane
Pte. J. H Jones,
Penyball
Pte. J W. Lloyd, Alun
Square
Pte. P.
McKay, Watts Dyke Av.
Pte. D. C. Nuttall,
Panton Place
Pte. G. O'Reilly,
Hillside Rd.
Pte H. Pendleton, Hillside Rd.
Pte. F
Pratt, St. Winefred's Terr.
Pte. J H. Sale, Moor Top
Pte. R. O. Simon, 12
Coron. Est.
Pte. E Troughton,
Merton Lane
Pte E. Williams, 52 Strand
Pte. J Williams.
41 Whitford St.
Pte. R Wynne, Saithaclwyd Av.
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Sergt. C. N.
Lloyd, Milwr
Cpl. F. J. Abbott,
Summer Hill
L/Cpl. J. G.
Winter, Red Houses
Pte. E.
S. Adams, Coron. Est.
Pte. E.
Ashcroft, Trosymaes
Pte. R.
Boyes, Deva Ave.
Pte. W. F Catherwood (S.B.), Strand
Walk
Pte. F. Connah, Whitford
St.
Pte. W. Dacre, Windsor Park
Pte D. S. Davies, Brynford Cott.
Pte. P. Davies, Castle View
Pte. C. E. Dyson, Brynmawr Road
Pte. A. Edwards, Sealand Ave.
Pte. W. Garrett, Brynmawr Rd.
Pte. R. G. Grahame, 31 Well St.
Pte. J. Hall, Grosvine, Penyball
Pte. J Hughes, Ivy House, Fron Pk.
Pte. A. E. Humphreys, Holway
Pte. T. Jones, 27 Coron. Est.
Pte. Wm. Jones, 21 Brynmawr Rd.
Pte. D H. Longmore, Fron House
Pte. J. N. Price, Coron. Est.
Pte. F. Ridge, St. Philomena Villa
Pte. C. H. Thompson, Sealand Ave.
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L/Sgt. W. Troughton, Moor L.
Cpl. J. O.
Jones, M.M. (S.B.),
15 Primrose Hill
L/Cpl. J. P. Roberts,
13 New Rd.
L/Cpl. M. T. Thomas, Strand
Ave.
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Pte. E. Brace, Red Houses
Pte. J. Brace, Coetia Llwyd
Pte. P.
Brown, Flower Cott.
Pte. W. J. Davies,
'The Mount’
Pte. T. Edwards, Whitford
St.
Pte. G. T. Hooson, Watts Dyke Av.
Pte. E.
James, Old Ab. Arms
Pte. B. Jones, 15
Merton St.
Pte. J. E. Jones, 13 Strand
Walk
Pte. J. T. Jones, 5 Martins Rd.,
Milwr
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Pte. J. T. Kendrick, Strand Walk
Pte. J. Latham, 4 Blue Bell Cotts.
Pte. W. Lewis,
Hill Top
Pte. E. D. Luke, Martins
Cotts.
Pte: T. A. Price, (Sigs.),
Brynford
Pte. J. E. Roberts, (Cook), Hillside Rd
Pte. W. B. Wilkes, Bungalow. Milwr
Pte.
B. G. Williams, Hillcrest
Pte. J.
Williams, Clifton Hse.
Pte. Jos.
Williams, Melbourne Hse.
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**********
D2 PLATOON
Plat. Comdr.: Lieut.
E. J. Lewis, Holway
Pl. Sgt.: R. H.
Jones, Greenfield Hall Est. |
Sgt. R. Jones, Halfway House. Brynceivn;
Cpl. J. Roberts, Greenbank
Cpl. G.
Lancelott, Greenfield
Cpl. W. Sutcliffe,
‘Foleshill’
Pte. Sidney Auld, Brynmawr Rd.;
Pte. T. Davies, Crossfield Rd.
Pte. J. L.
Dykins, Cairnton Cres.
Pte. J. W. Evans,
Stokyn Lodge
Pte. A. V. Jones, Rayon Rd.
Pte. F. A. Jones, Isglan
Pte. G. Jones, 29
Coron. Est.
Pte. M. Jones, Woodcock Cotts
Pte. W. D. Jones, Stokyn Hall Farm
Pte. D.
Lancelott, Brynmawr Rd.
Pte. H. Morris, Isglan
Pte. O. G. Rowlands, Strand. Av.
Pte. P. H. Smith, 17 Crossfield Rd.
Pte. J. E.
Williams, 2 Blaencoed
Pte, W. A. Williams, 8
Glanydon Rd.
Pte. R. Winstanley, Dee View Rd.
Pte. R. T. Dennis, Heslop Cott.
