HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICEswplive.blob.core.windows.net/...2034-The-Great-War... · THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 4 A hundred years ago on 4th August 1914, Britain entered

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HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICE

THE

GREAT WARCENTENARY1914-1918 2014-2018

LEST WE FORGETREMEMBERED WITH PRIDE IN 2014

THOSE WHO DIED IN 1914

LEARN • ENGAGE • REMEMBER

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T H E G R E A T W A R C E N T E N A R Y • 19 1 4

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A hundred years ago on 4th August1914, Britain entered the FirstWorld War following Germany’sinvasion of Belgium.

It was to be a war the like ofwhich had not been seen before.Millions fought and died.

Several hundred police officersfrom our predecessor forces ofGlamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea,Merthyr and Neath served in thearmed forces. In total 90 officersdied. Many were wounded. Somewere recognised for their gallantry.

South Wales Police is committedto remembering the bravery andsacrifice of those who served. Indoing so, we have taken as ourguiding message the words“Remembered with Pride”.

They come from a letter writtento the mother of PC Edwin SamuelBrown, a Cardiff City officer whowas killed in action on 27thSeptember 1918 in northern Franceaged 27. The letter from hiscommanding officer says this:

“No words of mine I know cancomfort you in your great sorrow.God alone can do that. But youhave the consolation of knowingthat he died doing his duty in agood cause, as so many brave menhave done, and we who knewthem shall always remember themwith pride.”As we mark the centenary over

the next four years we will, eachyear, remember all those from ourpredecessor forces who died. Thisbooklet seeks to tell the stories ofthose who died in 1914 and is theresult of extensive research bySouth Wales Police’s First WorldWar Project Group. It is hoped toproduce similar booklets for each ofthe next centenary years.

All of the officers referred towould have played important rolesin their communities. Their serviceas police officers and their ultimatesacrifice during the War deserve tobe recognised. We owe themnothing less than that.

Peter VaughanChief Constable, South Wales Police

WE REMEMBER THEM ALL WITH PRIDE. YN ANGOF NI CHANT FOD.

INTRODUCTION

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The Group was established in orderto enable the Force to participate inthe commemorations to mark thecentenary of the First World War.

It has undertaken extensiveresearch in newspapers, archivesand other records to build a pictureof what it was like to be a policeofficer at that time. It is particularlykeen to explore the personal storiesof those who served in the armedforces, especially those who madethe ultimate sacrifice. However, theGroup also wants to examine whatit was like to police the “homefront” during the years of the Warbearing in mind the impact whichthe enlistment of so many servingpolice officers had on the policing ofthe communities of South Wales.The Group has so far:• Established a database of

information in relation to theofficers who died

• Gathered together informationon other officers and policing

• Produced a leaflet on itsactivities

• Arranged for a wreath ofpoppies to be placed at theMenin Gate at Ypres in memoryof former officers

commemorated on it.• Arranged for remembrance

crosses to be placed on thegraves of a number of formerofficers buried in Belgium andfor the graves to bephotographed.

• Produced articles for the Force’smagazine “Billboard” and mediareleases which have resulted innewspaper and website articles.

• Created a commemorativedisplay for the foyer of PoliceHeadquarters in Bridgend.

• Worked with the Force’s estatesdepartment to have theHeadquarters War Memorialrestored.

• Established links with otherbodies such as GlamorganArchives, the Western FrontAssociation, and local heritagegroups and also with relatives offormer officers.

The Group intends to continue withits work for the remainder of thecentenary so that the history ofpolicing in South Wales during theFirst World War can be exploredand shared with the communitieswhich the modern force serves.

Gareth MadgeChair, First World War Project Group

FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT GROUP

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28TH JUNE

The Archduke Franz Ferdinand,heir to the throne of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and his wifeSophie, are assassinated by aSerbian nationalist in Sarajevo.Austria-Hungary blames Serbiaand the ensuing dispute triggersalliances between Austria-Hungary and Germany on the onehand and France, Russia and GreatBritain on the other whicheventually lead to war.

