St Paul's Church war memorial
“Our Glorious Dead – Make them to be numbered with Thy Saints in Glory Everlasting.”
These words express both sorrow and hope — a prayer that those who fell might find eternal rest among the blessed. The memorial glows softly in the filtered light of the church, its surface etched with the names of those who once lived, served, and died for their country. Each name represents a story of courage, sacrifice, and love — men who left behind families, friends, and futures in the quiet community of Sketty to face the horrors of war in distant lands.
The names are engraved without rank or privilege, symbolizing equality in sacrifice. Whether they served on the front lines, at sea, or in the air, each man gave his all for the sake of peace and freedom. The closing words, “Rest in Peace,” at the base of the tablet offer a final blessing — a gentle assurance that their memory endures in the hearts of those who come after.
Below are the names inscribed on the St Paul’s, Sketty War Memorial:
Private David John Allis
Worcestershire Regiment, 2nd Battalion
26 September 1915
Rifleman Alfred Henry Bowen
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16th Battalion
20 May 1917
Alfred Henry Bowen was killed in action during the fighting around Arras. He is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Second Lieutenant Donald Burnie
Welsh Regiment, 6th Battalion
2 October 1915
Donald Burnie was killed in action during the Battle of Loos. He is commemorated on the Loos Memorial, France.
Private Thomas William Carpenter
Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion
12 October 1915
Thomas William Carpenter was killed during the final phase of the Battle of Loos. He is buried at Dud Corner Cemetery, Loos, France.
Private George W. Carr
Regiment Unknown
Date Unknown
George W. Carr is recorded on the memorial, though no surviving records of his regiment or service have been found.
Able Seaman William Horace Charles
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Nelson Battalion, Royal Naval Division
13 November 1916
William Horace Charles was killed during the Battle of the Ancre. He is buried at Ancre British Cemetery, France.
Corporal George Collins
South Lancashire Regiment, 9th Battalion
18 September 1918
George Collins was killed in the Battle of Doiran. He is commemorated on the Doiran Memorial, Greece.
Able Seaman Harold Stanley Cope
Royal Navy, H.M.S. Indefatigable
31 May 1916
Harold Stanley Cope was lost when his ship was destroyed at the Battle of Jutland. He is commemorated on the Plymouth Naval Memorial, Devon.
Private Clifford Laurence Cornelius
London Regiment (Prince of Wales’ Own Civil Service Rifles), 15th Battalion
14 December 1918
Clifford Laurence Cornelius died of the effects of gas after the Armistice. He is buried at St. Paul’s Churchyard, Sketty.
Private Sydney (Sidney) Critchley
Welsh Regiment, 9th Battalion
2 July 1917
Sydney Critchley was killed in action in Belgium during the Ypres Salient operations. He is buried at Irish House Cemetery, near Messines.
Private Brinley Davies
Devonshire Regiment, 2nd Battalion
1 July 1916
Brinley Davies was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme. He is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Private James Davies
Middlesex Regiment, 4th Battalion
9 September 1918
James Davies was killed during the Hundred Days Offensive. He is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery, France.
Lance Corporal William Arthur Shenstone Davies
The Loyal North Lancashire Regiment, 2/5th Battalion
26 October 1917
William Arthur Shenstone Davies was killed during the Second Battle of Passchendaele. He is commemorated on the Tyne Cot Memorial, Belgium.
William H. Davies
Unknown Regiment
Date Unknown
Private William Morris Downing
Royal Irish Fusiliers, 1st Battalion
28 March 1918
William Morris Downing died of wounds at the University War Hospital, Southampton, and is buried at Netley Military Cemetery, Hampshire.
Private Arthur Charles Eadon
Royal Fusiliers, 26th Battalion
2 April 1918
Arthur Charles Eadon was killed during the German Spring Offensive near Ypres and is commemorated on the Arras Memorial, France.
Major William Hart Edmond-Jenkins
Northumberland Fusiliers, 25th (Tyneside Irish) Battalion
1 July 1916
William Hart Edmond-Jenkins was killed on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and is buried at Albert Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Second Lieutenant William Armine Edwards
Welsh Regiment, 24th Battalion
1 November 1917
William Armine Edwards died of wounds in Palestine after the Battle of Beersheba. He is buried at Beersheba War Cemetery, Israel.
Richard Evans
Unknown Regiment
Date Unknown
Richard Evans is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Able Seaman Philip Ernest Forrest
Royal Navy, H.M.S. Paxton
20 May 1917
Philip Ernest Forrest was killed when H.M.S. Paxton was torpedoed by U-46. He is commemorated on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial, Hampshire.
Lieutenant Thomas Gee
Royal Field Artillery, “B” Battery, 122nd Brigade
13 November 1917
Thomas Gee was killed during the Third Battle of Ypres and is buried at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel, Sketty.
Captain Leonard Powell Godfrey
Welsh Regiment, 14th Battalion, “B” Company
23 August 1917
Leonard Powell Godfrey was wounded at Pilckem Ridge, Passchendaele, and died later at Mendinghem Casualty Clearing Station. He is buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Private Sidney Gordon
Welsh Regiment, 16th Battalion
11 November 1917
Sidney Gordon was killed in the final stages of the Battle of Passchendaele and is buried at Cité Bonjean Military Cemetery, Armentières, France.
