St. Mary's church, Pennard - First World War Memorial

 

St. Marys church
Pennard
First World War Memorial
credit - Imperial War Museum - War Memorials Register

 Imperial War Museum

The Imperial War Museum has created an online War Memorials Register.  This comprehensive national database of all UK war memorials and the names of those that are commemorated on the memorial.

Not only does the register commemorate those from the army forces, but also civilians and animals from conflicts that have been died/killed during warfare.

Sir Alfred Mond

The Imperial War Museum was founded during 1917, by Liberal MP and First Commissioner of Works, Sir Alfred Mond, who wrote to the Prime Minister, David Lloyd George.  The proposal was accepted by the War Cabinet during March and later that month an announcement was made in The Times.  A committee was established and Mond was to oversee the collection of materials that was to be exhibited in the museum.

The museum, was opened at Crystal Palace on 9^th June 1920 by King George V. 

So, using the register there are 283 memorials situated around Swansea. Using this register, there are 6 memorials situated around Pennard.  The First and Second World Wars memorials, within the church also in the church are the A. W. Vivian memorial window also the commemorations on family graves to J. S. Reid and D. J. Sparks, situated along Vennaway Lane is the Stone of Remembrance. 

This first blog will give more details of those commemorated on First World War memorials, using information from the various census records and information provided by the Commonwealth War Grave Commission.

First World War

Edgar Beynon

Private Edgar Beynon served with the 10^th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers Died from Wounds on 18^th June 1917, aged 24.  Buried at Duisans British Cemetery, Etrun, France.  He was the son of Thomas and Anne Beynon, of Green Lane Gate, Parkmill.

Thomas Beynon and Ann Eaton were married at St. Marys church, Pennard on 8^th October 1874.  Both of were of Full Age and Thomas’s occupation is Labourer and they both came from Southgate.  Neither Thomas and Ann couldn’t write, and they marked the marriage register with a X.

Thomas Beynon and Ann Eaton
Marriage Certificate
St. Marys church, Pennard

By the time of the 1881 Census, Thomas, 31 and Ann, 27.  Ann was born at Liverpool, were residing at Brynselway, Pennard.  By this time, they had 3 daughter, Elizabeth Ann, 5; Mary Jane, 2 and Rosina, 1. 

A decade later, 1891, Thomas, 41 and Ann, 36 are residing at Green Lane Gate.  One of the daughters is still at home, Rosina, 1 and George, 9.

1891 Census

1901 Census, Thomas, 52 and Annie, 47 are still residing at Green Lane Gate.  Rosina and George have moved on, however, Edgar, 7 and John R. E. Williams, 13, nephew of Thomas are living at the address.

1901 Census

1911 Census, George, 29 and his wife, Annie, 24 have moved back to Thomas and Annie at Green Lane Gate.  So where is Edgar?  There is no information relating to Edgar in the census, the next record is his Attestation Papers, when he signed up on the 10^th September 1914.  Edgar served initially with the Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry.

1911 Census

Attestation Papers

Ralph Lewis Morgan

Second Lieutenant Ralph Lewis Morgan
Essex Farm Cemetery,
Belgium
credit - findagrave

Second Lieutenant Ralph Lewis Morgan served with the 3^rd Battalion, Welsh Regiment, attached to the 13th, was Killed in Action, on 14^th January 1917, aged 29 years. Buried at Essex Farm Cemetery, Belgium.  Son of Joshua and Matilda Morgan.

Joshua Morris Morgan and Matilda Lewis were married at St. Peters church, Carmarthen on 2^nd February 1880.  Joshua having been of Full Age and Matilda just 20 years old.  Joshua’s occupation is listed as Banker.

Joshua Morris Morgan and Matilda Lewis
Marriage Certificate
St. Peters church, Carmarthen

1881 Census, Neath born Joshua and Carmarthen born Matilda are residing at 54 Sketty Road, Swansea. Joshua is a Bank Manager.  Also present is daughter Mary Cicely who is under 3 months old and a Servant, Margaret Davies, 30.

1881 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census, Joshua and Matilda have moved to 8 Church Park, Oystermouth with their large family.  Joshua’s occupation is listed as Bank Cashier. Children present are Cicely M., 10; Hugh Lewis, 8; Edith, 6; Ralph L., 3 and Agnes, 1.  Eleanor Lewis, 25, Matilda’s sister and two servants, Maria Davies, 27 and Annie Davies, 19 are also residing at the property.

1891 Census

1895, Joshua died aged 55 years.

Now widowed, Matilda at the time of the 1901 Census is living at 5 Langland Road. She is living on Own Means.  Present with her are children Mary A., 20; Hugh Lewis, 18; Edith, 16 and Margory, 8.  By this time Ralph has moved.

1901 Census

This is where the connection with Pennard fits into place.  At the time of the 1911 Census, Matilda, 50 is living at Hillcrest, Bishopston.  Present with her are children Agnes, 21 and Mark Winfen, 19, whose occupation is listed as Bank Clerk.

1911 Census

1911, Ralph, 23, is a visitor at Bernard Hubert Patch household, Pusey Rectory, Faringdon, Berkshire.  Ralph’s occupation is listed as Marine Engineer.  

1911 Census

Prior to his enlistment of August 1915, Ralph, returned from the Strait Settlement.  

The Strait Settlement was a group of British territories located in Southeast Asia.  Originally established in 1826, as part of the territories controlled by the British East India Company then came under the control of British Raj in 1858 and then under the British control ass a Crown Colony in 1867, lasting until 1946.  Following the end of the Second World War, the colony was dissolved as part of Britain's reorganization of its Southeast Asian dependencies in the area.

Ralph who gazetted into the Welsh Regiment December 1915, was only firing line for 2 days, when he was killed by a shell.  His death was published in the 23^rd January 1917, The Cambrian Daily Leader.

The Cambrian Daily Leader
23^rd January 1917

David James Sparks

Private David James Sparks
Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension
France
credit - findagrave

Private David James Sparks served with the 14^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment was Killed in Action on 8^th August 1918, aged 24 years.  Buried at Harponville Communal Cemetery Extension, France. He was the son Albert and Ann Sparks, Kittle.

Albert Sparks and Ann Jones were married at St. Marys church, Pennard on 26^th January 1893.  Albert was 20 and Ann, 22. Both were residing at Pwll Du. Albert’s occupation listed at Labourer.

Albert Sparks and Ann Jones
Marriage Certificate
St. Marys church, Pennard

At the time of the 1901 Census, Somerset born Albert, 28 and Neath born Ann, 30 were residing at Kittle.  Albert’s occupation is listed as Quarryman.  Also present at the address are children, David, 7; Walter, 7; William, 2 and Frances, 1.

1901 Census

A decade later, 1911, Albert, 39, now a Road Labourer and Ann, 40, are still present at Kittle.  Present at the address are children, William, 12; France, 11; Lily, 8 and Edith, 5.

1911 Census

David, 17, at this time is employed as a Servant at Market Gardener W. J. Parry, Fairfield, Bishopston.

1911 Census

There doesn’t seem to be any other information regarding to David, when he enlisted into the army.  However, David is commemorated on his parent’s grave at St. Marys.