Names Added to Mumbles War Memorial
Last updated: 17 October 2006
The present War Memorial in Southend Gardens, Mumbles, commemorates the fallen of two world wars on its single plinth, but without their names.
Here John Powell from Oystermouth Historical Association tells us the story of how the memory of the sacrifice made by those men has been revived. And when you've read this visit our online remembrance book.
"Now Mumbles Community Council plans to inscribe the names of the casualties on separate plinths either side of the current granite memorial. The new memorial is due to be unveiled at 11am on the 11th day of November 2006.
"This black and white picture here shows Mrs Ann Hixson, of Newton, whose only son was killed in the Great War, performing the unveiling ceremony of the original memorial at Parade Gardens (as it was then called), 3th July 1939. After the Second World War, the inscription on the Mumbles 1914-1918 Memorial was re-carved and '1939-1945' added.
It bears the inscription:
MUMBLES REMEMBERS
WITH GRATITUDE AND PRIDE
ALL WHO FELL
IN THE GREAT WAR
"A total of 131 names are inscribed on the World War One Roll of Honour and 87 names are inscribed on the World War Two Roll of Honour.
"The names have been compiled from research undertaken by four local men, Tony Cook, Peter Dover-Wade, John Powell and Andrew Vollans, with assistance from Simon Lee and Godfrey Owen James. This information includes several casualties not on the previous war memorials at All Saint's Church.
"Each name researched gradually emerged as a distinct and real person and were supplemented by donations of many photographs, personal memories and newspaper cuttings.
We thank all those who have already supplied us with information concerning Mumbles War casualties. This project could not have been accomplished without your help and knowledge."
"The Vicar of Oystermouth, the Reverent W.D.G. Wilkinson dedicated the grey granite monument and the service concluded with the Last Post and Reveille by the Royal British Legion bugler.
"This was the last memorial to the Great War to be unveiled in the UK. Its dedication took place 21 years after the end of the First World War and within five weeks of Britain's entry into the Second.
"It is sometimes recorded that Mumbles was the last place to produce its memorial, but as we have seen this is a misinterpretation, 'The Shrine' having been in place on the same site, before the Great War ended."
your comments
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Neil Groves Grimsby
Although I'm from Grimsby in Lincolnshire and therefore not local to the area. My grandfather was a member of the crew, of the steam trawler 'Aberdeen' LT 123. He was lost with the ship on 11th March 1941, sunk by enemy aircraft in Cardigan Bay. I would be interested in any further information about the incident or anything related?
Fri Jan 25 11:24:08 2008
Christine Mackie of Toronto, Canada
My mother grew up in Wales. She was a war bride. She used to live at 31 new dock road, Llanelli...Her maiden name was Violet Christine Williams. Her two brothers were Gerald and Ken Williams. Beautifull town.
Wed Nov 28 11:46:02 2007
Stanley Thomas California USA
My brother Sgt Hamilton John Thomas RAF was shot down over Germany in 1943. He did bail out. And was machine gunned to death on his descent. He was the father of Arthur Thomas who lost both legs in an accident while serving in the Swansea Fire Brigade.
Wed Oct 17 12:00:32 2007
Yvonne O'Sullivan from Gowerton
I would just like to advise that Ann Hixson was my great grandmother and it was her YOUNGEST son that was killed in the great war and not her ONLY son. I believe she had at least 4 sons and a number of daughters one of whom was my grandmother.
Fri May 11 09:54:50 2007
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