Private William Gordon
Monmouthshire Regiment, 3rd Battalion
8 May 1915
William Gordon was killed during the Second Battle of Ypres and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.
Gunner David George Gunston
Royal Field Artillery, “C” Battery, 149th Brigade
27 October 1917
David George Gunston was killed during the Second Battle of Passchendaele and is buried at Lindenhoek Chalet Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Lance Corporal Henry James “Harry” Isaac
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16th Battalion
2 January 1916
Harry “Henry James” Isaac was killed while holding trenches in the Loos sector and is buried at Woburn Abbey Cemetery, Cuinchy, France.
Company Serjeant Major Ethan Edwin James DCM
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 25th Battalion
19 September 1918
Ethan Edwin James was killed during the Battle of Épehy and is buried at Doingt Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Company Serjeant Major David George James MM
Rifle Brigade, 13th Battalion
14 November 1916
David George James was killed during the Battle of the Ancre and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Private William Charles Jerram
Welsh Regiment, 14th Battalion
10 July 1916
William Charles Jerram was killed in the attack on Mametz Wood and is buried at Flatiron Copse Cemetery, France.
Sapper David John
Royal Marines, Royal Marine Division Engineers, Royal Naval Division
20 October 1916
David John died of wounds in the Ancre sector and is buried at Englebelmer Communal Cemetery Extension, France.
Serjeant Stanley Oswald John
Army Service Corps, attached 11th Infantry Brigade H.Q.
5 October 1917
Stanley Oswald John was killed at Passchendaele and is buried at Bard Cottage Cemetery, Belgium.
Rifleman Louis Edward Johns
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, “B” Company, 16th Battalion
15 July 1916
Louis Edward Johns was killed on the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France.
Second Lieutenant Robert Rowland Akrill-Jones
King’s Own Yorkshire Light Infantry, 4th Battalion
9 April 1917
Robert Rowland Akrill-Jones was killed during the Battle of Arras and is buried at Cojuel British Cemetery, France.
Lieutenant Edward Trevor Akrill-Jones
Royal Flying Corps, attached Sherwood Foresters, 4th Battalion
18 March 1918
Edward Trevor Akrill-Jones died while serving with the Royal Flying Corps and is buried at St. Mary’s Churchyard, Bolsover, England.
Private David Jones
Regiment Unknown
Date Unknown
David Jones is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private Hugh Jones
Regiment Unknown
Date Unknown
Hugh Jones is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private Lawrence B. Jones
Regiment Unknown
12 October 1918
Lawrence B. Jones was killed in France and is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private Thomas E. Jones
Regiment Unknown
Date Unknown
Thomas E. Jones is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private William Jones
Regiment Unknown
Date Unknown
William Jones is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private Stephen Lamont
Manchester Regiment, 2nd Battalion
4 November 1918
Stephen Lamont was killed during the Battle of the Sambre and is buried at Ors Communal Cemetery, France, beside Wilfred Owen.
Private Walter Leslie Lloyd
South Lancashire Regiment, 1st/4th Battalion
8 June 1918
Walter Leslie Lloyd was killed while holding the line near Givenchy and is buried at Houchin British Cemetery, Pas-de-Calais, France.
Corporal John Dingewell Mackay
Royal Marine Light Infantry, “F” Company, Portsmouth Division
14 April 1916
John Dingewell Mackay died of disease while serving with the Royal Marine Light Infantry and was buried at Haslar Royal Naval Cemetery, Portsmouth, England.
Lance Corporal Walter Henry Malt
Royal Engineers, 318th Road Construction Company
18 February 1919
Walter Henry Malt died of illness after the Armistice and was buried at St. Roch Communal Cemetery, Valenciennes, France.
Corporal Albert Leslie Mears
Royal Army Service Corps, 68th Anti-Aircraft Section
26 February 1919
Albert Leslie Mears died from pneumonia following influenza while on active service and was buried at Les Baraques Military Cemetery, Sangatte, France.
Private David I. Morris
Welsh Regiment, 2nd Battalion
23 October 1918
David I. Morris was killed in action during the closing weeks of the war and was buried at Highland Cemetery, Le Cateau, France.
Second Lieutenant John Torrington Morris
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st Battalion
16 May 1915
John Torrington Morris was killed in action near Cuinchy and was buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy, France.
Second Lieutenant Thomas Cyril William Morgan
Cheshire Regiment, 11th Battalion
12 August 1917
Thomas Cyril William Morgan was killed in action near Ypres during the Third Battle of Ypres (Passchendaele). He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, Belgium.
Second Lieutenant Brinley Arthur Morgan
Royal Flying Corps, attached Royal Field Artillery
4 March 1917
Brinley Arthur Morgan was killed in an aerial engagement over France and was buried at Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension (Nord), France.
Edward Morse
Unit Unknown
Date Unknown
Edward Morse is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty, but further research is needed to confirm his service details.
