To continue the celebrations of our Centenary Year, the Welsh Guards WG and the Pontypridd community will commemorate the life and courage of Sgt Robert Bye VC on Friday 10 July 2015 with a memorial service in Pontypridd Park Garden of Remembrance at 1200hrs to which everyone is invited.

We are hoping for a good turnout to honour this exceptional man, so do come along if you can and bring your friends and family with you. The Welsh Guards choir will be in attendance and a stone will be laid in the memorial garden to commemorate Sgt Bye. It is also hope that some member of his family will be at the service.
Robert James Bye VC (12 December 1889 – 23 August 1962) was the first Welsh Guards recipient of the Victoria Cross, the highest and most prestigious award for gallantry in the face of the enemy that can be awarded to British and Commonwealth forces.
Robert Bye was born in Pontypridd and went to Penrhiwceiber Primary school. The school recently held a special assembly in his honour– attended by four serving Welsh Guardsmen – and the pupils have created a wonderful mosaic depicting Bye on the battlefield.

You can read about the visit to the school here.
He was 27 years old, and a Sergeant in the 1st Bn Welsh Guards when World War 1 broke out. He was fighting in the Third Battle of Ypres at the Yser Canal, when the action took place 31st July 1917. The details of the heroic courage he displayed which earned him the highest honour the military can bestow can be read in the citation below.

“For most conspicuous bravery. Sgt Bye displayed the utmost courage and devotion to duty during an attack on the enemy’s position. Seeing that the leading waves were being troubled by two enemy blockhouses, he, on his own initiative, rushed at one of them and put the garrison out of action. He then rejoined his company and went forward to the assault of the second objective. When the troops had gone forward to the attack on the third objective, a party was detailed to clear up a line of blockhouses which had been passed. Sgt Bye volunteered to take charge of this party, accomplished his object, and took many prisoners. He subsequently advanced to the third objective, capturing a number of prisoners, thus rendering invaluable assistance to the assaulting companies. He displayed throughout the most remarkable initiative.”