WAR PRISONERS’ FUND — A FULL ROLL OF SWANSEA GENEROSITY

Community Gifts and Their Modern Worth

Published in the South Wales Daily Post on the 10th July 1916, this account records the latest contributions to the War Prisoners’ Fund, each gift now shown alongside its approximate modern value, calculated at roughly £100 today for every £1 given then. The previously acknowledged total stood at £3,768 0s. 6d., equal to well over £376,000 in present‑day terms — a figure that speaks to the depth of Swansea’s compassion during the darkest years of war.

What follows is the complete roll, a testament to the breadth of local sympathy.

Latest Donations (with modern equivalents)

• New Siloh Welsh Congregational Church War Fund, Landore — £0 15s 0d (≈ £75 today)

• Mr. J. G. Kingdon, 4 Stanley‑street, Mumbles — £0 2s 6d (≈ £13 today)

• Mr. S. Woodward, James‑street, Pontardawe — £0 2s 6d (≈ £13 today)

• Mr. W. J. Latronico, St. Helen’s‑road, Swansea — £0 10s 0d (≈ £50 today)

• Sale of watch (per Mr. R. Huggins, Royal Hotel) — £0 0s 11½d (≈ £5 today)

• Mr. James Lewick, Buckingham‑terrace, Swansea — £2 0s 0d (≈ £200 today)

• Employees, Swansea Baths & Laundry Co., Ltd., Swansea “B” — £0 11s 6d (≈ £58 today)

• Mrs. E. Green, Uplands‑crescent (4th donation) — £2 10s 0d (≈ £250 today)

• Ebenezer Congregational Church, Swansea — £15 14s 9d (≈ £1,574 today)

• “Sympathy,” Swansea — £0 2s 6d (≈ £13 today)

• Swansea Telegraph Staff (11th donation) — £1 1s 0d (≈ £105 today)

• Employees, Weaver & Co., Ltd., Swansea — £1 7s 0d (≈ £135 today)

• Terrace‑road C.M. Chapel Knitting Guild — £1 1s 0d (≈ £105 today)

• Port Talbot Steel Works Relief Fund (2nd donation) — £1 0s 0d (≈ £100 today)

• Employees, Baldwines Ltd., Landore — £1 0s 0d (≈ £100 today)

• Employees, Anglo‑French Nickel Co., Hafod Isha Works (11th donation) — £1 0s 0d (≈ £100 today)

• Employees, Dredging Co., Ltd., High‑street, Swansea (4th donation) — £1 0s 0d (≈ £100 today)

• Collection per Mrs. Rees, Ernald‑place, Swansea — £0 6s 4d (≈ £32 today)

• District Manager & Staff, Post Office Telephone Service, Swansea — £0 10s 0d (≈ £50 today)

• “B,” Swansea (2nd donation) — £0 10s 0d (≈ £50 today)

• Employees, Swansea Baths & Laundry Co., Ltd. (11th contribution) — £0 11s 9d (≈ £59 today)

• Second collection (per Mr. F. E. E. Howell, Central Hotel) — £0 10s 4d (≈ £52 today)

• Employees, A. Rosser & Sons, Waterloo Works, Calvert‑street — £1 1s 0d (≈ £105 today)

• Mr. Geo. Rowe, Aelybryn, Morriston — £2 2s 0d (≈ £210 today)

• Mr. B. W. Davies, Bronleigh, Neath — £2 2s 0d (≈ £210 today)

• Mrs. W. Williams, Llwyneryr, Morriston — £2 2s 0d (≈ £210 today)

• Mrs. Ivor G. Williams, West Cross — £1 1s 0d (≈ £105 today)

A Closing Note in the Daily Post Manner

Taken together, these gifts — whether a few shillings or many pounds — form a chorus of compassion rising from every quarter of Swansea and its neighbouring towns. In modern terms, this single batch of donations represents many thousands of pounds, yet its true value lies not in arithmetic but in the steadfast humanity of those who gave.