Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun

Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun: The First War Casualty Buried at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel

Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun

Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun, known as Kenneth, was the first war casualty to be laid to rest in the grounds of Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel, Sketty. His short life, from his childhood in Mumbles to his commission in the Welsh Regiment, reflects both the promise and the tragedy of a generation shaped by the First World War.

Early Life

Born in 1894 in Mumbles, Kenneth was the son of John Colquhoun, a Scottish-born iron and mineral merchant, and his wife Elizabeth (née Warren) of Kent. The couple had married in 1888 and went on to raise a family of four children.

1891 Census

By the time of the 1891 Census, the family was living in Cardiff at 42 Plasturtion Gardens, St John’s. John was then 32 and steadily building his business career, while Elizabeth, aged 30, was at home with their two eldest children, James and Margaret. The household was a comfortable one, supported by three live-in servants: Emma A. Williams (21), Margaret Parsley (18), and Charlotte L. Edmunds (13).

1901 Census

A decade later, the 1901 Census records the Colquhouns settled in Swansea, residing at Woodbury Villas in Uplands. By then, their family had grown to include Kenneth, aged 7, and his younger brother Alexander (5). John was employed as a colliery agent, and the children were being educated locally. Kenneth went on to attend Swansea Grammar School, an important stepping stone in his early life.

1911 Cernsus

By the 1911 Census, at the age of 17, Kenneth was living away from home in Newport, Monmouthshire, where he was employed as an assistant draper.

Military Service

Cambrian Daily Leader

When war broke out in 1914, Kenneth was quick to enlist. He first joined the Manchester Regiment as a private, undergoing training at Southport. His ability and potential, however, were soon recognised, and in March 1915 his commission as a Second Lieutenant in the 14^th (Service) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment (Swansea Battalion) was announced in The Cambrian Daily Leader (31^st March 1915).

The Swansea Battalion itself had been raised in October 1914 by the Mayor and Corporation of Swansea, with enthusiastic support from the town’s football and cricket club. It was a unit deeply rooted in local pride and community spirit, drawing many young men from the area into its ranks.

Death and Burial

Cambrian Daily Leader

Kenneth’s military career was tragically short-lived. In September 1915, before his battalion saw service overseas, he died at his family home, Woodbury Villas, Uplands. His death was reported in The Cambrian Daily Leader on 11^th September 1915.

Cambrian Daily Leader

A military funeral was held at Rhyddings Congregational Church, with full honours. From there, he was taken to Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel, Sketty, where he became the first war casualty to be buried in the chapel grounds. His interment was noted in the local press two days later, on 13^th September 1915.

Legacy

Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun
Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel, Sketty
credit - findagrave

Though only 21 at the time of his death, Ivor Kenneth Colquhoun’s story embodies the sense of duty and sacrifice felt by so many young men of his generation. His grave at Bethel Chapel stands as a reminder not only of his service but of the community’s role in the wider story of the Great War.