Home Guard were out of step!
When the Guard was formed a resident of the area, who was an ex-Captain, said at the first parade: "If any man here is not prepared to salute me or address me as sir, would they step out of the rank."
Bill Oldfield, who fought in the First World War, stepped forward and was followed by the rest of the Guard. So the Home Guard was disbanded for a week or so until others took over.
Dog fight and the bullet ridden wardrobe
Villagers were playing a game of cricket when they witnessed a dog fight between two fighter planes. Apparently bullets flew through the roof of the Toc H building which was a dairy at the time.
They passed through buckets and churns which were hanging up. They also passed through the roof of a building opposite, Preswylfas, and through the top of resident Mrs Lloyd's wardrobe and through some hats. No one was hurt.
Searchlights
There were two searchlights within the community so despite living in rural North Wales, bombs were sometimes dropped to try to knock them out.
One of the searchlights was on Eryrys Road at Pant-du and the other was by the Llandegla Road Perthichwareu, both with army encampments attached. Locals said they could see the searchlight itself going across the sky at night picking up the planes as they flew across. The planes showed up sliver in the lights.
One night the Hession family who lived at Chweleiriog Goch, had a shock when a bomb exploded close to their home. Soot from the chimney shot out across the living room and covered them from head to foot.
NOTE: The remains of the concrete foundations for the Pant-du searchlights can still be seen. They are in the field opposite the entrance to Fron Deg.
Bevin Boys
About a dozen local men were Bevin Boys and found themselves contributing to the war effort by working down the pits. Bevin Boys had to be at least 18 years old and in good health.
Among them was John Henry Beales and Norman Roberts, who were neighbours at Pant-du, who were the first from the village to be called on - and they had little choice - to work at Llay Main Colliery or Llay Hall. John remembers the fuss it caused.
"There was a big uprising as vicars and doctors' sons had not a clue and some had to be weeded out," he said. "It could not harm us as we were quarrymen, we came from the country and were not afraid of hard work."
Lost in service
Raymond Oswald Bryan, born April 4 1922, was lost at sea 20 years later in July 1942 off Port of Spain, Trinidad. Raymond, of Blaen y Nant, Eryrys, was a rear gunner on the destroyer British Yeoman, which was torpedoed. One of five brothers and two sisters, Raymond was called up in 1940. The Royal Navy was his first choice and he loved the seaman's life. He first served on the Iceland run before moving to South American waters. When he first came home on leave his younger brother, Gordon, thought Raymond looked great in his uniform. A local remembered that Raymond wrote from Port of Spain that he was looking forward to returning home to help with the harvest.
Pilot Maldwyn Griffiths, born December 30 1913, was killed in action on October 2 1942 when his aircraft was shot down whilst he was on a bombing mission over Lubec in Germany. Maldwyn, one of two brothers and two sisters who lived on the family's Fron Farm, Graianrhyd, was on his 30th mission, after which he was due home on leave. A sergeant based at Waddington, Lincolnshire, he flew Lancasters and Wellingtons. Completing the mission would have also led to him being commissioned as a pilot officer on his return to duty. Maldwyn was married and father to a son and a daughter. He was an estate agent at nearby Mold and then the Prudential in Ruthin.
Royal Welch Fusilier John Emrys Moss, born February 12 1920, died from pneumonia after being rushed to hospital in Wrexham on May 1 1942 when he was taken ill whilst on active service. He had been sent home to Vine Cottages, Llanarmon, to recover. Married to Eileen at St Garmon's in full uniform on June 28 1941, he had worked at Graig Quarry and later as a bricklayer.
Use the form below to add your stories...
your comments
Tony Martin
I am the landlord of the Raven Inn. And not long ago the paranormal society spent a night in the Raven; they spoke to plenty of spirits (not the kind we drink) and locals matched up a lot of what they were told. We were given names etc. And thank God the Spirits that are here are friendly & don't mind at all Deirdre & I having the pub.
Mon Nov 24 09:26:45 2008
Frank Hill, Llanarmon
Re the smithy. With the pub on your right follow the road round to the left (church on lhs also signed Llandegla) the road then immediately goes to the right and the smithy is on the left. Only about 200 yds from pub. Hope that helps.
