Patrick Shea

Guardsman Patrick Shea – Irish Guards, 1^st Battalion

Herald of Wales

The Herald of Wales reported the funeral of ex-policeman Patrick Shea, who was buried at Danygraig Cemetery following his death on 10^th May 1919.

Early Life

Patrick was born in 1881, the son of Patrick Shea and Bessie Shea.

In 1913, he married Lillie Holmes, beginning a new chapter of family life shortly before the outbreak of the First World War.

Military Service

When war came, Patrick enlisted with the Irish Guards, serving as a Guardsman. Like many of his generation, his years of service left a lasting mark on his health, and it was this decline that eventually led to his untimely death in 1919.

Burial

Patrick Shea
Danygraig Cemetery
credit - findagrave

Patrick’s funeral was held at Danygraig Cemetery and drew the attention of the Herald of Wales, which recorded the solemn occasion. Funerals for men like Patrick, who had served both their community and their country, were marked by a blend of civic and military respect.

As an ex-policeman, colleagues from the local constabulary were present to pay their respects, while his status as a Guardsman ensured that elements of military tradition were also observed. The cortege was followed by family, friends, and fellow servicemen, reflecting how his life had been rooted in both service and duty. The burial was not only a family farewell but also a public acknowledgment of his contribution to the war effort and to local life.

Legacy

Patrick Shea’s story reflects the broader tragedy of the “long shadow” of the First World War. Though the fighting had ended, the suffering endured by returning servicemen often continued. His death in 1919, months after the Armistice, demonstrates how the cost of the war extended into peacetime, affecting families and communities in Swansea.

Patrick also stands as a reminder of the dual service of many men who gave their energy first to the local police force and then to the nation’s armed forces. His grave at Danygraig Cemetery preserves the memory of a man who lived a life of service and sacrifice, ensuring that he is not forgotten among Swansea’s wartime dead.