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HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH POLICE THE GREAT WAR: THE AND THE POLICE OF SOUTH WALES

LED BY IWM

LEARN • ENGAG1 E • REMEMBER THE GREAT WAR: THE WELSH GUARDS AND THE POLICE OF SOUTH WALES

Glamorgan policemen from Porthcawl who joined the Welsh Guards: Back row left to right: PC DC Grant, PC WJ Thomas and PC D Hayes. Front row sitting left PC W. Richardson, sitting right PC F Trott. Only PC’s Hayes and Richardson survived the war.

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THE GREAT WAR: THE WELSH GUARDS AND THE POLICE OF SOUTH WALES

2015 sees the centenary of the commemorative booklet for 1915 formation of the Welsh Guards in but in view of the amount of . material which we have available, As will be seen in the pages which we have produced it as a separate follow, South Wales Police’s booklet. predecessor forces of Glamorgan, We hope that it will provide a , , Merthyr and fitting tribute to those policemen Neath had close connections with from South Wales who served the from its formation. with the regiment during the First It had been our intention to World War and especially those include details of this in our who made the ultimate sacrifice.

Gareth Madge OBE Chair, First World War Project Group, October 2015

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The Welsh Guards is the youngest Notwithstanding the existence of of the such formations, Lord Kitchener having been formed in 1915 when expressed a wish to see a it joined the Guards, regiment of Welsh Foot Guards Guards, being raised as well. He clearly and which had been had a firm view of the matter as raised at various times over the emerges from an exchange previous 300 years. between him and Sir Francis Lloyd, commanding the After the start of the First World District, noted by the War in , throughout History of the Welsh Guards in Wales regular reservists and the First World War: members of the territorial forces were mobilised into Welsh “The order to raise the regiment regiments and other units of the was given by Lord Kitchener to Sir . In addition, many Francis Lloyd on February 6th. The actual conversation is so typical of thousands of men volunteered to both men that we give the note, join the New established made at the time by Sir Francis in response to the call from the Lloyd: Secretary of State for War, Lord Kitchener, for sufficient ‘Lord Kitchener, very abruptly: ‘You manpower to fight what he have got to raise a regiment of believed would be a long war. Welsh Guards.’ Sir Francis Lloyd: ‘Sir, there are a Many of these volunteers joined great many difficulties in the way established Welsh regiments such which I should like to point out as the , the first.’ Welsh Regiment and the South Lord Kitchener, very rudely: ‘If you Wales Borderers. Eventually, as a do not like to do it someone else result of the influence of David will.’ Lloyd George, a Welsh , the 38th, was formed which was Sir Francis Lloyd: ‘Sir, when do you to fight with distinction from 1915 want them?’ to the end of the war, taking part, Lord Kitchener: ‘Immediately.’ in particular, in the fierce fighting Sir Francis Lloyd: ‘Very well, sir, at Mametz Wood on the Somme they shall go on guard on and at Pilkem Ridge near Ypres. St David’s Day.’”

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And so it was that, on 26th There was, in particular, a February 1915, King substantial contribution of NCO’s authorised the creation of the and men from the Grenadier Welsh Guards which did, indeed, Guards which had traditionally mount guard at recruited in Wales. Some 200 on 1st March. recruits from the Guards Depot at Caterham also joined the Officers and NCO’s for the new Regiment. regiment came from other Guards regiments and other regiments in At this point it is worth noting that the Army. The first Commanding a number of police officers in the Officer, - Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea, Murray-Threipland, for example, Merthyr and Neath forces were came from the . men who had served in the

The first by the Welsh Guards, , St. David’s Day, 1915. © IWM (69194)

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Regular Army before the war and readied itself for overseas service. were, therefore, recalled to the There was only one on colours as reservists on the active service during the war. A outbreak in August. Many of these second battalion was in due were with Guards Regiments and, course raised but was a reserve or especially the Grenadier Guards, training battalion based in Britain. and transferred to the Welsh Before leaving for , Guards on its creation. however, there were ceremonial After initial training in London, the duties to be attended to. In June 1st Battalion, Welsh Guards, the Battalion was inspected by the

Some of the men who transferred from other Guards Regiments, White City, London, . © IWM (Q67393)

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RECRUITING POSTER

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Lord Mayor of Cardiff who the SS Petersburg to Le Havre presented a cheque from the City where they arrived the following of Cardiff in order that the day. Amongst the first NCO’s to Regiment could purchase drums go to France with the Battalion and other instruments for its band was 283 Ernest and on 3rd August the Battalion Helson, (pictured below) of paraded for inspection before the Number 4 , formerly PC 138 of the King and Queen in the gardens of Swansea Buckingham Palace. Borough On 17th August the Battalion left Police, who, Wellington Barracks, entrained at sadly, was to Waterloo Station and travelled to die of wounds Southampton from where they on 18th July sailed on the SS Palm Branch and 1916.