Fri Nov 14 13:40:41 2008
John Roberts
This may be outside your area, but there was a searchlight unit on Ty Newydd farm just off the Wrexham road and a couple of miles from the Nant y Garth pass.
Mon Oct 20 09:05:11 2008
Daphne Bradford
I am also looking for the Smithy as mygreat-great grandfather Robert Jones married to Mary Williams was also a Blacksmith in 1838.
Mon Jul 28 09:23:19 2008
Jessica Boyles, Spain
I was born in Eryrys in 1936. My surname was Smith, my mother was Doris and my father was Evan John Smith. I left N Wales when I was 15 with my parents, my brother Gary and my baby sister Moira. I, with my husband Dennis, visited the village of Eryrys and also Llanarmon (where I went to school) about 6 years ago and The Raven Inn was still there and quite busy!
Mon Jun 16 08:32:28 2008
Steve Price from Gresford
I am trying to locate the smithy in Llanarmon, as my great grandfather Thomas Edwards and his father Roland Edwards 1854 to 1899 were blacksmiths there. I know Thomas married a Alice Anne Hughes whom I think was also from the village. So any information relating to this would be welcomed, thanks.
Fri May 9 08:28:57 2008
Owen Davies from Carmel
I'm trying to find out about my great grandfather Edward Davies who came from Llanarmon yn Ial but moved to Llanrwst to work as a lead miner. He was born in 1856 and his father was also Edward Davies, a miner. I've searched hard but as there appears to be more than one Edward Davies father/sons from that period in Llanarmon yn Ial my search has run dry. Were there any choirs in Llanarmon around 1870 as he was a choirmaster in Llanrwst?
Wed Jun 20 14:24:48 2007
Neal Jones, Falls Church, Virginia
Searching for my Jones roots has led me to Llanarmon, birthplace of my Gg-grandfather Thomas Jones, son of John Jones & Jane Roberts. He emigrated with his wife, Ann Goodwin of Llanferres and their children to the US in 1882.
Thu Jun 14 08:10:28 2007
Hilary ex Bwlchgwyn
To John Shone: My grandmother was a Williams, lived in Bwlchgwyn after marriage. Any connection? My website is www.belton me uk.
Tue May 1 07:36:43 2007
June Castle, Auckland, New Zealand
I am researching for a friend whose ancestors were supposed to have lived at Pen-y-bryn, Flintshire, by the name of EDWARDS: 1881 census they were still there.
Was PEN-Y-BRYN a village, a farm or a castle - or what?
Mon Mar 26 09:21:56 2007
Andrew Yale (Notting Hill, London)
These memories make me realise just how much we (Britain and the World) owe the brave local men and women.
Wed Mar 7 14:01:41 2007
Charles Hogg, Yr Wyddgrug
Note to John Shone, Vancouver, BC, Canada. A licensee for many years around the early 1900's was Noah Roberts. Descendants must still live around the area. One daughter lived in Coedpoeth area and he died there. One daughter also lived in the Garston area of Liverpool. He died before 1916.
Mon Feb 19 12:35:01 2007
John Shone, Vancouver,BC, Canada
I am tracing my family tree, I was born in Wrexham and raised in Southsea. My mother's maiden name was Williams and I have cousins in Bwlchgwyn and the surrounding area whom I keep in touch with. My grandmother on my mother's side came from Llanarmon and her parents kept/owned a pub, I believe it was called 'The Raven' this would be about the turn of the 19th/20th century, if anyone could shed some light on what her maiden name might have been, I would appreciate the information.
Tue Jan 2 15:31:53 2007
Paul Wolly, Gwynfryn
Has anyone any knowledge of the history of the Raven at Llanarmon or any information about folklore around this area or ghost tales or haunted places around here?
Tue Jan 2 09:40:49 2007
We're no longer accepting comments on this page but we still want your stories and memories so get in touch.
Bob Barton was commissioned by the community council to record the wartime memories of fellow villagers and others in nearby Eryrys and Graianrhyd. 
