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The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to 1919

More: 1919, A Year in the Life of Mumbles >

The Influenza Pandemic of 1918 to 1919

By Carol Powell

2020 has seen a Coronavirus Pandemic which, up until 24th July 2020 has killed 1546 people in Wales, including 12 in the Mumbles, Newton, West Cross, Mayals and Bishopston areas [i] . It seems to have mainly targeted the elderly and those with underlying health problems.

What follows are the stories of several Mumbles people among the victims.

Each one was a tragedy in itself.

The Dunns around the time of the pandemic

One hundred years ago, the world experienced an Influenza Pandemic, which, by contrast hit children and young adults. Wales lost an estimated 11,300 [ii] people, including a number from the Mumbles area. The outbreak lasted from spring 1918 until late 1919. Symptoms included the lungs filling with suffocating fluid, bleeding from the nose and eyes and the skin turning purple. Death could occur within days.

However, as late as August 1918, Dr. Lloyd, Medical Officer of Health for Mumbles, recorded in his report that, ‘Not a single child has died and there were only three deaths – one, a driving fatality, one a natural death, and that of “a temporary visitor, who has died of Flu.” [iii] This was the first local mention of the flu which was about to hit the community.

The Cambrian Daily Leader 21st October 1918 was reporting that, ‘The epidemic is affecting Mumbles seriously: No less than 15 people are lying dead there from its effects. Mumbles Schools are closed and no one under fourteen is allowed to attend a cinema.’ On 26th October 1918, the newspaper announced that Sunday Schools were to be closed. Dr. A Lloyd Jones MOH, wrote on 7th October, in his final report for the Council, published on 28th October[iv], ‘During the seven months there had been seven infantile deaths under one year.’ But by 7th December 1918 [v] ‘Schools to reopen Monday, due to abatement of the epidemic.’

The Cambrian Daily Leader headline on 12th February 1919, read, ’Fresh Epidemic Wave Is Upon Us Again. Not as virulent, but do well to take all necessary precautions’. By the 20th February 1919, the paper announced, ‘The renewed outbreak may be as destructive as the Autumn epidemic.’ In the same edition, ‘The Local Government Board has issued official instruction, ‘For the controlling of Influenza. The golden rule is, “Keep fit and avoid infection as much as possible.”

What follows are the stories of several Mumbles people among the victims. Each one was a tragedy in itself. Some were serving personnel, who died, not in the course of the war, but from the pandemic, others shortly after they were demobbed, and others were civilians.

SWDP, 1918 [xiii]

Benjamin Payne

Alfred Baglow's headstone & signiture

One of those serving in the Forces was Benjamin Payne, of Forgefield Terrace, who died age 28 at Norfolk War Hospital and is buried at Oystermouth Cemetery. [vi]

Another was James Court of Blackpill, who died age 27, on the 17th October 1918, while serving on HMS Beaver. He was buried at Cardonia, Italy. He left a widow, Iris and parents James and Gertrude [vii].

Alfred Baglow of Woodville Road, died of Flu 3rd November 1918, aged 50 at the Canadian Hospital, Bramshott, Surrey and is buried at Oystermouth Cemetery. He was the husband of Emily and father of four children[viii].

Edwin Thomas

Walter Terry

Edwin Thomas of Victoria Avenue, who died at Bologna France, 9th March 1919 aged 34. He left a widow Susanna and parents William and Elizabeth.

Walter Terry, the Vice Chairman of the local branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, was newly demobbed and had only been home a few days, at 41, Woodville Road, when he succumbed to the Flu, on 10th March 1919, aged 30 [ix]. He left a widow, Ruby, and three sons, William and ‘Curly headed twins’, Charles and George [x].

Civilians included A B Livingston, of The Ridge, Mumbles, who had gone to see his son at boarding school, where he had been taken seriously ill. Both succumbed to the Flu. That same week William Jones, a Mason of Mumbles, died of the Flu [xi].

Another was Arthur Denyer, the Landlord of the White Rose public house, who died aged 57 leaving a widow [xii].

Mumbles Press & Gower News booklet, 1908

Noel Boss, Headmaster Pagefield Collage

This last account is not recorded in any newspaper, as it is a family story – my family story. Noel Boss, the headmaster at Pagefield Collage in Swansea, collapsed in the street in Town and was brought home to 1, Promenade Terrace, Mumbles, where he died within three days, on 1st March 1919, leaving a widow and two daughters. On 16th June 1921, his widow, May, married George Bladen and my Mum, Elaine was their only child. Consequently, their descendants are only here because of the infamous Influenza Pandemic of 1918-19.