# Ivor Rees

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Welsh recipient of the Victoria Cross

For the Welsh Anglican bishop, see [Ivor Rees (bishop)](/source/Ivor_Rees_(bishop)).

Ivor Rees Born 18 October 1893 Felinfoel, Carmarthenshire, Wales Died 11 March 1967 (aged 73) Llanelli, Carmarthenshire, Wales Allegiance United Kingdom Branch British Army Rank Company Sergeant-Major Service number 20002 Unit South Wales Borderers Home Guard Conflicts First World War Second World War Awards Victoria Cross

Company Sergeant Major **Ivor Rees** [VC](/source/Victoria_Cross) (18 October 1893 – 11 March 1967) was a [Welsh](/source/Wales) recipient of the [Victoria Cross](/source/Victoria_Cross), the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to members of the [British](/source/United_Kingdom) and [Commonwealth](/source/Commonwealth_of_Nations) forces.

## Details

Rees was born at [Felinfoel](/source/Felinfoel). He enlisted into the 11th Battalion, [South Wales Borderers](/source/South_Wales_Borderers), part of the 115th Brigade, [38th (Welsh) Division](/source/38th_(Welsh)_Infantry_Division). Rees survived the fighting at [Mametz Wood](/source/Mametz_Wood), and moved with the Division to [Ypres](/source/Ypres). At Ypres, the Battalion were tasked with the capture of the [Pilckem Ridge](/source/Pilckem_Ridge) – a heavily fortified German defensive line during the [Battle of Passchendaele](/source/Battle_of_Passchendaele).

His citation read:

At Pilckem, 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.

— London Gazette, 14 September 1917[1]

## Later life

During the [Second World War](/source/Second_World_War), he served as a [Company Sergeant-Major](/source/Company_Sergeant-Major) in the [Home Guard](/source/Home_Guard_(United_Kingdom)). Rees died on 12 March 1967 at [Llanelli](/source/Llanelli), [Carmarthenshire](/source/Carmarthenshire), Wales. He should not be confused with Lionel Rees vc.

## Legacy

Rees is remembered on memorials in Havard Chapel, [Brecon Cathedral](/source/Brecon_Cathedral) and at [Llanelli Town Hall](/source/Llanelli_Town_Hall), Carmarthenshire.[2]

His Victoria Cross is owned by the [Regimental Museum of The Royal Welsh](/source/Regimental_Museum_of_The_Royal_Welsh), [Brecon](/source/Brecon), [Powys](/source/Powys), [Wales](/source/Wales).

## References

1. **[^](#cite_ref-1)** ["No. 30284"](https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/30284/supplement/9532). *[The London Gazette](/source/The_London_Gazette)* (Supplement). 14 September 1917. pp. 9532–9533.

1. **[^](#cite_ref-2)** ["Llanelli Town Hall, Carmarthenshire: Blue Plaque Tribute to Ivor Rees VC"](https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p02bxjcs). BBC. Retrieved 21 March 2021.

## Bibliography

- Snelling, Stephen (2012) [1998]. *Passchendaele 1917*. [VCs of the First World War](/source/VCs_of_the_First_World_War). [The History Press](/source/The_History_Press). [ISBN](/source/ISBN_(identifier)) [978-0752476667](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Special:BookSources/978-0752476667).

## External links

- [Location of grave and VC medal](https://web.archive.org/web/20100514213448/http://www.homeusers.prestel.co.uk/stewart/wales.htm) *(West Glamorgan, Wales)*

- [Blue Plaque in home town of Llanelli](https://www.llanellich.org.uk/projects/blue-plaques/110-ivor-rees-vc-victoria-cross) *(Llanelli Community Heritage)*

v t e Royal Welsh Predecessors 1st generation Royal Welch Fusiliers (1689–2006) South Wales Borderers (1689–1969) 41st (Welch) Regiment of Foot (1719–1881) 69th (South Lincolnshire) Regiment of Foot (1756–1881) 2nd generation Welch Regiment (1881–1969) 3rd generation Royal Regiment of Wales (1969–2006) Victoria Cross William Wilson Allan David Bell Gonville Bromhead Edward Stevenson Browne Alexander Cobbe Nevill Coghill William Griffiths Frederick Hitch Alfred Henry Hook Dudley Graham Johnson William Jones Teignmouth Melvill Ivor Rees John Williams John Henry Williams Angus Buchanan James Cooper Campbell Mellis Douglas James Fynn Edric Gifford Robert Jones Thomas Murphy Albert White Ambrose Madden Hugh Rowlands William Charles Fuller Hubert William Lewis Edgar Myles Tasker Watkins Frederick Barter Edward William Derrington Bell John Collins James Llewellyn Davies Joseph John Davies Charles Doughty-Wylie Albert Hill George Monger Luke O'Connor Henry Weale Thomas Bernard Hackett Robert Shields William Henry Thomas Sylvester William Herbert Waring See also Battle of Rorke's Drift Prince of Wales's feathers Men of Harlech Firing Line Prince of Wales' Division Welsh Guards 1st The Queen's Dragoon Guards

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