28TH JULY

Austria-Hungary declares war onSerbia.

1ST AUGUST

Germany declares war on Russia.

3RD AUGUST

Germany declares war on France.

4TH AUGUST

German forces invade Belgium.Britain declares war on Germanyin defence of Belgium’s neutralitywhich it had guaranteed.

7TH AUGUST

the British Army’s ExpeditionaryForce (BEF) of over 80,000 menbegins to cross to France to assistin halting the advance of Germanforces.

11TH AUGUST

posters appear advertising theappeal of Lord Kitchener,Secretary of State for War, forvolunteers to increase the size ofthe British Army. Within twoweeks 100,000 had volunteered.Ultimately there would be over2.5 million volunteers.

12TH AUGUST

Britain declares war on Austria-Hungary.

23RD AUGUST

Japan declares war on Germany.

23RD TO 26TH AUGUST

the BEF engages in its first actionof the war during the Battle ofMons in Belgium. Although forcedto retreat south to Le Cateauwhere it stands and fights itsucceeds in delaying the Germanadvance.

26TH TO 29TH AUGUST

Battle of Tannenberg in EastPrussia where Germany inflictsdefeat on Russian forces.

28TH AUGUST

the first naval action of the war offthe coast of Germany whenseveral German ships are sunk bythe Royal Navy.

1914 A SUMMARY


SEPTEMBER

British and French forceseventually halt the Germanadvance on the River Marne some50km east of Paris. This was thefirst Battle of the Marne or the“Miracle of the Marne” as theFrench described it. Allied forcesthen counter attack and drive theGerman army back to the RiverAisne. The BEF suffer nearly14,000 casualties during theMarne battle of whom some7,000 are killed.

OCTOBER TO NOVEMBER

the so called “Race to the Sea”begins as each side movesnorthwards in France and Belgiumto secure the Channel ports.There are a number of battles andthe trench system which is tocharacterise the WesternFront for the next fouryears stretching fromBelgium to the Swiss borderis developed. During thisperiod there is a fierce andsuccessful battle by the BEFto defend the Belgian townof Ypres (the “First Battle ofYpres”) during which anumber of police officersfrom South Wales died.

5TH NOVEMBER

Britain and France declare war onTurkey which had allied itself withGermany and Austria-Hungary.

16TH DECEMBER

German warships bombard theeast coast of England.Scarborough, Hartlepool andWhitby suffer during the attacks inwhich 137 are killed and manyhundreds are injured.

24TH DECEMBER

British and German soldiers onthe Western Front agree a“Christmas Truce” when thefighting is halted and soldiers fromthe opposing armies meet andexchange things like badges,cigarettes etc.

Mons, Belgium 1914

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24TH AUGUST

PC 90 ALBERTAPPLETONSWANSEA BOROUGH POLICE

Albert wasborn inStaines,Middlesex in1889 to Henryand HarrietAppleton. He became a

regular soldier and served beforethe First World War in India as aPrivate and was a musician in the2nd Battalion of the DorsetshireRegiment.

He eventually left the Armyand joined the Swansea BoroughPolice on 8th March 1913. Heperformed foot patrol duties inSwansea and was stationed atLandore Police Station where healso lived.

Local newspaper reports referto Albert’s activities as aconstable. In one case he arresteda 64 year old woman for stealingfour pairs of shoes from a shop inWoodfield Street in Morriston.Fining her £5 the Court Chairmandescribed her as an “incorrigiblecharacter” due to her previousappearances before the court andher six convictions for larceny.

On another occasion Alberttogether with a colleague rescuedan 11 year old boy from a slag tipnear Morriston after he had beenovercome by fumes from the tip.

In keeping with his previousservice in the Army, Albert was amember of the Police Band,playing the clarinet.

