Great War Centenary 19 14-19 18 201 4-2018
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HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICE THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY 19 14-19 18 201 4-2018 LED BY IWM LEST WE FORGET REMEMBERED WITH PRIDE IN 2 01 5 THOSE WHO DIED IN 191 5 LEARN • ENGAG1 E • REMEMBER THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 5 INTRODUCTION 1915 marked the first full year of the were wounded. This arises in the First World War. As will be seen context of our families, our from the summary of the year which communities and policing. Second, is appears in this booklet, it saw a the impact which the War had on our number of attempts by the Allies to world: its effects are still resonating break the deadlock of trench warfare down the years to our own day, which had developed on the Western particularly in the Front, including the costly Battle of Middle East. Loos when several police officers Last year we marked the centenary from our predecessor forces were of the commencement of the war killed, including six on the same day - with a booklet which sought to 27th September. provide some context and It was also a year which saw the background and details of those who Allies attempt to force Turkey out of had died during 1914. It has been the war resulting in the terrible very well received and many copies fighting and loss of life on the have been distributed to individuals, Gallipoli peninsula where a including relatives of some of those Glamorgan police officer lost his life. who died, and organisations. At the Second Battle of Ypres the Germans used poison gas on the In this year’s booklet, in addition to Western Front for the first time and profiles of those who died, we have the British responded in kind at the other sections which we hope will be Battle of Loos. Both were precursor of interest. We have produced a events to even more terrible separate booklet to mark the technologies of war in the shape of centenary of the Welsh Guards and atomic bombs and other weapons, the close connection between our later in the century. predecessor forces and it during the As we look back over the span of First World War. 100 years it is important to consider We hope to be able to produce why we remember these events so similar booklets for the remaining long ago. There are, it seems to me, years of the centenary so that two main reasons. The first is the together they will be a lasting tribute sense of connection which we still to all those who served and, feel for those who served and especially, to those who made the especially for those who died or ultimate sacrifice. WE REMEMBER THEM ALL WITH PRIDE. YN ANGOF NI CHANT FOD. Peter Vaughan QPM Chief Constable, South Wales Police 1 THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 5 FIRST WORLD WAR PROJECT GROUP The Group has continued with its • In recent months, wreaths, with work of researching the history of inscriptions signed by the Chief our predecessor forces during the Constable, have been laid on war and, in particular, the personal behalf of the Force to remember stories of those police officers who those former officers who have served in the armed forces at that no known grave and are time. The following is a summary of commemorated on the Loos some key areas of activity: Memorial in Northern France and at the Thiepval Memorial • The total number of deceased (this included PC Perkins). A officers recorded on the further wreath was laid at the Memorials of the Glamorgan, Welsh Dragon Memorial at Cardiff, Swansea and Merthyr Mametz Wood to specifically forces is 90. However, we have remember the former officers now identified two more killed there in July 1916. In Glamorgan officers who are not addition, remembrance crosses shown on the Headquarters War have been placed on graves in Memorial. One is PC Arthur France, and also in Wales, on the Richmond Perkins of Maesteg graves of PC Trott at Porthcawl, who served with the Welsh PC William George Mathias of Guards and was killed in action the Glamorgan Constabulary and on 10th September 1916. He is the Welsh Guards, buried in commemorated on the Thiepval Fishguard, and PC William Jones Memorial to the Missing of the Thomas of the Glamorgan Somme. The other is PC Frank Constabulary and Welsh Guards, Trott of Porthcawl who also buried at St Edeyrn’s Church, served with the Welsh Guards Llanedeyrn, Cardiff. In this way, and died on 11th November out of the total of 92 identified as 1918. He is buried at St John’s having been killed in action, died Church, Newton, Porthcawl. of wounds or of other causes, 72 Further information regarding have now been remembered in both officers will be provided in France, Belgium and Wales future