Cousins Died Together in Normandy

Cpl 3964220 William John Mazzei and L/Cpl 3965467 Alfred Monaghan, both of 1/5 Welch Regiment were cousins from Cardiff.

William John Mazzei lived at 187 North Road, Gabalfa and was the son of William Mazzei and Rose Lilian Shopland.

Alfred Monaghan was the son of Robert Joseph Monaghan and Rosina Mazzei and lived at 67 Constellation Street, Roath.

Their battalion was scheduled to go to Normandy after the initial landings in June 1944 and were billeted in London where they were to take the train to Kent the next morning and then to travel to Normandy.

William and Alfred spent the night at their cousins' house in London.

Their cousin's daughter Valerie, who was aged 7 at the time remembers sitting on one of their laps and finding the khaki very itchy.

Come morning, they both overslept and had to rush to get ready in the morning to catch their train.

Valerie remembers the sounds of their boots running down the street, and that was the last any of the family saw of them.

On 21st July "A" Company of the battalion was at Baron (near Caen) and the battalion diary states the following:

1500: Shell and Mortar fire laid by the enemy on battalion positions was intensified and smoke was laid on our front.

1600: "A" Company, our right-hand forward company, reported that they were being attacked by a company of infantry and four tanks.

1800: A platoon of "B" Company which was holding a left forward position South of the road Croix de Filandriers - Le Bon Repos was overrun by enemy infantry and four tanks.

1930: Two squadrons of tanks which were in support of the battalion went out to the left flank to attempt to get the enemy in enfilade. They were unsuccessful.

2000: "A" Company reported enemy tanks 50 yards from their positions and that they were firing. During this time appropriate targets were being engaged by arty, MMG's and mortars.

2130: "A" Company reported that enemy tanks were within 10 yards of their position and that the enemy was in their immediate front.
There was no further communication by any means from "A" Company.

The whole of "A" Company was wiped out and it is believed both William and Alfred were in "A" Company.

They were both aged 25 (William's grave incorrectly states he was 27).

William John Mazzei is buried in Brouay War Cemetery.

Alfred Monaghan is buried in Banneville-la-Compagne War Cemetery.

Their half-cousin, Fusilier 14574483 Terence O'Keefe 6th Bn. Royal Scots Fusiliers were also killed in Normandy on 11th July 1944 aged 19.

He is also buried in Banneville-la-Compagne War Cemetery.

He was the son of Thomas O'Keefe and Agnes Mabel Jenkins of 6 Caerleon Road, Gabalfa.