Dorothy Mary Watson and Robert Ernest Vernede

November 2018, to mark the centaury anniversary of the end of the First World War, Danny Boyle, film and television director, invited local communities to beaches around the country to say thank you and goodbye to those men and women who gave their lives for the cause of the conflict of the Frist World War.

On selected beaches around the country portraits, of an individual who had fought during the conflict were drawn in the sand.  As the tide rose, the said portrait was lost to the sea, and we as a nation, took a moment to say thank you.

The portrait that was drawn on Swansea beach, was that Dorothy Mary Watson.  At the event, cards were given.  Each card had a photograph of a person, who had died and who they served with.

In a series of blogs, and taken some of those photographs, we will see who these people really were.

First question. Who was Dorothy Mary Watson?

Dorothy was the daughter of William and Mary Ann Watson, born 1899 Bristol.

 

 

 

 

 

 

At the time of the 1901 Census, Dorothy aged 2, is residing with her mother, Mary at 4 Whiteway Road, Bristol.  Her mother who was born at Onisburuy, Shropshire has not got an occupation.  Also, living in the house, is two older brothers, Raymond aged 12 and Gilbert aged 3. 

British Census
31st March 1901
4 Whiteway Road, Bristol

A decade later, at the time of the 1911 Census, the family have moved to Swansea and resided at 178 Port Tennant Road, St. Thomas.  Father, William Watson, is head of the family, his occupation is General Labourer.  Dorothy, now aged 12, is an attendant at school.  There is the addition of 3 younger siblings, Arthur Edward, aged 8, William Clifford, aged 6 and Gladys Constance aged 4.

British Census
2nd April 1911
178 Port Tenant Road, St. Thomas, Swansea

 

31^st July 1917, the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele, 19-year-old munitions worker Mary was accidently killed in an Explosion at H.M. Factory, based at Pembrey.

11th August 1917
The South Wales Weekly Post

24th August 1917
The Carmarthen Journal and
South Wales Weekly Advertiser

11^th August, The South Wales Weekly Post publishes and article covering the funeral of Dorothy and Mildred Owen.  24^th August 1917, The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser publish an article Both girls are buried at Danygraig Cemetery and they are also commemorated at the cenotaph on the Swansea sea front.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Robert Ernest Vernede

The first person randomly picked from the cards, from the Pages of the Sea cards is Robert Ernest Vernede.  Robert served as 2^nd Lieutenant with the 5^th Battalion; Rifle Brigade attached to the 12^th Battalion.  He was 41 years old when he died from his wounds on 9^th April 1917.

Robert Ernest Vernede grave
Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Information from the Commonwealth Was Grave Commission website, he is buried at Lebucquiere Communal Cemetery Extension.  His personal inscription reads “Poet and Author”.

Son of solicitor Oscar Vernède and Annie (née McEwen) Vernède; husband of Caroline Howard (née Fry) Vernede of ‘The Paper Mill’, Standon, Hertfordshire, England.  at the time of the 1901 Census, Robert is residing with his family at 119 Landsdowne Road, Kensington. 

British Census
31st March 1901
119 Landsdowne Road, Kensington

A noted poet and author, Robert Ernest Vernède had studied at St. Paul’s School in London, where he proved to be an outstanding student, as well as a sports enthusiast and gifted athlete; his writing and his poetry revealed an impressive and imaginative intellect.

After graduating from St. Paul’s, he continued his studies at St. John’s College at Oxford University.

Later, now an Oxford graduate, he began a career in writing.

Robert Ernest Vernède was quick to volunteer when the First World War broke out; he enlisted in the 19th Royal Fusiliers, a Public Schools Battalion, in 1914, and he became Private Vernède. Later, in 1915, he was commissioned as a 2nd Lieutenant in the Rifle Brigade.

In January 1916, Vernède embarked, with his regiment, for France and the Western Front.

In September of 1916 he sustained a thigh wound, so was invalided back to England for treatment and recovery; that December he returned to France to continue serving with his regiment.

On 9 April 1917, which fell on Easter Monday, Second Lieutenant Robert Ernest Vernède led his battalion in their attack at Havrincourt Wood, not far from the city of Arras. He received mortal injuries during the attack and died on the field.

One of Roberts poems “To Our Fallen” is below

YE sleepers, who will sing you?
We can but give our tears—
Ye dead men, who shall bring you
Fame in the coming years?
Brave souls … but who remembers
The flame that fired your embers? …
Deep, deep the sleep that holds you
Who one time had no peers.

Yet maybe Fame’s but seeming
And praise you’d set aside,
Content to go on dreaming,
Yea, happy to have died
If of all things you prayed for—
All things your valour paid for—
One prayer is not forgotten,
One purchase not denied.

But God grants your dear England
A strength that shall not cease
Till she have won for all the Earth
From ruthless men release,
And made supreme upon her
Mercy and Truth and Honour—
Is this the thing you died for?
Oh, Brothers, sleep in peace!