booklets. In addition, if we through the laying of wreaths at discover any other officers who memorials or the placing of have been omitted from the crosses on individual graves. We Memorials we will ensure that will continue our efforts so that their details are also recorded in as many as possible of those who due course. died are remembered in this way. 2 THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 5 • A new Vehicle Maintenance researching those who were Facility in Bridgend, which is a recognised for their gallantry. joint venture with Bridgend We hope to follow this up in County Borough Council, has future booklets and we would been named Ty Richard Thomas also like to examine the effect the in remembrance of Police war had on the policing of South Sergeant Richard Thomas of the Wales. Glamorgan Constabulary who • The production of booklets such served in the area prior to the as this is an important feature of First World War. He was a Welsh what the Group does, as is rugby international who played mentioned by the Chief for several clubs in South Wales Constable in his Introduction. including Bridgend. He played in As a Group we believe that by the first international match between Wales and France and remembering the efforts of those was in the Welsh side which won who have gone before us, we are the first Grand Slam in 1908. He able to communicate with our was a Company Sergeant Major communities on something which in the 16th (Cardiff City) means so much, to so many Battalion of the Welsh Regiment people. during the War and was killed in Finally, I would like to take this action during the attack on opportunity to thank the members of Mametz Wood on the Somme on the Project Group for their excellent 7th July 1916. support which is entirely voluntary • Contact has been established on their part. They are: Danny with the families of a number of Richards, Robin Mellor, Peter Wright, the police officers who have died Paul Wood, Daryl Fahey, Coral Cole, and this has been a most Allison Tennant and Philip Davies of rewarding experience. We have the Western Front Association. also been able to assist other In addition, the Force’s Printing individuals with their research. Department has, as always, provided • In addition to remembering those a first class service in producing this who died, we are also booklet and other items. Gareth Madge OBE Chair, First World War Project Group 3 THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 5 1915 A SUMMARY 19TH JANUARY 22ND APRIL Germany begins bombing Britain The start of the Second Battle of through the use of Zeppelin Ypres where the Germans use airships. Great Yarmouth and poison gas for the first time. King’s Lynn are bombed and 25TH APRIL several people are killed and injured. Following the unsuccessful attempt by the Allied navies to 24TH JANUARY force their way through the In the Battle of Dogger Bank, the Dardanelles, the land campaign at Royal Navy sinks the German Gallipoli begins with landings by cruiser, Blucher . 70,000 British, Commonwealth and French troops who meet 4TH FEBRUARY strong resistance from Turkish Germany declares a naval forces. blockade around the coasts of 30TH APRIL Britain and Ireland. From now on Allied and neutral shipping are at PC 251 Bertram Frederick Crees risk of attack by U Boats. of the Glamorgan Constabulary is killed in action near Ypres. 19TH FEBRUARY 7TH MAY British and French warships begin their attempt to force their way The British liner Lusitania is through the Dardanelles Straits by torpedoed and sunk by a German bombardment of the shores. U boat off the coast of southern Ireland. Over 1000 passengers 10TH MARCH and crew lose their lives including The start of the British offensive at 128 Americans which causes Neuve Chapelle in France. There outrage in the United States and are heavy losses and there is much provokes a diplomatic crisis criticism of the lack of between it and Germany. effectiveness of the shells used by the artillery. This leads to the so called “Shell Crisis” which causes serious problems for the Asquith government. R.M.S. Lusitania 4 THE GREAT WAR CENTENARY • 191 5 7TH MAY 31ST MAY PC 119 William Arthur Jones of London experiences its first the Swansea Borough Police dies Zeppelin raid. Seven people are in an accident in Kent whilst killed and thirty five are injured. serving with the Royal Engineers. 4TH JUNE 9TH MAY The fighting in Gallipoli continues. Unsuccessful British offensive at The British losses amount to Aubers Ridge in France. 6,000 men as the Allies attempt to move inland from the beaches. 20TH MAY 6TH JUNE PC 397 William George Mathias of the Glamorgan Constabulary dies 26 people killed and 40 injured in of sickness in hospital in England Zeppelin raid on Hull.