Detachment of Welsh Guards on first arrival and in new uniform at Chelsea Barracks. © IWM (Q67406)

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The Battalion faced its first offensives of the War and at the action at the in time of the Armistice on 11th September and it was in which claimed the lives of several Northern France. It then marched police officers and their names on foot for over two hundred miles to reach Cologne in appear in the Roll of Honour in where it was based this booklet. During the before it eventually returned to remainder of the war, as part of Britain in . the , the Battalion fought with bravery and By the end of the war the Battalion had suffered 856 men distinction in all the major battles killed and 1755 wounded. It had on the Front including also earned its first the Somme and Ypres. through the bravery of Sergeant The Battalion took part in the final of .

The caption to this postcard reads “Presentation to the City of Cardiff of German Gun captured at Loos by the Welsh Guards, 18th ”

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As far as police officers are the Welsh Guards. The concerned, as indicated, a number Glamorgan Constabulary, in of those who were already in the particular, made a significant army at the time of the formation contribution. of the Regiment transferred to it. It has not yet been possible to In addition, as the war years went identify all the police officers who on more and more police officers served in the Regiment but listed were released by their Chief at the end of this section is a Roll Constables to join the army, many of Honour which records the of them becoming members of names of all those police officers

Welsh Guards in a reserve trench, (Somme) . © IWM (Q4415)

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from our predecessor forces who these people wanted time off to died whilst serving with the Welsh attend any function, it was Guards. There are 33 of them out usually granted if duties of the 92 police officers in total permitted.” who we have identified died When Captain Lindsay retired in during the War. 1937 the branch presented him It is also important to remember with a silver salver. that police officers were often The connection between policing NCO’s in the Battalion and in South Wales and the Regiment carried with them responsibilities continues to the present day. This of front line leadership. Many year our Chief Constable police officers also distinguished attended the presentation of new themselves with their bravery as colours to the Regiment by Her detailed in this booklet. Majesty the Queen at Windsor After the War various Welsh Castle. In addition, the rugby Guards Comrades Associations teams of the Regiment and South were established and the Wales Police this year again played connection between policing in against each other for the Elson South Wales and the Regiment Cup. Lance Dane Elson was particularly evident in the East was killed in action in Glamorgan branch, as a history of in July 2009, and the cup was the Regiment published in 1965 instituted in his memory, his father describes: being a South Wales Police officer. “Captain Lionel Lindsay, MVO, The Welsh Guards has, since OBE, exercised a great influence 1915, continued to serve the over the branch during this country with distinction. We period, being Chief Constable of recognise the endeavours of all Glamorgan and a great friend of those who have served in the our President, though not a Regiment over the years and, in Welsh Guardsman. Nevertheless particular, we remember the he was keenly interested in association which arose between every activity of the branch, it and the police forces of which was made up by the Glamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea, majority of policemen serving in Merthyr and Neath during the the Glamorgan Force, and when First World War.

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ROLL OF HONOUR

BELOW ARE LISTED THE POLICE OFFICERS FROM OUR PREDECESSOR FORCES WHO DIED WHILST SERVING WITH THE WELSH GUARDS DURING THE FIRST WORLD WAR:

PRIVATE 801 EDWARD JOHN EDWARDS Police Constable 576 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 10th September 1916. LANCE SERGEANT 243 JACK RANDALL BIRCH 1348 Police Constable 132 BENJAMIN EVANS Swansea Borough Police Cardiff City Police Killed in action on Killed in action on 8th . 27th .

PRIVATE 1270 DAVID WILLIAM EVANS Police Constable 648 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 27th September 1915. PRIVATE 1214 WILLIAM HENRY CARTER PRIVATE 3704 Police Constable 404 EDWARD PRICE EVANS Glamorgan Constabulary Police Constable 477 Died of wounds on Glamorgan Constabulary 25th October 1915. Died of wounds on 9th . PRIVATE 1330 WILLIAM EAST Police Constable 548 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 6th October 1915.

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PRIVATE 2961 PRIVATE 1331 RONALD EVANS DAVID CHARLES GRANT Police Constable 578 Police Constable 591 Glamorgan Constabulary Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on Killed in action on 1st December 1917. 27th September 1915.

