An Anthropoid In Wales
Superintendent Rees Alwyn Powell OStJ St John Ambulance Brigade and Civil Defence Corps
Rees Alwyn Powell was born on 8th December 1903 in Cwmgiedd, Ystradgynlais, Breconshire, Wales. Son of Tom a Grocer and Tea Merchant and Jane nee Watkins. He was one of nine children, Glyn (1905-07), Elizabeth Bess (1906-67), Elfyn Thomas (1909-75), Arthur Glyndwr (1910-49), Yorath (1911-47), Mary (1913-99), Ellen Nell (1914-2001) and Margaret (1916-17). By 1911 aged 7, he was living with the family at Cwmgiedd, Ystradgynlais and following his schooling some years later, became a miner working at one of the local collieries. During the 1920s Rees joined the St John Ambulance Brigade at Cwmtawe. During the third quarter of 1937 aged 33 he married Elizabeth G Lewis in Ystradgynlais and by 1939 they lived at 17 Glanley Terrace, Rees working as a Colliery Shotsman. At the outbreak of World War II, Rees’ occupation as a miner was reserved, thus he was not called up for service, but worked in the Air Raid Precaution as an Ambulance Driver, linked to his St John work and also in the local Civil Defence, being awarded four war chevrons in 1943. It was during 1943 that Rees’ village, Cwmgiedd was chosen as the location for a Crown Film Unit propaganda short film titled The Silent Village. It was a drama documentary directed by Humphrey Jennings inspired by the Lidice massacre in Czech Republic in June 1942. The film was named one of the top 5 documentaries of 1943 by the National Board of Review. Rees had a small uncredited role in the film. He and others were interviewed at BBC Cardiff a year later to recount their experiences making the film.
Following the war he was awarded the Defence Medal, and in 1946 his St John Service Medal, with further bars in 1951, 45 and 61. He was also awarded the Civil Defence Medal upon its institution in 1961. He rose to the rank of Superintendent within St John, a position he held for 22 out of nearly 50 years total service in the organisation. His unit entered many first aid competitions winning the Coliscum Shield, awarded to the Corps with the highest number of points in the annual St John competition. Rees continued working in the mines, which by 1958 had become the National Coal Board. His St John service continued at the Pwilbach (Ystalyfera) Corps, part of Group, No 9 area of the NCB. In April 1961 Rees successful passed his First Aid Re-examination and again in May 1974 aged 70. For his loyal service he was appointed a Serving Brother of the Order of St John on 24th February 1965. Rees moved to the Ystradgywlais unit and in 1969, sent his resignation from St John to the Deputy Commissioner, but was asked to continue in post until a replacement could be found which he agreed to do. During 1973 he was placed on the retirement list, but still ‘holding the fort’ at Ystradgywlais. In 1971 and 72 Rees and Elizabeth visited Cpl Powell, whose relationship is unknown, possibly a son, at RAF Wildenrath in Germany. In later years Rees lived at 12 Heol Maesydre, Ystradgynlais, Powys. He was appointed a Serving Officer of the Order of St John in the London Gazette dated 25th April 1972. Rees wrote a letter not long before his death, in which it seems some of his previous communications may have gone astray, including a request for long service bars to his St John Service Medal, which may explain why he was only awarded three, when it seems he would have been entitled to at least five or six. Rees died on 22nd June 1975 at Ystradgynlais aged 71 and left £9000.00 in his will.
Click here to see more pictures of Rees Alwyn Powell.
Click here to see more pictures of Rees Alwyn Powell.
The Story The medals awarded to Rees Alwn Powell were acquired from Norman W Collett’s web site on 12th January 2019. They were of interest because of the unusual sub-story and Rees’ uncredited appearance in the Crown Film Unit production The Silent Village, this linking to Operation Anthropoid in 1942 and the assassination of Reinhard Heydrich. They also happened to be a double long service group, sitting comfortably within this collection. From the paperwork that came with the group, The Order of St John Archives and Ancestry.UK a biography was built up of Rees, and once again a man who serviced his country, spending many years working in the mining industry and voluntary service with the St John Ambulance Brigade helping others, is recorded for history.
Click on the above screenshot to watch The Silent Village
The Crown Film Unit was an organisation within the British Government's Ministry of Information during the Second World War. Formerly the GPO Film Unit it became the Crown Film Unit in 1940. Its remit was to make films for the general public in Britain and abroad. Its output included short information and documentary films, as well as longer drama-documentaries, as well as a few straight drama productions. The Crown Film Unit continued to produce films, as part of the Central Office of Information, until it was disbanded in 1952.
Medal Details:
- Serving Officer of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
- Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Civil Defence Medal: Unnamed as awarded.
- Service Medal of the Order of St John: Unnamed as awarded.
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This page last updated 15 Aug 19