Second Lieutenant George Hugh Perry
Royal Field Artillery, 9th Battery
31 March 1918
George Hugh Perry was killed in action during the German Spring Offensive and was buried at Varennes Military Cemetery, France.
Gunner David Emrys Peters
Royal Garrison Artillery, 185th Siege Battery
5 July 1917
David Emrys Peters was killed in action near Ypres while serving with the 185th Siege Battery and was buried at Vlamertinghe New Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Private William Henry Rees
Welsh Regiment, 14th Battalion
16 March 1916
William Henry Rees is commemorated at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, France, and on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Private Harry Robinson
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 1st Battalion
2 December 1914
Harry Robinson one of the earliest casualties from Sketty, is buried at Wimereux Communal Cemetery, France, and commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Second Lieutenant Arthur Rosser
Welsh Regiment, 14th Battalion
10 July 1916
Arthur Rosser fell on the first day of the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, and the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Captain David Aubrey Sandbrook
Welsh Regiment, 14th Battalion
31 July 1917
David Aubrey Sandbrook was killed on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele and is commemorated on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres, and at St. Paul’s Church, Sketty.
Rifleman Gerald Hartnell Savage
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16th Battalion
7 November 1918
Gerald Hartnell Savage, believed to be Swansea’s last casualty of the Great War, is buried at Leval Communal Cemetery, France, and commemorated at St. Paul’s Church, Sketty.
John Sargeant
Unit Unknown
Date Unknown
John Sargeant appears on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, though no confirmed military record has yet been traced.
Driver Philip Llewellyn Searle
Royal Engineers, “A” Depot Company, Royal Anglesey Reserve Battalion
3 November 1918
Philip Llewellyn Searle buried at Bethel Welsh Congregational Chapel, Sketty, is also commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Swansea.
Able Seaman William John Seldon
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Howe Battalion, Royal Naval Division
13 November 1916
William John Seldon was killed during the Battle of the Ancre and is buried at Ancre British Cemetery, France.
Alfred Shackleford
Unit Unknown
Date Unknown
Alfred Shackleford is inscribed on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, though no confirmed service record has been found.
Serjeant Audrey Alfred Smale
Welsh Guards, 1st Battalion
10 September 1916
Audrey Alfred Smale died of wounds during the Battle of the Somme and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, and the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
R. Henry Thomas
Unknown Unit
Date of Death Unknown
R. Henry Thomas is believed to be the individual commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty.
Frederick Thorogood
Unknown Unit
Date of Death Unknown
Frederick Thorogood’s name appears on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty, but no confirmed military record has yet been identified.
Able Seaman Archibald Tonkin
Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, Hood Battalion, Royal Naval Division
26 October 1918
Archibald Tonkin died from disease while serving with the Hood Battalion and was buried at Braine-le-Comte Communal Cemetery, Belgium.
Corporal William Tucker
Royal Engineers, 319th Road Construction Company
25 September 1917
William Tucker is commemorated by the Commonwealth War Graves Commission and was buried at La Clytte Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Private Reginald William Tulley
Royal Welsh Fusiliers, 4th Battalion
17 August 1918
Reginald William Tulley died of wounds sustained in action and was buried at Dive Copse British Cemetery, France.
Corporal Clement Taylor Tweedale
King’s Royal Rifle Corps, 16th Battalion
2 December 1917
Clement Taylor Tweedale was killed in action and buried at Mendinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium.
Private Henry “Harry” Wallis
Welsh Regiment, 18th Battalion
9 October 1916
Henry “Harry” Wallis was killed in action during operations in the Loos sector and was buried at Maroc British Cemetery, Grenay, France.
Arthur James Whitehouse
Royal Field Artillery
25 April 1920
Arthur James Whitehouse died after the war’s end and was buried in the churchyard of St. Paul’s, Sketty.
Serjeant William John Wills
South Wales Borderers, Brecknock Battalion
21 December 1917
William John Wills was the first recorded military burial at St. Paul’s Church, Sketty, and is also commemorated on both the St. Paul’s and Honiton War Memorials.
Joshua D. S. Wright
Royal Navy
Date of Death Unknown
Joshua D. S. Wright is commemorated on the St. Paul’s Church War Memorial, Sketty, and may be the same Joshua D. Wright recorded on the Swansea Cenotaph.
Legacy
The memorial at St Paul’s, Sketty, continues to hold deep meaning for the local community more than a century after the Great War. It stands not only as a record of loss but also as a symbol of resilience, unity, and remembrance. Each year, on Remembrance Sunday, wreaths of poppies are laid beneath it, the names read aloud once more so that no one is forgotten.
For younger generations, the memorial serves as a living history lesson — a reminder that peace has come at a great price and must be protected with understanding and compassion. The stories of those listed on the marble tablet still echo in the community: through families who remember, through church services that honour them, and through visitors who pause in silence before their names.
In this way, the St Paul’s war memorial does more than commemorate the dead — it inspires the living. It reminds all who see it that courage, sacrifice, and love of neighbour are legacies worth carrying forward.
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