Blackpill Memorial 1914-1918
Great War Memorial
Please have any extra details memorabilia or photos? Contact, John Powell: 01792 520540
ROLL OF HONOUR
# BROWN George Trevor Click name for his own page
Lieutenant Royal Flying Corps
Killed in a Flying Accident aged 25 on 12th February 1917
Buried at OYSTERMOUTH CEMETERY (photo)
Son of the John Samuel BROWN, Ironmonger and Motor Engineer and Elizabeth BROWN (stepmother Emily E. BROWN) of 'Oakleigh', Blackpill, Swansea. He had an older brother Arthur Percy b. 1890 and a sister Averill 7 years younger
Research suggests that 'Oakleigh' was situated near the lower part Derwen Fawr Road, near Blackpill
George was born in Swansea in 1892 and before joining up he was an apprentice Ironmonger at his fathers, long established business at 20-21 Oxford St, Swansea (S .J. BROWN’S)
He joined the Glamorgan Yeomanry at the outbreak of the war and later obtained a commission in the Welsh Regiment. He afterwards joined the Royal Flying Corps,
There were impressive scenes at his Mumbles Funeral. A firing party attended, as well as a squad of men from the Shropshire Regiment The coffin was draped with the Union Jack and conveyed from the house on a gun carriage drawn by two horses.
An extract from the book, 'Wales and the First Air War 1914-1918,' by Dr Jonathan Hicks.'Mr J.S. Brown, a well-known Swansea ironmonger and motor engineer; has received information that his youngest son, Second Lieutenant George Trevor Brown, was killed on Monday while flying over Salisbury Plain. It is understood he met his death while engaged in testing a machine. He only left home for duty last Saturday.
He joined the Glamorgan Yeomanry at the outbreak of the war, and later obtained a commission in the Welsh Regiment. He afterwards joined the Royal Flying Corps, He was 23 years (sic) of age'
Click name for his own page
Engine Room Artificer, 1478/EA
Royal Naval Reserve, H.M.S. Beaver (photo)
Died of Influenza aged 27 on 17th October 1918
Buried at BARI CEMETERY, CARDONIA, ITALY
Wife, Iris Court, of Blackpyl [sic]. Son of James and Gertrude Court.
HMS Beaver was an Acheron-class destroyer of the Royal Navy that served during the First World War and was sold for breaking in 1921. She was the ninth Royal Navy ship to be named Beaver, after the mammal of the same name
H.M.S. Beaver , Mediterranean service
In April 1918 she was ordered to the Mediterranean, where she was employed in convoy and anti-submarine work. Based at Brindisi, Italy, she participated in the attempted blockade of Austro-Hungarian submarines in the Adriatic. In October 1918 she took part in the bombardment of Durazzo (now Durrës, Albania). When the Ottoman Empire signed the Armistice of Mudros on 30 October 1918, Beaver ferried troops to the Dardanelles and entered the Sea of Marmara before proceeding to Constantinople. From Constantinople, she sailed to Odessa, where civil order was breaking down amidst occupation by both the Imperial German army and the White Russian Army.
Reference:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HMS_Beaver_(1911)
Alfred DAVIES
click for research details
Private, Welsh Regiment
'Swansea Battalion' ‘Of the Mayals’
is inscribed on the back of the photograph
Who is Alfred Davies?
Research into his identity began after
the discovery of this photograph
in All Saints' Church records
ELLIOT William
Private No.1924, 1st Welsh Regiment
Killed in Action on 2nd April 1915, Belgium
Buried at LINDENHOEK CHALET CEMETERY, Kemmel, Ypres. (photo)
Son of James & Ellen Elliot 6, Woodland Terrace, Blackpill
# FABER Stanley Colt Click name for his own page
Major, 47th Brigade, 14th (Light) Division, B.E.F.
Royal Field Artillery
attd. 350th Elec. and Mechanical Coy Royal Engineers
Killed in Action near Beaurains, near Arras, on 30th March 1917
Age 34, Born 1883
Son of the late Revd Henry Milford Faber MA and Mrs Faber of Danby Wiske, Orchard Road
Educated: Malvern College and RMA Woolwich
'In March, 1916, he was promoted Major. He was mentioned in despatches in January 1917. He was spoken of as an exceptionally good Battery Commander.' Malvern College
Buried at FAUBOURG D’AMIENS, MILITARY CEMETERY, Arras, France
Grave Ref: III. M. 13.
The Memorial inscription is recorded as: Major R C FABER RFA
Mumbles Press recorded RGA
Commemorated at Malvern: The Priory Church of St Mary and St Michael
Thomas GREEN,
Awarded the DCM
# GREEN Thomas > Awarded the DCM
Click name for his own page2nd Lieutenant, 105 Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Promoted to 2nd Lieutenant in the field
Died of Wounds aged 29 on 28th October 1916 at BEAUCOURT, The Somme
Buried at BECOURT MIL CEMETERY, France
Husband of Kate Green, of 74, St. Peters Rd., Great Yarmouth.
Son of Thomas Green, of Blackpill, Swansea.
Holder of Distinguished Conduct Medal awarded for conspicuous gallantry to 22489, Sergeant T. Green, for saving three men in shell damaged hut under fire.
22489 Sergent T Green, 3rd Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery,
For conspicuous gallantry, When a garrison hut was hit and set on fire by an enemy shell and some cases of cartridges set on fire, Sargent Green was the first person to enter the hut, and succeeded, sngle handed, in rescuing the badly wounded men.
Notice in the supplement to the London Gazette of 30th March 1906 of the award of the DCM, to Sargent Green on 3rd March 1916.
