A LONG forgotten World War I pilot and former Welsh Regiment officer has been remembered, his memorial stone renovated and family members traced, thanks to a Pembrokeshire aviation historian.

Malcolm Cullen, of Marloes, first spotted pilot’s wings on the memorial at Llanion town cemetery, Pembroke Dock, but had difficulty in deciphering the inscription.

The impressive cross, set on a Cornish granite plinth, was placed by the family of Captain Benjamin Stewart Buckingham Thomas, MC, of Gwyther Street, Pembroke Dock, who died on October 4th 1918 when two RAF Bristol Fighter biplanes collided. He was 24.

Captain Thomas served as a Welsh Regiment infantry officer on the Western Front and was awarded the Military Cross for heroism during the Battle of La Boiselle, part of the Somme offensive of 1916.

In 1917 he trained as a pilot and joined 11 Squadron RAF, flying many operational patrols in 1918. He died just weeks before the war ended and is buried at Greviller Cemetery, France.

Malcolm has restored the memorial area and arranged for a stonemason to revamp the inscription. His researches locally traced the pilot’s nephew, Mr Benjamin Stewart-Thomas, who lives near Broad Haven.

Mr Stewart-Thomas and his wife, Judith, attended the service of re-dedication, conducted by Air Cadets Padre Rev Grayham Passmore. The memorial was unveiled by the Mayor of Pembroke Dock, Councillor George Manning, assisted by Deputy Mayor Councillor Maria Williams. Last Post and Reveille were played by Cindy Hissey and Royal British Legion and Royal Welsh Standards were carried by Reg Thomas and Harry Knight.

Wreaths were laid by Mr Stewart-Thomas, Warrant Officer Lee Halsall, representing the Royal Welsh Regiment, and Warrant Officer Greg Moodie, representing 11 Squadron, RAF.

A reception was later held at Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre where photographs and records of Captain Thomas’ wartime service have been added to the digital archive.

Photos by Martin Cavaney

MORE than 8,000 people have signed a new online petition calling for a public inquiry into the 1950s women state pension scandal. Local organiser, Jackie Gilderdale said “an inquiry is necessary to expose the truth”.

Kay Clarke, the founding member of the the largest 1950s women group in Wales, “1950s Women of Wales” and posted the ‘Hold a Public Inquiry into state pension age changes for women’ petition on the petitions-parliament website. It states: “We request a Public Inquiry into their State Pension age changes for women, which we believe have left many in a state of financial and mental despair. We believe the Government has had little or no consideration of the circumstances, historic inequality, mental health and wellbeing of 1950s women.

At 10,000 signatures the petition would be entitled to a written response from the UK Government. At 100,000, it would be considered by the Petitions Committee for debate in Parliament.

After a six-year investigation, the Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman (PHSO) published its final report on March 21 which said that the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) failed to adequately communicate changes to women’s State Pension age, and those affected are owed compensation and to date the UK Government have failed to respond to that request and failed to a request for mediation with representatives from all 50s womens groups.

As a result of its findings, the Ombudsman has asked Parliament to intervene and “act swiftly” to make sure a compensation scheme is established.

The Secretary of State for Work and Pensions, Mel Stride MP, recently said he will return to the House of Commons “when there is something to say” about a decision on whether women born in the 1950s affected by changes to the State Pension age should receive compensation.

The Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West 1950s Women of Wales group, lodged an official complaint with the Ombudsman & the APPG (All Party Parliamentary Group) in relation to the 1950s women and the PHSO report.

Jackie said “Everyone was floored by the outcome last month, which was derisory and insulting for women born in the 1950s, the majority of whom who were not told about a change to their state pension”.

“We believe the PHSO investigation has been flawed and full of irregularities and mistakes since its inception, as it failed to take into consideration proven discrimination and only investigated maladministration, which turned out to be partial. The Ombudsman should have been legally challenged at stage one, as they wiped out 10 years of maladministration (95 to 2005) simply because the civil service code of practice did not mention/include the duty to inform those involved. So they couldn’t be accused of maladministration”.

Any actual financial remedy, could be through a Parliamentary mechanism such as the CEDAW Temporary Special Measure.

The United Kingdom government has an obligation to 1950s-born women arising out of the direct discrimination exercised against them when the State Pension Age at which the pension accrues was raised from 60 years to 65 years.

The 1950s-born women were specifically targeted as the group that would bear the burden of this transition. They were targeted by reference to the protected characteristics of sex/gender and age. No notice was given to the women and, when the Department of Work and Pensions (DWP) eventually did begin notifications this was inadequate, sporadic, disorganised and is recognised as infused with maladministration. This is well substantiated.

Any proposal to ‘pay off’ the 1950s-born women with a sum that does not equate to their rightful entitlement is one inconsistent with the Equality Act 2010 and the international obligations of government and Parliament per CEDAW – the Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Discrimination Against Women – signed by the United Kingdom in 1981, ratified by the United Kingdom in 1986, and the United Kingdom signing up to the Optional Protocol in 2004.

No member of government and no member of Parliament should accede to a position where she/he supports a breach of domestic law and ignores or condones ignorance of international law.

The APPG Co Chairs, Rebecca Long Bailey MP and Peter Aldous MOP have invited Jackie and Kay Clarke to a meeting on May 13th to discuss the issue further. The voices of the 50s Women of Wales have not been heard by the PHSO and further evidence needs to be presented along with the ask of Welsh Parliament.

A CEREDIGION man has been convicted to three years and six months in prison for sexually assaulting a woman in her own bed after the jury returned a unanimous guilty verdict.

27-year-old Suroj Bk, from Llangrannog, was sentenced this week following a week-long trial at Swansea Crown Court (May 1).

On 7 October 2023, Dyfed-Powys Police received a report that Bk entered the victim’s home and sexually assaulted her while she lay in her bed.

When the victim realised what was happening, she kicked Bk out of her bed and called the police.

Upon receiving the report, officers quickly attended the victim’s home and conducted a thorough search of the surrounding area using police dogs and scenes of crime officers.

Evidence gathered from scene, together with extensive local enquiries, led officers to arrest Suroj Bk the next day (8 October).

While Bk was in custody, detectives, crime scene investigators, and digital forensic officers worked tirelessly to uncover the evidence that ultimately placed Suroj Bk at the scene.

After hearing the evidence, the jury took less than two hours to agree a unanimous guilty verdict.

The detective in charge of the case has praised the victim for her ‘tremendous courage’ in reporting the assault to police.

“Incidents of this nature are thankfully very rare within Ceredigion, and I’d like to reassure the community that this was an isolated incident, and that the identification and arrest of suspect was done quickly and efficiently,” said Detective Inspector Sam Gregory. 

“The victim in this case demonstrated tremendous courage in reporting to police, and while this investigation was not straightforward in its nature, it was through the expertise and tenacity of forensic officers, working together with the investigation team, and the victim, that led to this successful prosecution.

“I hope the sentence given to Suroj Bk sends a clear and strong message that Dyfed-Powys Police takes reports of sexual offences seriously.

“We will listen to you, and we will work tirelessly to get justice.”

On Wednesday, 1 May 2024, Saroj Bk was sentenced to three years and six months in prison and a five-year restraining order, and he will be on the sex offenders register for life. 

If you have been a victim of a crime such as this, report it to Dyfed-Powys Police either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/ro/report/rsa/alpha-v1/v1/rape-sexual-assault-other-sexual-offences/, by emailing [email protected], or by calling 101.

In an emergency, always call 999.

If you are deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908. Alternatively, contact the independent charity Crimestoppers anonymously by calling 0800 555111, or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.