09/10/2026
Prynhawn da pawb!
I was shown a photo of a newspaper cutting a month or so ago and completely forgot to share it! Strange, considering it’s about my local Home Guard right here in Sarn Meyllteyrn! The article is sadly undated, and I have absolutely no idea which newspaper it came from. It describes a Home Guard exercise at Sarn involving the men of ‘D’ (Nefyn) Company of the 4th (Cricieth) Battalion, Caernarvonshire Home Guard.
The scenario involved an enemy “airborne landing” near Aberdaron, with two attacking groups approaching Sarn from Cefnamwlch woods and Pengroeslon. The defenders took up positions at Ty Mawr and Sarn itself, with patrols sent out to make contact.
The exercise began at 4 p.m., with the final assault on the village at 7 p.m. The report describes the attackers making good use of cover and remaining unseen before darkness fell. During the discussion afterwards, it was agreed that honours went to the attacking party.
There’s plenty to unpack here, along with some speculation on my part, but first, here’s the article:
“D” COY. HOME GUARD EXERCISE.
“ATTACK” ON SARN VILLAGE.
(By a Correspondent).
On Sunday an interesting manoeuvre was carried out by detachments of “D” Company Home Guard. For the purpose of the exercise it was assumed that airborne troops landing near Aberdaron had been split into two bodies and were converging on the village of Sarn from two main points of attack. Cefnamwlch woods and Penygroeslon. One attacking party was led by Capt. H. Parry, Montclare, Nevin, and 2nd/Lieut. R. Williams, Botwnnog; the other by Lieut. E. T. Roberts, Edern, and 2nd/Lieut. H. D. Griffith, Tudweiliog. Lieuts. H. W. Humphreys, Morfa Nevin, G. Hughes Thomas, Aberdaron, and 2nd/Lieut. A. Fell, Nevin, were in charge of the defence. Lieut. O. Roberts, Nevin, was acting company commander.
Action commenced at four o’clock. The defending company took up strategic positions at Ty Mawr and Meillteyrn and patrols were pushed out to contact the enemy. Such skilful use of cover was adopted by the attack that they were not observed before darkness fell. Actually no contact was made until the final assault on the village at 7 p.m. The exercise was followed by a “post mortem,” which brought out a number of interesting points. It was unanimously agreed that honours went to the attacking party.
Colonel C. S. S. Curteis, C.M.G., D.S.O., Commanding 4th Batt Caerns. Home Guard, was present, together with Major R. C. O’Farrell, M.C., commanding “D” Company Home Guard."
- A CLOSER LOOK AT THE EXERCISE -
As for when it took place, there’s still some guesswork involved. When I first read the article, it immediately reminded me of another exercise I had come across in the local archives. That exercise took place on 24 August 1941 and involved the Home Guard, Civil Defence and the 14th (Home Defence) Battalion, Royal Welch Fusiliers, later renamed the 31st (Home Defence) Battalion.
The Home Defence Battalion started from Bodferin, outside Aberdaron, and had to make its way through five Home Guard defensive lines to reach Nefyn. The exercise described in this newspaper cutting, however, appears to have involved only the Home Guard. But it would make sense that this exercise, and the other one involving the Home Defence Battalion, took place to test the defensive lines in the area.
We know the exercise started at four o’clock, and the article gives us some information about where the defenders took up their positions. We also have some clues about which platoons may have been involved.
Captain Henry Parry and Second Lieutenant R. Williams led one of the attacking parties, possibly made up of men from No. 3 (Sarn, Botwnnog, Bryncroes and Llaniestyn) Platoon and No.4 (Rhoshirwaun) Platoon. Lieutenant E. Tutur Roberts and Second Lieutenant H. D. Griffith led the other party, which may have included men from the Edern or Tudweiliog platoons, possibly alongside men from No. 2 (Nefyn) Platoon.
At this stage, I don’t know which platoons attacked from which direction, but one party approached Sarn through Cefnamwlch woods, while the other came down the B4413 from Pengroeslon.
The defenders may have included men from ‘E’ (Abersoch) Company, particularly the Aberdaron Platoon. This is based on the mention of “G. Hughes Thomas, Aberdaron” as one of the officers in charge of the defence. I have no further details about him, and very little information on ‘E’ Company beyond where its headquarters were and who commanded it. Without further evidence, this remains guesswork on my part.
- THE DEFENCE -
There are some interesting details in the article. My thinking is that platoons from ‘E’ Company may have formed part of the defence, with officers from ‘D’ Company attached, while ‘D’ Company platoons carried out the attack. For a local unit such as No. 3 Platoon, whose men came from Sarn, Bryncroes, Botwnnog and Llaniestyn, taking the attacking role could have helped them assess their own defences, identify weak points and understand which routes would offer an enemy the easiest approach to Sarn. I also wonder whether the wider purpose of the exercise was to test the defensive lines around Sarn, Bryncroes, Pengroeslon and the outskirts of Tudweiliog around Cefnamlwch. When I say “defensive lines”, I’m not referring specifically to trenches or dug-in positions, although there may have been a few around the area. I suspect most positions made use of natural features and existing man made structures that could help defend the area. If anyone local knows of any WW2 trenches or dugouts around Sarn, please do get in touch, as this could be a huge help in piecing together the area’s wartime defences.
The defenders took up positions around Ty Mawr and the village of Sarn itself. The article doesn’t mention defensive positions at Cefnamwlch woods, but I think the road junction leading towards Tudweiliog may also have been covered.
I’ve attached a map showing the locations and possible routes of attack. I had to redo it twice because there are quite a few places called “Ty Mawr” around Sarn! In the end, I chose what seemed to be the most likely location, closer to Pengroeslon.
My interpretation is that the main attack came along the B4413 from Pengroeslon, with the defenders positioned around Ty Mawr, perhaps overlooking the anti-tank “roundabout” at the junction. The flanking attack would then have come through Cefnamwlch woods where there is good cover. I’ve walked around here many a time, and there is good cover for both defenders and an attacking force. The attackers approaching from Pengroeslon would also have had decent cover, although mainly along the side roads.
Without further information about the exercise, the positions and routes I’ve suggested remain guesswork on my part. Even so, I find newspaper cuttings like this absolutely fascinating, especially when they’re about my local Home Guard and describe exercises along roads and around villages I know so well. I’m still researching the Home Guard in this area, including the defences built and used by both the Home Guard and the regulars (the Army stationed in the area and so on). There are plenty of unanswered questions, but this little article offers a glimpse into how local men prepared to defend their communities, their little patch of Cymru. Every newspaper cutting, photograph or local memory helps build a clearer picture, and I’ll keep sharing what I find as the research continues.
| Photos are sadly NOT of the Pen Llyn Home Guard, but I hope these will help paint a picture of the exercise with similar terrain |
