A First World War soldier who died two months after the end of the conflict has finally been commemorated as a hero.
Lance Corporal Haydn Carlyle Phillips, a former pupil of Lewis School Pengam, was gassed in the German Spring Offensive of March 1918 and was sent back to Britain to spend time in a military hospital. He eventually died in Pengam on January 21, 1919, due to heart disease caused by the gassing.
Because he died at home after the war had finished, he slipped the attention of the Commonwealth War Graves Commission – the body responsible for maintaining the graves of Commonwealth soldiers who have died in conflict. In the years since his death at the age of just 22, Haydn’s grave in St Catwg’s Church in Gelligaer had fallen into disrepair.
A service was held at St Catwg’s on Friday, November 9, to commemorate Haydn’s sacrifice, and his name was read out among the war dead for the first time in 100 years on Remembrance Sunday.
Author and local historian Paul Williams, who delivered the eulogy at the service, contacted the Commonwealth War Graves Commission earlier this year regarding the soldier.
He said: “I found out about this when I was doing the research for my book on Lewis School pupils who died in WWI and I noticed that Haydn, unlike the others, was not recognised on the Commonwealth War Graves commission website.
“I recently lodged an appeal to have him recognised, but in the meantime, myself and Mike Oliver, who is a senior history teacher at the school, decided that something needed to be done about the state of the grave.”
Haydn’s headstone has since been restored thanks to funding from the Heritage Lottery Fund.
However, a decision from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission regarding Haydn’s recognition is still to be made.
Peter Francis, a spokesman from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, said: “There has been a significant increase in the number of new cases sent during the centenary period and our commemorations team are working through them as quickly as possible.
“I’m afraid as every case is different, I can’t put a time frame on the process, but please be assured that it is being handled with sensitivity and care and should he be accepted, we would be delighted to add Haydn to our roll of honour.”
The service at the church, which was carried out by Reverend Gary Palmer, also included a reading by Lewis School headteacher Christopher Parry and a rendition of Eric Clapton’s Tears In Heaven by two current pupils of the school.
Mr Williams added: “I was delighted with how the day unfolded. I’m grateful to Reverend Palmer for all his help and it was a fitting tribute to a forgotten solider that is no longer forgotten.”
“I also want to thank Joanne Hume from Ian Watts and Son funeral directors for her contribution and advice regarding the restoration of the headstone.”
Despite the fact Haydn has no immediate family alive today, his distant relative, Sheila Chapman, made the five-hour long journey from Blackpool to Gelligaer to pay her respects.
She said: “I’ve loved every minute, it was so fitting for Haydn – today was Haydn’s day,” said Mrs Chapman, who discovered the family link through a genealogy website.
“Everything was marvellous and so well organised. I’m really proud to have been part of it.”
A documentary film and workbook are set to be produced by Lewis School Pengam to keep Haydn’s memory alive.
History teacher Mike Oliver said the school feels “heavily motivated by its history” and will involve nearby primary schools in future activities to remember Haydn.
He said: “We will also take the whole of Year 7 to visit the church and grave every year.”
• Mr Williams is doing further research on former Lewis School Pengam pupils who fought in WWI and would like to hear from anyone who has any information or photos that could be of use.