As an Army reservist, Albertwas re-called to serve at thecommencement of war on 4thAugust 1914 and joined the 1stBattalion of the DorsetshireRegiment which was mobilised aspart of the 5th Division of theBritish Expeditionary Force. TheBattalion was then based inNorthern Ireland and on 14thAugust sailed on the SS Antonyfrom Belfast to Le Havre in Francewhere it arrived on the 16th.

The Battalion then took part inthe battle at Mons in Belgiumwhich sought to halt the advanceof the German armies into France.During the fierce fighting whichensued on 24th August amongstthose from the Battalion killed inaction was Albert, who was bythen a Lance Corporal.

He was 25 years of age whenhe died and single although itappears that he was engaged to awoman from Swansea and theyhad intended marrying at the endof 1914.

1914 ROLL OF HONOUR

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In reporting Albert’s death theSouth Wales Weekly Post on 26thSeptember 1914 recalled thatwhen Albert had re-joined theArmy he had “a send off atLandore Police Station.” One ofhis fellow officers had said thatAlbert “would return with theVC”. The report states that Albert“replied with much gusto thatVictoria Cross or no it would be aglorious death to fall fighting thecountry’s cause.” The reportconcluded by saying “Hiscompanions have lost a good pal”.

At its meeting on 29thSeptember 1914 the SwanseaWatch Committee expressedregret at Albert’s death andpassed a vote of sympathy with hisrelatives and appreciation of hisservices.

Albert is buried at theCommunal Cemetery in thevillage of Houdain Lez Bavay inNorthern France. His is the onlyCommonwealth War Grave in theCemetery.

14TH-16TH SEPTEMBER

PC ALBERT MORGAN CAMFIELDCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Albert wasborn atMaindee,Newport andserved withthe CardiffCity Police.He joined 2nd

Battalion, Grenadier Guardsfollowing the outbreak of war. On12th August 1914, the Battalionleft Chelsea Barracks in Londonfor Southampton from where theysailed on the “Cawdor Castle” forLe Havre where they arrived thefollowing afternoon. The Battaliontook part in the Battle of theAisne between 14th and 16thSeptember when it suffered anumber of casualties killed,wounded or missing. It was duringthis period that Albert was killedin action.

The “Glamorgan Gazette” for19th March 1915 reported:

“In addition to its roll of honourcontaining several hundreds ofnames of the old boys who havejoined the colours, the MaindeeBoys’ School, Newport, has alsoa large laurel wreath in the

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school in memory of the old boyswho have fallen. The wreath waslaid in position on St David’sDay, and three cards are alreadyattached in memory of Private A.Camfield, Grenadier Guards,and a member of the CardiffPolice Force, Artificer A. Deacon,HMS Bulwark, and Gunner A.Cronk, HMS Good Hope”.

Albert is commemorated onthe La Ferte-sous-JouarreMemorial to the Missing on thebank of the River Marne near themain road to Paris.

25TH OCTOBER

PC FRANK FORDCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Frank wasborn atGosport,Hampshire on21st March1888, the onlyson of Elijahand Emily Jane

Ford. He was educated at WestMonkton, Somerset before joiningthe Coldstream Guards on 22ndMarch 1906, serving for 7 yearsuntil 1913 when he left the regulararmy but remained a reservist. Hethen joined the Cardiff City Policeand was stationed at Canton inthe city. On mobilisation of the

army in August 1914 he re-joinedthe 1st Battalion ColdstreamGuards landing in France on 30thAugust. By 25th October theBattalion was in the vicinity ofZillebeke and Langemarck inBelgium and during the intensefighting of what has becomeknown as the first Battle of Ypres,Frank was killed in action on 25thOctober 1914. He was 26 yearsof age and single. He iscommemorated on the MeninGate Memorial in Ypres.