He was later promoted to second lieutenant on the field.
HARRIS Richard George
Private 296248, 12th Royal Scots Fusiliers
Died, 1st November 1918, France
Buried at LES BARAGUES, MILITARY CEMETERY, Sangatte, Near Calais
Born Brynau, enlisted Swansea.
The 1901 & 1911 Census records that a Richard George Harris lived at 2, Jones Terrace, Swansea and was the son of Richard & Sarah Jane Harris. Richard senior was a joiner.
D R Wyndham JONES
Philosophe British Cemetery
JONES D R Wyndham
Corporal S/2326, 3rd Battalion, Rifle Brigade
Killed in Action aged 24
on 28th December 1916
Buried at PHILOSOPHE BRITISH CEMETERY, MAZINGARBE, France
Between Bethune and Lens
Grave: 11.B.9
The only son of Lewis and Sarah Ann Jones, of 1, Beaufort Terrace, Blackpill, Swansea, the Blackpill Postman.
South Wales Daily Post 12 January 1917
Wyndham worked at the tin sheds on Swansea Docks and joined the colours shortly after the outbreak of war. Some months ago he was invalided home with a bullet would in the leg returning to the front in November [1916]. He was very well known and liked in the district and at one time played for the Mumbles association Football Team.
A letter later received from an officer stated that he had been killed by a German Trench Mortar Shell while leaving the trenches.
NARRACOTT Ronald William
Lieutenant, Royal Engineers
Killed in Action on 10th August 1915 on the WESTERN FRONT
Before joining the army, Ronald was a Mining Engineer, 9 October 1907 was in Brussels. Later he was working for The British Metal Extraction Company, Llansamlet. In 1912, he and his family were living at ‘Gainsboro’, Blackpill
The Medal Roll Index records that he held the rank of Captain,
who first served in France from 12 December 1914, until he was listed Missing.
He left a Widow, Mrs R. W. Narracott, and two children, William Samuel Narracot, born 2 July 1906 , who married in 1963 & died in 1982. Hilda Chedomile Narracot, born 13 December 1910 who married, had three sons and died in 1981.
Thier address was given as Villa Alberte, La Combaz, Montana Vermala, Suisse Valais
The 1891 Census records that he was the son of Samuel aged 33 (born in Devon, buyer in china & glass) & Katherine aged 35 and that the family lived at Ealing, London.
Ronald was aged seven and the eldest of three sons. Grandmother: Emily Bowen, age 66, was a retired Jeweller.
His widow later married an Italian and died in 1969 in Genoa, Liguria
'Able Seaman', Royal Navy,
Died in Neath in 1919 ,after being medically discharged on 5 Feb 1919, due to 'Tuberculosis'
Signed on for 12 years on 22 April 1915 (his birthday) as 'Boy II'
He joined his first ship on 2 Oct 1915, HMS Impregnable
Parents John & Harriet, married in America and moved to Blackpill from Llandrindod around 1902/03. John Williams was born on 22 April 1900 at Llandrindod, Radnor. In 1911 the family is in Blackpill at 4 Mill Lane, where father was now a Colliery Banker. John William, before joining up was 'Gardeners Assistant'
Brother to: Henry 18, Robert 17, Doris 16, Thomas 14, Marie 13
SYMONS Edward
Gunner 194360, Royal Garrison Artillery
Died of Wounds on 25th September 1918 in France
Buried at ST SEVER CEMETERY EXTENSION, France
Son of Mr. & Mrs. Symons, of 3, Mayals Cottages, Blackpill.
Born Barnstaple, enlisted Swansea.
According to 1911 Census, Edward Symons was a farm labourer living at Mayals Green with wife Edith (nee Norman) and daughter Jessie b. 1909. Edward and Edith were from around Barnstaple, born 1887 & 1888 respectively, and were married in Barnstaple district in early 1909. Arriving in Blackpill shortly before 1911.
South Wales Daily Post, 24 September
Gunner Symons is dangerously ill from wounds and the effect of gas, and permission cannot be granted for the parents to visit him.
South Wales Daily Post 27 September
Gunner Symons, previously reported wounded, is now dead. He formerly worked as a gardener in the Mayals
THOMAS John (Jack) Charles
Private 17352, 14th Welsh Regiment, Swansea Battalion
Died of Wounds on 10th July 1916 at MAMETZ WOOD, Somme
Remembered on the THIEPVAL MEMORIAL, France
Son of Mrs. Francesca Thomas, Mill Lane, Blackpill.
Born Blackpill, Enlisted 1914 in Swansea.
South Wales Daily Post 10 August 1916
. . . There is every reason for fearing that Pte J. O. Thomas, Mill Lane, Blackpill, also of the Welsh Regiment, is killed. His sergeant wrote a letter to Mrs Thomas, and said that Jack had been wounded badly in the legs by a bomb as he was entering the {Mametz] Wood, and he was then missed. . .
From The Welsh at Mametz Wood by Jonathan Hicks
Three 'Men of Oystermouth Parish' were killed on the same day at Mametz Wood
John THOMAS, Samuel GAMMON and George WALTERS
From research undertaken by
Tony Cook, Peter Dover-Wade
John Powell, Andrew Vollans and John White.
Oystermouth Historical Association
With contributions from
Bill Barrington
Commonwealth War Graves Commission
Blackpill History Society
Charles Wilson-Watkins, Swansea War Dead -First World War
We thank the families of many of those listed
who have contributed photos and memories
LEST WE FORGET
If you have any additional details, or a photo, which you would like included -
please contact me, John Powell at - 01792 52054