Thomas CHURCHES,
Pte 4010,
1st Battalion, Welsh Guards

Born - Llanfabon, Glamorgan
Enlisted - Cardiff, Glamorgan
Residence - Llanbradach

Died - 28th March 1918 Western Front
Killed in action

He is commemorated at Arras Memorial on Bay 1

T CHURCHES is represented on the village memorial at Llanbradach, Nr Caerphilly

I have carried out research into Thomas Churches. Other than military records that show he was born in Llanfabon, I can find no other record that would support his name being added to the Nelson memorial at the moment. I am of the belief that when the military records were initially compiled, the place of birth of Thomas Churches may have been recorded by the Parish in which he was born, as opposed to the village. Either way, I will not remove Thomas’ page from this site. Below is the information I can give about Thomas Churches and his connections.

Thomas was one of six children that were born to Thomas and Mary Jane Churches. Thomas (Snr) was born in Godney Howells, Somerset in 1870. He came to the South Wales area seeking employment in the coal mines. He was a coal hewer. His wife Mary Jane was born in the United States of America in 1875. All their children were born in the area surrounding Caerphilly, the first five born in Llanbradach and the sixth in Pwllypant, on the outskirts of Caerphilly.

Herbert was born in 1894
Lilian, in 1895
Thomas (jnr), in 1896 (He was 22 years old when he was killed)
William George, in 1897
Percy, in 1898, and
Violet, in 1900.

They made their family home at:

11, Coedleddyn Row, Llanbradach an address that, I am unsure whether it now exists.