Sergeant John Regan was born in Penarth on 1 May 1882. He enlisted as a volunteer to fight in the First World War. At the time he was called away he was the father of a large family of four boys and a girl. His wife was also expecting another child, who was born on 6 May 1916 while John was preparing to cross over to France. Sadly, he never had the chance to meet his youngest daughter. He was killed in action on 31 July 1916. He was buried at Peronne Road Military Cemetery near Maricourt on the Somme, close to the spot where he died.
After the war, Glamorgan Royal Garrison Artillery erected a memorial to their lost comrades in St John's Church, Cardiff. Here is a copy of the Order of Service belonging to Sgt John Regan’s wife. Of the 69 names on the memorial, 18 are recorded as serving with 113 Siege Battery. Of those serving with 113 Battery, 5 are known to be from Penarth.