1ST NOVEMBER

PC 246 JAMES EDWIN PRICEGLAMORGAN CONSTABULARY

James was born in Hereford andserved in the regular army beforethe First World War. He joined theGlamorgan Constabulary afterleaving the army and wasstationed at Barry and Penarthbefore being re-called for armyservice as a reservist in August1914. He served with the 18th(Queen Mary’s Own) Hussars andlanded in France on 15th August.

A letter which he wrote on25th September 1914 said:

“We are still very busy attackinga strongly fortified Germanposition. We have been here aweek now but I expect they will

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be flying shortly and if they doget routed we shall finish for awhile. Yesterday a shell burst inour trench quite near my sectionand my left hand man wasstruck by a piece of shrapnelwhich shattered his arm, but Icarried him away to the hospitalfrom where he was sent toEngland. He was very bravethrough all the pain he musthave endured. I know God willspare me, for He has broughtme out of some very tightcorners during the past week,especially yesterday when theenemy were firing at us withtheir large siege guns. Sunday isa noted day for fighting. EverySunday since we have been herewe have been hotly engagedwith the enemy. I am writing thisletter in the house which hadbeen previously occupied by theGermans, who took everythingin it, leaving the people withouta bite of food or clothes, but thishas happened in every villageentered by the enemy.

The distress of the people isterrible and the British helpthem as far as possible with foodetc., from their own supplies.”

A Lance Corporal, James waskilled in action on 1st November1914 and is buried at Lille

Southern Cemetery in NorthernFrance.

2ND NOVEMBER

PC 31 THOMASEVANSMERTHYR BOROUGH POLICE

Tom Evans was bornin 1878 at CannonBridge, Hereford.He served withthe MerthyrBorough Police.He was stationed at

Treharris and for anumber of years had been adetective constable at Merthyrcentral police station where hewas also a member of the footballteam. He had previously served inthe South African (Boer) War andhad received the King’s andQueen’s Medals.

Tom enlisted in Cardiff afterthe outbreak of the First WorldWar and after joining 2ndBattalion, Grenadier Guards wentto France on 12th September. He died of wounds, aged 36, on2nd November 1914 and is buriedat Poperinghe Old MilitaryCemetery, Belgium. His gravebears the inscription “Thy Will beDone”. He was married to KateEvans of 15 St. Tydil’s Avenue,Merthyr.

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4TH NOVEMBER

PC 609 WILLIAM JOHN THOMASCARDIFF CITY POLICE ANDGLAMORGAN CONSTABULARY

He was bornat Maindy,Glamorganand enlisted atCardiff. Heserved in theCardiff CityPolice and

then in the GlamorganConstabulary, stationed at PortTalbot. He joined the 2ndBattalion, Grenadier Guards andlanded in France on 13th August1914. He was a sergeant and waskilled in action on 4th November,1914. He is commemorated onthe Menin Gate Memorial atYpres.

7TH NOVEMBER

PC BERT RICHARDCLEMENTSCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Bert was bornon 20th April1892 at BarryDock toWilliam andElizabethClements.

They lived at 30 Brook Street,Barry Dock. Bert’s father hadserved with the King’s Royal Riflesduring the Afghan war and died in1908. Bert was educated at localschools in Barry Dock and workedthere for two years as a PostOffice telegraph boy. He originallyenlisted in the Royal GarrisonArtillery before the war but as hewas an only son his motherobtained his discharge. On 2ndJanuary 1909 he joined theGrenadier Guards at CardiffBarracks and served for threeyears before leaving to join theCardiff City Police on 16thSeptember 1912. He wasstationed at Cathays and playedfor the force football team. At theoutbreak of war he was called upas a reservist and landed in Franceon 22nd August. He served withthe 2nd Battalion of the GrenadierGuards throughout the retreatfrom Mons and at the Battle of theAisne. He was killed by shrapnelat Zillebeke near Ypres on 7thNovember 1914.

The “Barry Dock News”reported Bert’s death on 20thNovember saying:

“The deceased young man wasthe only son of Mrs ElizabethClements, a widow.....and it is apathetic coincidence that just

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at the time when the painfulintelligence was received, themother was preparing a parcelof cakes, sweets, and cigarettesto dispatch to her soldier-son atthe Front.”

