John Alexander Bonnyman was born in South Shields, Durham on 27^th November 1887. Educated University College, and served an engineering apprenticeship with Smith’s Docks. In 1911 he was described as a Mechanical Engineer & Ship Repairer for the same company, and living in South Shields. At the outbreak of WW1 he was noted as qualified as a draughtsman and marine surveyor, and as a University Lecturer in Engineering. He was also Assistant Manager, Smiths Docks of Teeside & Tyneside. By now he was living in Llandaff, Cardiff. (He seems to have worked for the company alternating between South Shields and Cardiff although his family lived in Cardiff)

For some reason he travelled back from Cardiff to Newcastle - perhaps he had relatives living there - and enlisted as a private in the 9^th Bn. Northumberland Fusiliers on 5^th September 1914, at nearly 27 years of age. His father is given as James Smith, 11 Howells Crescent, Llandaff, Cardiff.  However, on the 21^st December 1914, he was discharged from the Fusiliers as “not likely to become an efficient soldier”. Perhaps this was an administrative ploy, as four days earlier, on  17^th December, back in Cardiff, he had been commissioned into the 4^th T.F. Bn. Welsh regiment - strange indeed!

He was posted to the 24th (Glamorgan & Pembroke Yeomanry) Bn. Welsh Regiment, joining the 231^ST Brigade of the 74th Yeomanry Division in Palestine on 30th June 1917. He joined in time to take part in the Third Battle of Gaza 27 October - 7 November 1917, including the Capture of Beersheba on 31 October, and the capture of the Sheria Position on 6 November, the capture of Jerusalem 8 - 9 December 1917 and in the Defence of Jerusalem 27 - 30 December 1917.

"Having celebrated Christmas Day in Jerusalem, thoughts now turned to the immanent Turkish attack, and as a pre-emptive strike, on  Boxing Day night 1917, the 24^th Welsh attacked the Turkish positions on Hill 1910. The attack was fiercely opposed by the Turks, and  resulted in savage in hand to hand fighting. Before the Welsh had time to consolidate, a fierce Turkish counter-attack drove them back off the hill. However half an hour later the Welsh launched a second attack and re-captured the position. It is during this fighting that Bonnyman was probably wounded, as he was recorded as having gunshot wounds to face, and bomb (grenade) wounds to head and face on 27^th December. (worth checking the War Diary for further details)"

He was hospitalised and subsequently graded B1on 21^st March 1918. No doubt because of his engineering background, on 27^th July he was seconded to the RAF Engine Repair facility in Egypt as an acting Captain on administrative duties. On 30^th May 1919 he was transferred to the unemployed list.

On 12 September he relinquished his R.A.F. commission on re appointment to the Territorial Force., and was permitted to retain the  rank of Lieut. He served with 3rd Northamptonshire Bde. RFA as a Lt. with precedence as from 1st July 1917. Promoted to Captain 74^th Northampton Brigade RFA on 28^th July 1920.

After demobilisation he returned to his old position with Smith’s Docks, and lived at 2 Belgrave Tce, South Shields. He eventually returned to South Wales, living at Wood Cottage, Sketty, Swansea. His business address was 104, Bute Street, Cardiff (the Docks area). In 1929 he patented a design for “an improved cargo hatch cover”.

M.C. London Gazette 15 February 1919; citation 30 July 1919.

‘This officer led his company with great gallantry on August 31st, 1918, in the attack on Marrieres Wood. On attaining his objective he reorganised the battalion and details of other battalions, and led them forward under heavy machine-gun fire to a trench 500 yards in front of the objective, which he held and occupied for 36 hours, though subjected to heavy shelling during the greater part of the time. He showed great courage and coolness under fire, and set a very fine example to all ranks.’

M.M. London Gazette 7 June 1945. The original recommendation states:

‘On 25 March 1945, Sapper J. W. Angel was Bren gunner in a recce. car accompanying 6/King’s Own Scottish Borderers in the advance to gain a bridge on the River Issel north of Hamminkeln. When the leading infantry came under fire, Sapper Angel engaged the enemy and drew their fire thus assisting the infantry to locate and silence them. Later when the infantry were hard pressed by counter-attacks, Sapper Angel moved out in his recce. car in full view of the enemy and by engaging them with his Bren gun forced them to go to ground. After replenishing his ammunition he patrolled round neighbouring farmhouses on foot to deal with enemy parties that had infiltrated and later brought forward under gun and small arms fire his unit’s explosives truck which was required for work. Throughout the action Sapper Angel displayed complete disregard for his own safety and his initiative and offensive spirit in co-operating with the infantry were proof of his very fine sense of duty and his determination to carry it out.’ 

James Walter Angel, who was born in Hamworthy, Devon in April 1906, enlisted in the Royal Engineers in January 1940 and quickly saw action in France with the B.E.F. in January 1940. He was evacuated from France on 10th June 1940 probably during  Operation Cycle which was the evacuation of Allied troops from Le Havre from 10 to 13 June 1940, when 11,059 British and Allied forces were evacuated, and followed Operations Dynamo and Ariel.

Having then served in No. 3 Lines of Communication, he was posted to No. 22 Bomb Disposal Company, based in Colchester, in August 1941, where he served until removing to No. 8 Decks Group in July 1943 and then in October, to No. 279 Field Company, R.E. It was in the latter unit that he went out to France on 13th June 1944, seeing action throughout the North-West Europe operations up until the end of the War. Angel was placed on the Reserve in December 1945, the month after he received a £5 LSGC gratuity.  With hand written service details.