The War Graves of Ystradgynlais

Thomas James Davies was in the Merchant Navy and died in September 1944. He is buried in Carmel cemetery, Abercrave, but was not on the original Ystradgynlais War Memorial from the 1970s. When the new memorial was inaugurated with new memorial plaques in 2016, his name was added.

The information on Thomas James Davies has been compiled from a number of sources, including the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the South Wales Voice newspaper, and the Parish Burial Register (courtesy of the Swansea Archives).

	Thomas James Davies To the left is Captain Thomas James Davies' grave in Carmel cemetery

From the South Wales Voice newspaper :-

DEATH OF ABERCRAVE CAPTAIN
The locality was shocked to hear of the death, on September 23rd of Captain T. J. Davies, M.N. who resided at Hillside, Abercrave. Captain Davies, who had been a patient at Craig-y-Nos for only eleven weeks, had served in the Merchant Navy for nearly 24 years. He had experienced many of the hardships of war, having been bombed and torpedoed several times. He leaves a wife, a son and a daughter.
The interment was at Carmel Chapel on Wednesday, the service being conducted by the Revd. Robert Beynon. Members of the Home Guard acted as bearers. The large number of people present was proof of the respect the people of Abercrave had for a gallant man...

Some information about the S.S. Flinston can be found online. This Shipping Company Fleet List shows that the ship was owned by Evan Thomas Radcliffe, of Cardiff, and was completed in 1925. The listing shows that the ship survived the Second World War, despite its many adventures, and was scrapped in 1948. An example of its adventures can be found on this discussion about the loss of the merchantman SS Dalllas, whilst the newspaper article about Captain Davies' death hints at other tribulations.