The report went to say thatBert “was to have been marriedat Christmas to a Torquayyoung lady.”

On 11th December 1914, the“Barry Dock News” published thetext of a letter which LanceCorporal A Hunt of the GrenadierGuards had written to Bert’smother:

“We know only too well yourfeelings of sorrow. Still youshould be proud of your son. Hewas always a brave man. It wason November 7th, at about3.30pm, that he was killed. Wewere being attacked, and I hadbeen out of the trench.

On coming back I saw somedead Germans, and Clem, yourson, and I watched them forsome time. Clem and I alwaystried to keep together, andwhilst we were re-entering thetrench he stood upright againsta tree. As I was passing-therewasn’t much room-I bent myhead down quickly, and at onceit became covered with dust.I looked at Clem, and could see

he had been hit, but did notknow how badly, until I laid himon the ground.

Then I could see that a pieceof shell from a shrapnel hadstruck him. When I unbuttonedhis jacket and saw a hole aslarge as my fist under his heart, I said to our section, “Clem isdone.” He was killed outright.We all deeply regret his death,for he was such a good comradeand soldier.

I know in time you will behappy to know you had a sonsuch as Clem, to die for hiscountry.”

It seems that Bert and a nearneighbour of his in Brook Street, aPrivate Edwin Durman of theWelsh Regiment, were killedwithin days of each other.

In life they lived on the samestreet; in death they arecommemorated on the samememorial (Menin Gate, Ypres).

In February 1915 the “BarryDock News” reported that Bert’sname had featured at the head ofthe Roll of Honour at the AnnualConcert of the Cardiff City Policeand on 5th November that yearthe same newspaper carried thefollowing “In Memoriam” notice:

“CLEMENTS - In loving memoryof B.R. Clements, the beloved

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and only son of Mrs Clements,30, Brook Street, Barry Docks,who was killed in action onNovember 7th, 1914, atZillebeke, near Ypres-Gone butnot forgotten.”

10TH NOVEMBER

PC 44 ALFREDFREDERICK LEONARDMERTHYR BOROUGH POLICE

Alfred Leonard wasborn in the StPhillip’s district ofBristol in about1890. He was theson of GuyChampion Leonard

of 252 Easton Road,Easton, Bristol. At the

outbreak of the First World Waras a reservist he re-joined 2ndBattalion of the Grenadier Guardsand served with them in Franceand Belgium. He had been aconstable in the Merthyr BoroughPolice and a contemporarynewspaper report describes himas “one of the most popularmembers of the force”, and “aprominent member of the footballteam.” Also on 10th October1914, the “Merthyr Pioneer”newspaper carried the text of aletter to a friend written by Alfredfrom “somewhere in France”:

“We have had a bit of fun outhere, but you have got to “getdown to it”. It is their shells thatare doing the damage, but weare not having many casualties.Syd Herbert (a former memberof the Glamorgan Constabulary)was killed the other week. I am“tumbling in” with a chap fromDowlais.

The enemy is occupying aridge of hills like the Aberdaremountains, and we are, as itwere, at Dowlais, trying to shiftthem. Our guns are not halfdropping them over! It is a finesight, especially at night. I don’tthink it will last long after wehave driven them from thisposition. According to theprisoners we have taken theyare “fed up”, and they “down”their arms and walk into ourlines.It’s like being in Wales tohear the people talking out here,and with regard to money, it’slike going through a medicalexamination every time I go intoa shop.”

The report goes on to say thatPC Tom Evans also of the Merthyrforce, was in the trenches nearby.

Alfred was killed in action on10th November 1914, aged 24.He is commemorated on theMenin Gate Memorial at Ypres.

