Memorial for Llanelli Victoria Cross soldier

A NEW memorial has been unveiled in honour of a Llanelli soldier awarded the Victoria Cross for bravery during WW1.

Ivor Rees, a Sergeant in the 11th Battalion The South Wales Borderers, was decorated by King George V for an act of bravery on the Western Front at Ypres, Belgium, on July 31, 1917.

On that day, the opening day of the Third Battle of Ypres, Sergeant Rees led his platoon through close range machine-gun fire, working his way round the right flank until he was within 20 yards of the gun, and then rushed forward towards his enemy, shooting one, bayoneting another, and silencing the gun fire.

He then bombed the adjacent pill box, killing another five enemy soldiers, and captured 30 men including two officers.

The VC is the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be given.

Exactly 100 years to the date of his heroic act a memorial stone was dedicated in the grounds of Llanelli Town Hall as part of WW1 100th anniversary commemorations.

It was unveiled by his granddaughter Catrin Rees, who was joined by civic and military dignitaries and guests, including Cllr David Jenkins, the county council’s Armed Forces Champion.

“It was a great honour to dedicate this stone to Sgt Ivor Rees, a young man who showed great bravery,” he said.

“On the 100th anniversary of his heroic deed, people stopped to remember how he put his life on the line for his country.

“This memorial stone will be there for the benefit of many generations to come.”

Military and subsequent career

Rees enlisted into the South Wales Borderers on 9 November 1914 and was posted to 11th Battalion.  He went overseas with 11th Battalion on 4 December 1915 and promoted to Lance Corporal on 5 August 1915 and Corporal on 1 December 1915.  He became a Sergeant on 19 September 1916, and was appointed acting Company Sergeant Major on 5 September 1917.  King George V decorated him with the VC at Buckingham Palace on 26 September 1917. 

He returned to Britain on 11 February 1918 and served with the 53rd (Young Soldier) Battalion, South Wales Borderers before transferring to the Reserve on 21 May 1919.  He was finally discharged from the reserve on 31 March 1921. 

On 31 December 1920 Ivor Rees enlisted as Territorial in the 4th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion, The Welch Regiment and he was discharged a year later. 

Rees was unemployed for two years after the Great War, before taking a job with the Llanelli Borough Council as a Water Inspector and Cleansing Superintendent, a post he held until his retirement in 1959. 

Rees served as a Company Sergeant Major in the 2nd Carmarthenshire Home Guard during the Second World War.

Family life

Ivor Rees was born on October 18, 1893, at Union Street, Felinfoel, Llanelli, to father

David Rees, an Electrical Engineer, and mother Ann.

He was a pupil of Pwll School and then worked at Llanelli Steelworks before his enlistment to the South Wales Borderers.

He was married just days after receiving his VC at Buckingham Palace, and went on to have two sons and three daughters with his wife Martha.

He lived at Long Row, Felinfoel, and Craddock Street, Llanelli, before his death in March 1967.