Ivor Rees
Sergeant, 11th Battalion. South Wales Borderers
- Register No.
- 1032 (Alf's numbering, from The Register of the Victoria Cross, 1997)
- Rank
- Sergeant all Sergeants →
- Unit
- 11th Battalion. South Wales Borderers all South Wales Borderers VCs →
- Date of action
- 31 July 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Conflict / campaign
- First World War
- London Gazette
- 14th September 1917 on this day → all of 1917 →
- Born
- 18th October 1893 at Felinfoel, near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire,
- Died
- 12th March 1967 at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales
- Memorial / grave
- Havard Chapel, Brecon Cathedral and Llanelli Town Hall, Carmarthenshire
From Alf Askin's research notes
Reproduced as Alf wrote it, c. 2000–2005. Spelling and abbreviations are his own.
REES, Ivor. (reg No. 1032).
Sergeant. 11th Battalion. South Wales Borderers.
London Gazetted on 14th September 1917.
Born on 18th October 1893 at Felinfoel, near Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Died on 12th March 1967 at Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales.
Memorial in Havard Chapel, Brecon Cathedral and Llanelli Town Hall, Carmarthenshire. At Pilkem, Belgium, on 31st July 1917, an enemy machine gun inflicted many casualties when it opened fire at close range. Sergeant Rees, leading his platoon, gradually worked his way round the right flank, by making short rushes, to the rear of the gun position. At 20 yards from the machine gun, Sergeant Rees rushed forward towards it, shooting one of the crew, and bayoneting the other. He bombed a large concrete emplacement, killing five of the enemy and taking 30 prisoners, including two officers and capturing a machine gun, undamaged.
Additional information:. In the Second World War, he served as a Sergeant-Major in the Home Guard.
Alf's notes on his life
At Pilkem, Belgium, on 31st July 1917, an enemy machine gun inflicted many casualties when it opened fire at close range. Sergeant Rees, leading his platoon, gradually worked his way round the right flank, by making short rushes, to the rear of the gun position. At 20 yards from the machine gun, Sergeant Rees rushed forward towards it, shooting one of the crew, and bayoneting the other. He bombed a large concrete emplacement, killing five of the enemy and taking 30 prisoners, including two officers and capturing a machine gun, undamaged.
Additional information
In the Second World War, he served as a Sergeant-Major in the Home Guard.
Wales.
Visit the grave or memorial
Alf recorded the memorial as: Havard Chapel, Brecon Cathedral and Llanelli Town Hall, Carmarthenshire
Map links open a search for the place name Alf recorded; please check opening times and exact locations before travelling. Many VC graves have since been restored by the Victoria Cross Trust.
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