P. Brace

Richard BRACE,
Lance Corporal 18306,
13th Battalion, Welsh Regiment

Born - Nelson, Glamorgan
Enlisted - Pontypridd, Glamorgan

Died - 10th July 1916 - Western Front
Killed in action

He is commemorated at Thiepval Memorial on pier and face 7A and 10A

Richard Brace memorial

Panel of names at Thiepval

With research done, I am satisfied that the above information IS correct and that the memorial inscription is incorrect.

Richard Brace was one of three children born to Henry and Mary Brace. Both Henry and Mary originated from the Llanfabon area. Henry worked in the coal mines, being a coal hewer. Their children were:

Thomas - born in 1880
Richard - born in 1887 (making him about 29 years old at the time of his death)
Elizabeth - born in 1892

The family made their home at:

Tai’r Heol, Llanfabon. On original census documents their address appears next on the list after the Railway Inn.

All the family were shown as speaking only Welsh in 1901.

At the end of 1906, Richard Brace had married a Jane Saunders, and they had made their family home at 52, Heol Fawr, Nelson where Richard was shown as a haulier in the pit.

They had two children by then too:

John Richard Brace was born in about 1908 and,
David E Brace was born around 1909.

News:

11th November 1916.

Killed in action.

Mrs Brace, 67 Heol Fawr has received official notice stating that her husband L/Cpl Richard Brace, 18306, Welsh Regiment was killed in action on 10th July 1916.
Official notices had been previously received that he was wounded and missing and it is thought he was killed in Mametz Wood where so many Nelson men were killed and wounded. Prior to joining the forces he worked at Abercynon Colliery.

This is the 15th Nelson soldier officially reported killed in action.

[Source: Merthyr Express]

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