Pte. H. Griffiths, Greenfield Terr.
Pte. A.
R. Delahay, The Meadows
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Cpl. W. Jones, King's Ave.,
Greenfield
Cpl. J Jones, 4 Woodland Drive
L/Cpl. E. Charlton, 2 White Houses
L/Cpl. A.
Harper, Mecca Est.
L/Cpl. T. Lancelott, Greenfield
L/Cpl. J.
Ll. Williams, Coedlys, Penymaes
Pte. G.
E. Barlow, Bala Ave.
Pte. J. Bingley, Crossfield Rd.
Pte. T. B.
Blakeley, Victoria Rd.
Pte. T. L. Courtney,
Strand Ave.
Pte. J. C. Davies, Watts Dyke
Ave.
Pte. W. S. Dearden, Sundawn Ave.
Pte.
P. Dykins, Battery Row
Pte. G.
Evans, 10 Brynford Terr.
Pte. I. Ll. Evans, Sealand Ave.
Pte. R.
Jones, 6 The Meadows, Greenfield
Pte. J.
Lloyd, 18 Bala Ave.
Pte. E. O. Owens, Penrallt
Pte. R. A. Pickett, Greenfield Est.
Pte. J. E. Smith, Cartref, Brynsannon
Pte. G. H. Teale, Bala Ave.
Pte. E. H. Tapley,
Llwyn Ifor Isa
Pte. J. D. Vickers, Allenby
Villa
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Sgt. E. J. Williams, St. Peters Est.
Cpl. W. Jackson, 34 Coron Est.
Cpl. J. E.
Williams (S.B.), Withington Hse.
L/Cpl. J. W Crofts, Deva Ave.
L/Cpl. J. H. Hughes, Strand
Cres.
L/Cpl W. T. Jones, Maes-v-Coed
L /Cpl T. McGovern, Strand Walk
L/Cpl. J. H Parry, Woodland Drive
L/Cpl. H.
C Williams, Delyn Rd.
Pte. Geo. Bailey, Greenfield St.
Pte.
T. M. Bellion, 9 Cairnton Cres.
Pte. T. Boyes, 22 Bryn Mawr
Pte. B. Casey, 90 Riverbank
Pte. I. Davies,
Trevor Houses
Pte. H. Evans, Greenbank
Pte. J. E. Evans, Mount
Pleasant
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Pte. G. Hall, Rhesycae, P. of Wales Ave.
Pte. G. T. J. Humphreys
(Sigs.), Arllwyn
Pte. J.
Johnstone, 48 Glan-y-don
Pte. C. P. Jones, Crossfield
Rd.
Pte. G. H. Jones, Dee View Rd.
Pte. H. Jones, 13 Bala Ave.
Pte. R. A. Jones, Greenfield Cotts.
Pte.
E. P. Morgan, 15 Delyn Rd.
Pte. Geo. Reece (Sigs.),
Woodland Drive
Pte. A. Renshaw, 35 Brynmawr
Rd.
Pte. I. Roberts, 43 Dee View
Rd.
Pte. I. G. Thomas, 46 Well St.
Pte. S. H. Thompson (Sigs.),
Penymaes
Pte. Geo. Urwin, Strand Crescent
Pte. J. H. Williams, 53 River Bank
Pte. S. B. Willis, Up River
Bank
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**********
D3 PLATOON
Plat.
Comdr.: Lieut. D. Finlayson
Sec. in
Command: 2/Lt B. J. Jones
Pl. Sergt.:
R. H. Douglas
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Cpl. W. R. Jones
Cpl.
R. T. Williams
L/Cpl. W. T. Williams
Pte. Jos. Ames
Pte. A. B.
Ashworth
Pte. J. P. Davies
Pte. T. Davies
Pte. J. P. Edwards
Pte. R. Edwards
Pte. R. W. Edwards, Babell
Pte. P. H. Evans
Pte. E. T.
Hughes
Pte. R. S. Hughes
Pte. Trevor Hughes
Pte. T. Hughes, Bryn Cloddiau
Pte. C. Jones,
Penyrardd
Pte. T. P. Main
Pte. R. C.
Pritchard
Pte. John Roberts
Pte. P. Roberts
Pte. Tom Roberts
Pte. R. E.
Ware
Pte. R. T. Williams, 2
Glasdir Ter. |
D3 Platoon, Section
2
Caerwys |
Sgt. F. Morris
Sgt. M. A. Pinder
L/Sgt. I. Jones
Cpl. D.
