The War Graves of Ystradgynlais

David Harris served with the Royal Engineers on the Western Front and was died at the front in 1916.

The information on David Harris has been compiled from a number of sources, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the Labour Voice newspaper, and the Parish Burial Register (courtesy of the Swansea Archives).

	David Harris To the left is David Harris' grave, which has been laid flat by the council.
	Inscription:- Margaret Beloved wife of Peter Harris School House, Ystradgynlais Died Oct 12th 1925, Aged 62 Years Rest in Peace Also of Sapper David Harris, R.E. Son of the Above Who fell in France Dec 23rd 1916 Aged 27 Years And was interred in Sains En Cohelle Cemetery, Dec 25th Greater Love Hath No Man Than This Also Peter Dec 8 1941 Aged 84 Years No More Sorrow, No More Pain

Sapper David Harris Royal Engineers (aged 27) of 6 Davies Row, Fforestfach, Swansea, son of Mr. and Mrs. P. Harris, Ystradgynlais died from the effects of gas whilst singing at a concert, leaving a widow and two children.
His brother Private William Harris South Wales Borderers, son of Mr. and Mrs. Peter Harris Oddfellow Street Ystradgynlais was wounded in 1916.

From the South Wales Weekly Post newspaper, 20th January 1917 :-

Mrs. Harris, Davies Row, Fforestfach, widow of the late Sapper David Harris, R. E. has received the following letter from Captain S. Shepherd, O. C.
"I am sorry to have to inform you that your husband died on the night of the 23rd Dec. He was singing and dancing around the hut and suddenly fell down dead. I saw him myself a few minutes afterwards and death must have been instantaneous. He was a splendid man and always was the life and soul of the section. Everyone was very fond of him. We buried him on Christmas Day and put two very nice wreaths on his grave. Please accept the sincerest sympathy of officers and men of No3 Section in your great loss."

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 10th March 1917:-

NEWS OF THE BOYS
Private W. Harris, son of Peter Harris Oddfellows Street, a stretcher bearer in the S W B has now died from wounds received in action. In our last issue we reported the death in action of another brother and also the fact that Private William Harris had been wounded. The sympathy of the district will go out to the family in their double bereavement.

From the Labour Voice newspaper, 17th March 1917:-

Last week we were informed on what appeared to be reliable authority that Private William Harries, a stretcher bearer in the S W B and son of Mr and Mrs Peter Harris Oddfellows Street, had died in hospital from wounds. Happily the fact is that Private Harries is at a Lincoln Hospital where he was operated upon last week. We are pleased to state that he was most cheerful despite the circumstances.

David Harris' brother, William Harris was wounded in 1916, and as the October 1917 newspaper below explains underwent a series of operations.

	From The South Wales Voice, October 20th 1917
	Stretcher-bearer William Harris, of the S.W.B., son of Mr and Mrs P. Harris, Oddfellows Street, has been again admitted to the Northern General Hospital, Lincoln, where he will undergo an operation some day this week. This will be the fourth operation for Pte. Harris, to undergo since he was wounded in Flanders. He wishes his friends to know that he is in excellent spirits.