Remebrance




My research over the past few years, has uncovered that 2,388 men from Swansea, were killed during the First World War.

Here’s the breakdown:

Royal Navy – 168

Mercantile Marine – 72

Royal Flying Corps/Royal Air Force – 16

The British Army is broken down into five

distinctions which are:

Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea – 548

Born at Swansea – 264

Resident at Swansea – 301

Enlisted at Swansea – 913

Swansea Officers – 78

and finally Swansea men that fought with Foreign Armies – 28

For further information on the Army look at the footnote[1].





kind permission Commonwealth War Grave Commission 
One would think that the final figure would be set in stone, but recently more names of men who perished during the course of the First World War have come to light. Whilst doing some research I stumbled on the name, James Carne, a 30 year old fireman who served with the Mercantile Marines on board S.S. Lusitania, sinking on 7th May 1915, torpedoed by U-20. James came from Swansea, although he lived in Liverpool. Three serving men from Swansea died on the S.S. Lusitania. James’ record card from the Commonwealth War Grave Commission is pictured (above right) , noting the NB. His name will be added on the Addenda Panel, Tower Hill Memorial, London.



I was informed by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission (CWGC) that information concerning the men’s details came from the In From The Cold Project.
The In From The Cold Project, which was established in 2001, painstakingly search records of those men who do not appear on the CWGC records. A case is submitted with various pieces of documentation including a death certificate and is sent to the CWGC; then it is a waiting game of anything from 6 months to 2 years for a case to be determined by the relevant departments.

Some of the Swansea men who are still yet to be remembered include Tudor Emlyn Jones who is buried at Cwmgelly Cemetery, Samuel Brooks buried at Danygraig Cemetery, Stanley Griffiths, Thomas William George and George Henry Downer. If anyone recognises these names, do get in touch.



[1]. Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea – Man is from Swansea; Born at Swansea – Man can have enlisted elsewhere than Swansea; Resident at Swansea – Man who is born elsewhere, and is resident at Swansea yet could have enlisted elsewhere, and – Enlisted at Swansea – Man has come to Swansea to enlist.



Copyright – The Bay Magazine – June 2018

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