LANCE CORPORAL 719 1672 JOHN FARLEY RICHARD HAMER Police Constable 270 Police Constable 363 Glamorgan Constabulary Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on Died of wounds on 16th September 1916. 12th .

LANCE CORPORAL 1184 AUGUSTUS HARRIS Police Constable 526 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 16th September 1916. LANCE CORPORAL 1343 HERBERT JAMES FISHER Cardiff City Police Killed in action on 16th September 1916.

SERGEANT 283 ERNEST ROBERT HELSON Police Constable 138 Swansea Borough Police Died of wounds on 18th July 1916.

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PRIVATE 103 PRIVATE 1347 ALBERT HOLLYMAN GEORGE HENRY LOCK Cardiff City Police Cardiff City Police Died on 21st . Killed in action on 1st July 1916.

PRIVATE 987 PRIVATE 2013 JOSEPH INMAN REGINALD LOVIS Police Constable 150 Police Constable 57 Merthyr Swansea Borough Police Borough Police Killed in action on Killed in action on 15th . 10th September 1916.

PRIVATE 1380 HENRY MORGAN JONES Police Constable 117 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 10th September 1916. PRIVATE 1210 PRIVATE 1189 WILLIAM GEORGE MATHIAS WILLIAM JONES (MM) Police Constable 397 Police Constable 684 Glamorgan Constabulary Glamorgan Constabulary Died on 20th . Died of wounds on 10th September 1916.

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LANCE CORPORAL 1345 PRIVATE 1246 PERCY JOHN MARKS ARTHUR RICHMOND Cardiff City Police PERKINS Killed in action on Police Constable 77 4th . Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 10th September 1916.

PRIVATE 951 THOMAS VOYLE MORGAN Police Constable 69 CORPORAL 1888 Merthyr Borough Police SIDNEY AMBROSE PHELPS Died of wounds on Police Constable 730 25th . Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 25th September 1916.

PRIVATE 2528 ARTHUR PUGH Police Constable 292 Glamorgan Constabulary PRIVATE 120 Died of wounds on 22nd LEONARD NOWELL September 1916. Police Constable 255 Glamorgan Constabulary Died of wounds on 12th October 1915.

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PRIVATE 1279 PRIVATE 1333 ERNEST LEWIS REEVES WILLIAM JONES THOMAS Police Constable 364 Police Constable 319 Glamorgan Constabulary Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on Died on 13th . 27th September 1915.

LANCE SERGEANT 1245 SERGEANT 242 FRANK TROTT AUBREY ALFRED SMALE Police Constable 324 Police Constable 26 Glamorgan Constabulary Swansea Borough Police Died on 11th November 1918. Died of wounds on 10th September 1916.

LANCE CORPORAL 1385 EDWARD JOHN TAYLOR Police Constable 62 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 8th May 1916. LANCE CORPORAL 1101 WILLIAM JAMES WILLIAMS Police Constable 225 Glamorgan Constabulary Killed in action on 1st July 1916.

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BRAVERY AWARDS

DISTINGUISHED MILITARY MEDAL CONDUCT MEDAL WE REMEMBER BELOW THOSE POLICE OFFICERS FROM OUR PREDECESSOR FORCES WHO WERE RECOGNISED FOR THEIR BRAVERY WHILST SERVING WITH THE WELSH GUARDS IN THE FIRST WORLD WAR.

ALBERT was for “capturing an enemy EVAN blockhouse and prisoners” in JOHNSON . He was wounded during his service on the Western Albert Evan Johnson was Front. After the War he returned to Constable 542 police duties and was stationed at of the Pontardulais for many years before Glamorgan retiring as a sergeant in 1945. Constabulary, who came from Yeovil ARTHUR GEORGE HAM in Somerset and was stationed at Arthur George Ham was originally Gorseinon at the outbreak of war. from Somerset and was a Neath He joined the Welsh Guards as policeman. He became Private 1663 Private 1795 and was eventually in the Welsh Guards and was promoted to Sergeant. He was eventually promoted to Sergeant. awarded the Military Medal for his bravery in, as a newspaper report of He was awarded the Military Medal the time described it, “putting an during his service on the Western enemy gun out of action in a charge” Front and on 28th , the whilst police records state that it London Gazette announced the