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10TH NOVEMBER

PC THOMAS LEMUEL JONESCARDIFF CITY POLICE

He was born atCwmrheidol,Aberystwyth,the son ofThomas andAnn Jones ofNant Byr,

Ystumtuan, Ponterwyd,Aberystwyth. He enlisted atBridgend and served with the 2ndBattalion, Grenadier Guards. Hewas killed in action on 10thNovember 1914. He was 21 yearsof age. He is commemorated onthe Menin Gate Memorial atYpres.

12TH NOVEMBER

PC 691 SIDNEYWILLIAM GOODLIFFEGLAMORGAN CONSTABULARY

Sidney was born in Cardiff inabout 1886, the son of JosiahEdward Goodliffe and Sarah AnnGoodliffe of 26 NewfoundlandRoad, Heath, Cardiff. His fatherhad served as a Sergeant Major inthe Royal Garrison Artillery beforethe War.

Sidney joined the army in 1904and served in India and later inSouth Africa and Egypt. On leavingthe army he joined the GlamorganConstabulary and was stationed atPentre in the Rhondda. Sidney hada brother who was a bootrepairer of Cardiff Road,Aberaman. Another brother,Albert, was a sergeant in theWelsh Regiment. As a reservistSidney re-joined the army and wasa Lance Corporal in the 2ndBattalion of the Welsh Regimentwhen he was killed in action on12th November 1914. The“Aberdare Leader” in reportinghis death said that he hadpreviously been wounded twiceand that after he had returned tothe trenches he had been shotthrough the head and killed. Hewas 28 years of age and iscommemorated on the MeninGate Memorial in Ypres.

15TH NOVEMBER

PC FRANK WILLISCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Frank wasborn inMinehead,Somerset, theson of Andrewand AmeliaWillis in about

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1886. He served with the CardiffCity Police and had been stationedat Janet Street in the Splott area ofthe City. At the beginning of thewar Frank joined the ColdstreamGuards and was with the 3rdBattalion when it landed at LeHavre on 12th August 1914.During November the 3rdBattalion occupied trenches atPolygon Wood, Ypres. It was aperiod of intense cold and snowand heavy German sniper fire.Frank was killed in action on 15thNovember. The “AberdareLeader” of 5th Decemberreported his death as follows:

“Sad news has reached theCosmo Club. One of themembers, Mr Frank Willis(Coldstream Guards was killedin action on November 19th*.Mr Willis was a member of theCardiff City Police Force, andaccompanied his regiment toFrance in the early days of theWar. He fought at Mons, theAisne and La Bassee and Ypres.A letter came from him only afew days before his death statingthat he had seen some excitingtimes, and nearly all his palswere either killed or wounded.They were making the trenchescomfortable. He had plenty ofcigarettes, but would like a few

Welsh cakes. These were atonce packed off, as well as goodsocks, etc.

He said that a big battle wasdeveloping, and we understandthat it was the charge of thePrussian Guards that provedfatal to him.

Some of his pals who wereinvalided home said that Frankwas well and in the best ofspirits when they left. Mr Williswas popular at the Cosmo Club.He was a particular friend of MrJoseph Bluett, the Instructor tothe Civil Guard and Old PalsBrigade.”(* the correct date is 15th November)

Frank is buried at RailwayChateau Cemetery in Belgium.On his grave are the words,“Peace Perfect Peace/With LovedOnes Far Away”.

17TH NOVEMBER

PC WALTER JOHNTWININGCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Walter wasborn inSwindon andserved withthe CardiffCity Police. He went to

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France with the 10th (Prince ofWales’ Own Royal) Hussars withwhich he had served before thewar. On 17th November 1914,the 10th Hussars were attackedby a German force whilstoccupying trenches betweenHooge and Zillebeke near Ypres.Walter, a Lance Corporal, was oneof ten Hussars killed during thisaction. The “Cambria DailyLeader” of 23rd Decemberreported:

“Intimation was received by hisfather on Tuesday that PoliceConstable James (sic) Twining,formerly of the Cardiff CityForce, who re-joined his oldregiment, the 10th Hussars, and proceeded to the front, waskilled in action on November17th. Twining was a very capableyoung officer, and as a recruit afew years ago distinguishedhimself in a midnight hunt for aburglar who had broken into theAlexandra Hotel.”

