A CWMCARN man is researching the past of the men who served in 130th (St John) Field Ambulance in recognition of the unit’s 100 year anniversary.

The 130th (St John) Field Ambulance was formed from men of the St John Ambulance Association and researcher, Stephen Lyons, from Cwmcarn, has spent many hours scouring archives in Wales and the internet for information about the unit and the men who served in it.

His interest was sparked after he found two diaries of Private James Cleaves who served in the unit.

Mr Cleaves is the grandfather of Mr Lyon’s wife Helen, and after they found the diaries in her father’s house, he began researching the history of the other 300 members of the unit as part of a research group.

On December 12 1914, the Field Ambulance Unit was mobilised and handed over to the Welsh Army Corps at the St David’s Centre in Cardiff.

Mr Lyons learned that Mr Cleaves was born in Abersychan in 1893 and was a Hewer’s assistant in the mines before the war. He served with the 130th from its formation until the end of the war. He was a stretcher bearer and regularly manned advanced dressing stations.

In addition to his medical duties his diaries tell us that he worked as a “batman” for an officer, mended trench boards and huts, waited and cooked in the officer’s mess, repaired roads and picked up stick.

He also ran cross country for the 130th in Divisional sports events.

After the war he became a commercial traveller and a lay preacher, living at Gwent Street, Pontypool. Sadly, he died aged 58 when his car skidded on ice on Abersychan Road.

Another member was Sergeant Ernest Sweeting, who was 30 when war broke out. He lived in Llantarnam and was married with one child, Wallace.

Before the war, he trained at Bangor Normal College, and after the war he taught at Crindau Primary School. He moved, with his wife and three children, to Allt-yr-yn road, Newport. When he retired he helped his brother-in-law in the Egg Market in Griffin Street.

He was a corporal but was promoted to sergeant and was awarded the Military Medal for Gallantry following the 3rd Battle of Ypres in 1917.

For details visit 130thstjohnfieldambulance.co.uk