Douglas Allenby Rose

 

Douglas Allenby Rose

The first sailor to be buried at Bethel is Douglas Allenby Rose.

Ordinary Seaman Douglas Allenby Rose, who was with Royal Navy, H.M.S. Drake, died on 4^th November 1940, aged 23.

H.M.S. Drake was a shore establishment, situated at Devonport.  It was formally called H.M.S Vivid, was commissioned during the 1890's, and operated until 1914 as a training unit.  1934, it was renamed during 1934 as H.M.S Drake.

Douglas was the son of Charles and Teresa Rose nee. Davies.

Charles was born in Jersey and married Teresa in 1896 at Christ Church, Swansea.  

Charles Rose and Teresa Davies
marriage certificate 
Christ Church, Swansea

Following their marriage, at the time of the 1901 Census, were residing at 113 Western Street, Swansea.  Charles, 34, who was Journeyman Plasterer, and Teresa, 24 had two children, Olive, 3, and 3-month-old, Myrtle.

1901 Census

In the following decade, the 1911 Census, Charles, 44, and 34-year-old Teresa, were running the Vivian’s Arms, Ferry Side near the Town Hall, Swansea. children present are, Olive, 13; Myrtle, 10; Ivy, 8 and Maxwell, 7.  Charles’s widowed mother-in-law, Grace Davies, 65. Also, residing at the address. 20-year-old Mary Bresner, the servant is also present on Census night.

1911 Census

Douglas was born in 1918.  At the time of the 1921 Census, Douglas who was known as Allen, was 3 years old and was residing at 50 Bathurst Street. 

Allen was the youngest child of Charles and Teresa.  Charles, 55, not only was he the publican but he also had his own Plastering account.  Teresa, 44 undertook the Home Duties.  Their daughters Olive, 23; Myrtle, 20 and Ivy, 19, were employed by Charles as barmaids. Their sons were Maxwell, 17; Lionel, 7 and Allen.  Also present at the address on census night was Charles’ brother-in-law, John Davies, 38, who was unemployed.

1921 Census

1888 - 1913 OS Map

Modern map OS Map

50 Bathurst Street was the London Hotel.  During the 1980s, properties situated on both Bathurst Street and Sloane Street were demolished and the land was used for the building of the Council buildings.

Charles Rose died in 1924.  

Before the outbreak of the Second World War, Douglas was employed by Messer Gregor Brothers, timber merchant, and was a member of St. Marys church, and the Y.M.C.A.

Western Morning News
8th November 1940

South Wales Daily Post
6th November 1940

In early 1940, Douglas joined the Royal Navy.  In October 1940, Douglas came home on leave and returned to his depot, where he was one of the 27 victims of the Norton Fitzwarren rail crash.  The accident occurred at 3.47 am on the 4^th of November 1940, between Taunton and Norton Fitzwarren, when the driver, Percy Stacey, of the train, misunderstood the signalling and track layout, causing him to drive the train through a set of points and off the rails at approximately 40 mph.

Douglas Allenby Rose
Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapelyard
credit - findagrave

South Wales Daily Post
11th November 1940

Douglas's body was returned to Swansea, where his funeral was on the 11^th of November, 1940, with a service conducted at St. Marys and burial at Bethel.  There isn’t a military headstone at his grave.