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award to him, as a Corporal, of the bearer” on 31st .He was Distinguished Conduct Medal with presented with his medal by the the following citation: Chief Constable of Glamorgan, Captain Lionel Lindsay, at a civic “For conspicuous gallantry and reception for the Glamorgan devotion to duty in an attack. He Constabulary held in Barry on rushed his Lewis gun forward under Armistice Day, 11th November heavy fire and engaged some 1918. He was discharged from the enemy machine guns which were army on 14th due giving trouble. On reaching the to his wounds and was awarded a enemy’s trench he got a captured Silver War Badge in recognition of into action against the fact. the enemy and was of the greatest assistance in organising machine ANTHONY gun teams and getting the guns AUGUSTUS WEST into action. His cheerfulness and Anthony Augustus West was a courage were a splendid example Glamorgan Constabulary police to all.” officer stationed at Port Talbot who, After his war service he returned to after returning to police duties police duties in Neath. following the First World War, became an Inspector in the force. THOMAS During the war he served with the NORGATE Welsh Guards as Private 758. He Thomas was presented with the Military Norgate was Medal for bravery by Captain Police Lindsay at the same civic ceremony Constable 471 in Barry at which Thomas Norgate in the received his medal as mentioned Glamorgan above. After the war he was, for Constabulary and stationed at many years, chairman of the East Gowerton at the start of the War. Glamorgan Branch of the Welsh Originally from Ropley in Hampshire, Guards Comrades Association. he joined the Welsh Guards as WILLIAM JONES Private 1889 on 5th and during his service on the Western William Jones was born in Llangeler Front was awarded the Military near Newcastle Emlyn in Medal. Police records state that it in 1891. The family was for “bravery and devotion to moved to live at Pencastell Farm in duty whilst acting as a stretcher Cymmer, following the re-marriage

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of his widowed mother. He worked reported that he had received it in on the farm until he joined the the following circumstances: Glamorgan Constabulary shortly “...for carrying Lance Corporal E. J. before the outbreak of war at which Taylor, Welsh Guards, who was time he was stationed at Maesteg as mortally wounded, across a fire- Constable 684. He joined the Welsh swept zone into a place of safety. Guards as Private 1189. He was They were comrades in the Police awarded the Military Medal for Force previous to joining the bravery on the Western Front. The Army.” History of the Welsh Guards in the First World War states that on 9th The Lance Corporal Taylor referred to was formerly PC 62 Edward John July 1916, Private West (mentioned Taylor of the Glamorgan above) and Private W. Jones were Constabulary also stationed at presented with their Military Medal Maesteg before the War, who died ribbons by Major General Feilding. on 8th May 1916 aged 26. They were also members of a party, which included Lance Corporal 1245 Whatever the position may have Trott (PC 324 Glamorgan), which been, what is not in doubt is the represented the Guards Division at a bravery of William Jones. Sadly, he parade in on 14th July. died of wounds on 10th September 1916 aged 25. He has no known The “Glamorgan Gazette” for 4th grave but is commemorated on the August 1914 reproduced a letter Memorial to the Missing of from Private W.J. Thomas, Welsh the Somme and on the Glamorgan Guards to a police colleague: Police War Memorial at Bridgend. “Our boys-the Welsh Guards-went DAVID over the top and were very J. EVANS successful. They gained the lines of trenches, and are still holding David J. Evans them. Several were killed and was originally from Bedwas. wounded. P. C. William Jones, of He was a Maesteg, went with an officer into constable in the the German trenches and brought Cardiff City back two prisoners. The officer Police stationed at Cathays Police took his name and recommended Station before he joined the Welsh him, and he now wears the Guards as Private 1360, later being Military Medal ribbon.” promoted to corporal. He was On the other hand, the “Police awarded the Military Medal during Review” for 22nd September 1916 his service on the Western Front.

18 HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICE THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY 19 14-19 18 201 4-2018

South Wales Police is including photographs, currently gathering letters and newspaper information about the coverage from that time many police officers from will be shared online and our predecessor forces of on Facebook. Glamorgan, Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath and To make a contribution Cardiff who served in the please email: armed forces during the policemuseum@ First World War. south-wales.pnn.police.uk We want to ensure we FIRST WORLD WAR uncover as much 5

PROJECT GROUP 4 1 2

information as possible : f

Gareth Madge (Chair), e R about our proud t n i

Danny Richards, Robin r P

history, and the many . t n men who served both Mellor, Peter Wright, e m t r Paul Wood, Daryl Fahey, a the force and their country p e D

to ensure they Allison Tennant, Coral t n i r P

are never forgotten. Cole, together with Philip e c i l o P

All the stories and Davies of the Western s e l a

information collected, Front Association. W

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www.south-wales.police.uk g i s

www.southwalespolicemuseum.org.uk e D LED BY IWM

LEARN • ENGA1G9 E • REMEMBER