Talking Stones (Mumbles)

This month Talking Stones is looking at three military headstones in All Saints Church, Oystermouth and Oystermouth Cemetery.

In the last Bank Holiday, under the gaze of the gargoyles on All Saints I took the photographs used in this article.

First stop, however, is the Waterloo Stores (right), 2 Western Lane to see what connections we find.  The Waterloo Stores opened in 1862, and was a bottling and wine and spirit store with a public on-license, the licensee was George Bradford.  In 1869 the premises held an inquest into the death of 14-year-old Martha Colston, daughter of Rev. Colston of Thistleboon House. Martha had died drowning at Rotherslade Bay.  The second licensee was a Yorkshire man, Charles Gelderd.  Prior to this role, Gelderd was an Engine Fitter.

The first grave we look at is that of Lieutenant Elic Louis Joliclere, aged 25, who died in June 1873.

Joliclere was a French teacher who taught and was a resident at Thistleboon House.  Joliclere was the son of a Parisienne banker and served with the French Army in the cavalry regiment where he saw action for 3 years at Cochin, China, and was injured in the knee. He returned to live with his father until December 1872, when he went to stay with friends in England.  Falling out with them, he came to Mumbles.    When he first arrived Joliclere, who spoke very good English was quiet and didn’t know anyone.  Soon he formed numerous acquaintances, but was fond of drink and became very drunk, but he didn’t show it.  He hired a horse and rode it around Langland Bay.  A few days prior to his death he made a comment that he would travel back to France, and he also handed out a number of small ornaments.  On the Wednesday evening Joliclere who seemed to have been in low spirits, asked one of the pupils to fetch a bottle of sugar and whiskey.  The following morning, Mr Mortimer, assistant schoolmaster entered his bedroom where he found Joliclere undressed and unconscious. A Dr Bevan was called and Joliclere died later that morning. A post-mortem was carried out at Swansea Hospital, where it was found that his stomach contained dark fluid, however it was not laudanum.  The druggist, Mr Griffiths had records that stated that “laudanum” or “opium” had been ordered.

At the inquest regarding Joliclere’s death, coroner Mr Strick returned the verdict of “……..deceased committed suicide while in a state of temporary insanity”. Was it actually suicide or misadventure, something we will never know. The inscription on the headstone in French reads Priez Pour Lui – Pray for him.

The second headstone (right) is that of 52-year-old Dr John Wallace, who died in November 1878, and is buried close to Thomas Bowdler who we covered in Bay in March this year.  The headstone, which has weathered over time, was erected by his widow.  The inscription states that Staff Surgeon Wallace, had served with distinction in the Chilean War and he was also present at the Battle of Inkerman and the Storming of Sebastopol.  Wallace died at his residence in Claremont Villas, but the aforementioned Charles Gelderd was present at his death.

The third headstone is 40-year-old Lieutenant Colonel George Hunt Holley who died in April 1882.  The headstone inscription states that Hunt Holley was the 3rd son of James Hunt Holley of Oaklands, Devon.  Hunt Holley served with the 101st Fusiliers.  The Regiment was raised during 1652 as part of the East India Company and British army and lasted until 1881, when changes were made with the Childers Reforms.  However, the mystery is why was Hunt Holley residing in Mumbles?  A year earlier on the 1881 Census, Hunt Holley, was a retired Major, head of the family and living in Herefordshire.  He left a will worth £1,161 3s 6d (£76,800) to his brother and not his family.

Going back to Charles Gelderd.  Oystermouth Cemetery, covering 28 acres was opened 1883.  The first burial was 23-year-old Alfred Gaston Gelderd, the son of the above.  Gelderd was a Wine Merchant dying at the Waterloo Stores.  Unlike the others there is no headstone at his grave.

 Copyright - The Bay Magazine, October 2022