Thomas, Brinley Rees

“A REMARKABLE STORY OF DOWLAIS BEST FRIENDS WHO SERVED TOGETHER AND FELL TOGETHER AT OWLS WOOD, BELGIUM”

Private William Thomas Vaughan, 46324, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (age 23)

Private Brinley Rees Thomas, 41096, 16th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (age 19)

Both were Killed in Action by a German Shell on 27th February 1918

They are commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium

Prior to the war, William & Brinley were the best of friends, whose lives shared a remarkable number of similarities, including their unfortunate death. After reading the below, I think you can say they were inseparable.

They were employed at the Fochriw Colliery, with Brinley joining just prior to the outbreak of war. They were both baptised at the Moriah Chapel on the same night and received into membership together, including attending the same Sunday School.

At the outbreak of the war, they together volunteered to join the colours, ending up being posted to the 16th Battalion Lancashire Fusiliers, where they served and even shared furlough home at the same time.

The sad ending to this bond was when they were both hit by the same German Shell on 27th February 1918, killing them both instantaneously, as part of an attack at Owls Wood, Belgium.

The following is taken from the 16th Btn War Diary on 27th February;

“Battalion on the line. The 2 support lines were relieved by 2 Companies of the 15th battalion Lancs Fusiliers at 7pm. On relief the right support company ie ‘A’ Company moved up to the southern edge of OWLS WOOD to take part in operations, zero being 7.52pm.

Whilst two raids were being carried out, by the 14th Infantry Brigade on the left and the 2nd Btn Manchester Regt on the right, ‘A’ Company under Captain Waugh searched the wood thoroughly by sending ot 4 patrols each consisting of one officer and a platoon. These patrols searched the whole area and located many evacuated enemy posts. Two active Machine Guns were located on the right.

An attempt was made to storm these without success. On patrol returning, the 2 Companies in the front line were relieved by 2 Companies of the 15th Lancashire Fusiliers.

Total casualties for the operations were 10 Killed and 19 Wounded”

I am confident in saying that William & Brinley were killed on the storming of the German Machine Guns.

William was the son of John and Gwenllian Vaughan, 30 Spring Street, Dowlais

Brinley was the son of David & Margaret Thomas, 40 Francis Street, Dowlais.

*In the attached photo, Brinley is on the left, with Thomas on the right*