Walter was a member of theCardiff force’s football team andon 4th April 1914 the “MerthyrPioneer” reported that during amatch between it and the MerthyrPolice team which ended in a twoall draw:

“One movement initiated byTwining, who broke through, and

passed to Lock, was deserving ofa score, but Hollyman’s shot hitagainst the Merthyr goalie.”

It is sad to note that in additionto Walter three more of thosewho played in that match were todie during the War: Hollyman andLock (Cardiff) and Leonard(Merthyr).

Walter is commemorated onthe Menin Gate Memorial atYpres.

21ST DECEMBER

PC HENRY ERNEST JAMESCARDIFF CITY POLICE

Henry was born at Cirencesterand served in the Cardiff CityPolice. He went to France on 3rdDecember 1914 and was asergeant with 1st Battalion,Gloucestershire Regiment whenhe was killed in action on 21stDecember 1914. He is buried atthe Guards Cemetery, WindyCorner, Cuinchy in NorthernFrance.

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This Memorial Plaque is now in the Cardiff Bay Police Station

This memorial is in the new Merthyr Police Station

REMEMBRANCE

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The above plaque, commemorating thosefrom the Swansea Borough Police who

died during the First World War, is now inthe Central Police Station, Grove Place,Swansea having been moved there fromthe former central police station atAlexandra Road. It was rededicated bythe Bishop of Swansea and Brecon at aservice held on 26th March 2002.

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The Memorial which now standsin front of the Main Building atforce headquarters at Bridgendcommemorates those membersof the Glamorgan Constabularywho died during the First andSecond World Wars. It originallystood outside Canton PoliceStation in Cardiff when the

headquarters of the Glamorganforce was based there.

The memorial was unveiled byLieutenant Colonel Sir RhysWilliams at a ceremony held on28th November 1925.

THE WAR MEMORIAL

The Unveiling of the War Memorial at Canton Police Station in 1925

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The present headquarters ofSouth Wales Police originallyformed the administrativebuildings of the Royal OrdnanceFactory which operated on thesite during the Second World War.The Glamorgan ConstabularyHeadquarters moved there fromCardiff in 1947.

The Memorial was then alsomoved and was re-dedicated onits present site in 1955.

In conjunction with thecommemoration of the centenaryof the First World War work hasrecently been undertaken torenovate it.

The Unveiling of the War Memorial at Police Headquarters, Bridgend in 1955

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South Wales Police iscurrently gathering

information about themany police officers fromour predecessor forces of

Glamorgan, Swansea,Merthyr Tydfil, Neath andCardiff who served in thearmed forces during the

First World War.

We want to ensure weuncover as much

information as possibleabout our proud

history, and the many men who served both

the force and their countryto ensure they

are never forgotten.

All the stories andinformation collected,

including photographs,letters and newspapercoverage from that timewill be shared online andon Facebook.

To make a contribution please email:[email protected]

FIRST WORLD WARPROJECT GROUPGareth Madge (Chair),Danny Richards, RobinMellor, Peter Wright, Paul Wood, Daryl Fahey,Stephen Routledge, EmmaSainsbury, Allison Tennant,Coral Cole and MichelleCooper, together withPhilip Davies of theWestern Front Association.

THE

GREAT WARCENTENARY1914-1918 2014-2018

HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICE

LEARN • ENGAGE • REMEMBER

www.south-wales.police.ukwww.southwalespolicemuseum.org.uk D

esigned and Printed by South Wales Police Print D

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HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICEswplive.blob.core.windows.net/...2034-The-Great-War... · THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 4 A hundred years ago on 4th August 1914, Britain entered