F. Roberts
L/Cpl. F. Hughes
L/Cpl. J. O. Jones
L/CpL T. C. Parry
Pte. J. F. Courtney
Pte. P
Davies
Pte. J. H. Hughes
Pte. D. Ll. Jones
Pte. Hefin Jones
Pte. L. G. Jones
Pte. R. M.
Lloyd
Pte. A. R. Owen
Pte. J. E. Price
Pte. E. Williams
Pte. P. S. Williams
Pte T. Williams
Pte. Geo. Wright
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Sergt. W. D. Hulse
Cpl. W. E. Hayes
Cpl. A.
Jones
Cpl. R. Owen
Cpl. R. H. Williams
Pte. S. F. Burns
Pte. A. L Cooper
Pte. John
Davies
Pte. Landor Hughes
Pte. R. G. Hughes
Pte. G. Jones
Pte. Morris
Jones
Pte. E. E. Matthews
Pte. A. E. Parry
Pte. R. E. Parry
Pte. R. W. Pendleton
Pte. R. H. Powell
Pte. W. R. Pritchard
Pte. R. Roberts
Pte R. T. Roberts
Pte. L. Scott
Pte. J. L. Smith |
**********
Plat. Cmdr.:
Lieut. W. R. Skelton. Penymaes
Sgt.
J. Sandham, The Gowdal
L/Sgt. W. Hann, 87
Coron. Est.
Cpl. A. B. Randle, Dee View Rd.
Cpl. T. Renshaw, 3 Brynceyn Cotts.
L/Cpl.
F. P. Joinson, Carmel
L/Cpl. W. R. Owen. Post
Office, Greenfield
Pte. W. J. Alcock, Sealand Ave.
Pte. J. J. Barnes (Sigs.), Brynmair
Pte. E. Bowker, Meadow Bank
Pte. Wm. Brown, Woodland Drive
Pte. S.
Butler. Crossfield Rd.
Pte. F. X. Clark,
Talacre Cott.
Pte. F. H. Cox (Sigs), Coed
Mawr Hall
Pte. R. P. Davies, Cefn Farm
Pte. S. Mac. C. Dykins, Gerddi Beuno
Pte. W.
Evans. 15 Strand Walk
Pte. E. Jones, Coed Mawr
Pte. F. H. Griffiths, Station Rd.
Pte. H. Jones, 27 Mecca Est.
Pte.
Hugh Jones, 16 Coron. Est.
Pte. J. Jones, 1
Mecca Estate
Pte. Rowland Jones, Crossfield Rd.
Pte. R. E. Hutchinson, Twll
Farm
Pte. T. E. Hughes (Despatch Rider),
“Rockfield”
Pte. G. Lewis, Prov. Terr.
Pte. J. F.
Lloyd, Strand Walk
Pte. Wm. Ramsell,
Strand Walk
Pte. Roper, Fron Pk. Rd.
Pte. H. Roberts,
4a Whitford St.
Pte. J. F. Saddington, West
Drive
Pte. W. Simon, Merton Est.
Pte. S.
Speakes, Old Chester Rd.
Pte. B. Tattum, Whitford St.
Pte. C. Thompson, Sundawn Ave.
Pte. E. Williams, “Belvedere”
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AUXILIARY BOMB DISPOSAL UNIT |
Unit Cmdr.:
Sergt. E. Williams, Manor Pk.,
Flint
Pte. P. J. Carney, Woodland Drive
Pte. R. L. Conway, Coron. Est.
Pte. D. Ffoulkes, Park Lane
Pte. Geo. Frimstone, Strand Cres.
Pte. A. Hewitt. Victoria Bldgs.
Pte. A. Homesley, Park Lane
Pte. E.
Hughes, Brim Awel
Pte. H.
Jones, 15 Crossfield Rd.
Pte. Neville Jones, Chapel St.
Pte. Wm. J. Jones, Trevor Cotts.
Pte. D.
Molyneaux, Woodland Drive
Pte. A. Thomas, 37
Glanydon Est.
Pte. N. Williams, 42 Coron. Est.
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS and SOURCE
Grateful acknowledgement
is made to the publishers and unknown journalists of The
Flintshire County Herald newspaper who in 1944 created and
made available the above valuable historical information.
Similar acknowledgement is made to Will Ward
(see also
British Resistance
Archive)
for bringing this information to the attention of
staffshomeguard; and to other sources of
information including the
Remember Britain's Home Guard
Facebook group.
**********
In Memory of
ALL MEMBERS
of
"D" Coy., 3rd FLINTSHIRE BATTALION
and of
THE
DENBIGHSHIRE and FLINTSHIRE
HOME GUARD
1st - 11th
Denbighshire and Flintshire Battalions
1940-1944 |
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