The Fforestfach History Website

Listed


Memorial

The Fforestfach War Memorial is a commemorative building for those who lost their lives fighting for Britain, who came from the district during the two World Wars. On the Sunday nearest to 11th November at 11am each year, a Remembrance Service is held here with prayers and a two minute silence is also observed. The concave architecture is a grade II listed building and public memorial near Fforestfach cross, its noted for social-historical interest.

In 1922 there was the first official Remembrance Service held here.

War Memorial

 

Thank you to the gentlemen who look after the flowers. Many people have commented on the colourful display over the last few years.

 

 

CONGRATULATIONS

 

Swansea in Bloom Winner 2012   2013 Swansea in Bloom winner

 

Mr. Graham Davies and neigbour, Alan Treharne helped the Fforestfach Senior Citizens Pavilion win the 2012 gold award in the best community entry category of the annual Swansea in Bloom awards. The award was received at the Brangwyn Hall.

 

“The display at the cenotaph opposite the Marquis Arms is made up of flowers including gladiolus, begonias and dahlias, many of which Graham grows himself.


Graham, secretary of the Fforestfach Senior Citizens Pavilion, said: There was a gentleman, an ex-prisoner of war, who lived in Waunarlwydd and used to look after the cleaning and weeding of the cenotaph on Carmarthen Road. He was much older than me at the time, so I decided to take on the duties myself.”

 

Quote from News Wales

 

Congratulations on winning this wonderful award for the second year, in 2013.
Left
Top Centre of Cenotaph
Right
Left Lion
The left lion has, what looks like a single tooth. This is the left over of the brass ring through the mouth which was probably cut off for the WWII war effort. There are other changes near by, with gates and railings taken and having to be replaced after the war.
Right Lion
The 1st central brass panel list the names of men of World War I (1914-18), but uses the date 1914-19. On the left brass panel, this is one of two that contain the names of men from World War II (1939-45). The right panel stands out as its a marble replacement of the original brass panel that went missing, so I've been told. This is the second panel of two that contains the names of World War II men. Below each panel photo are the list of men with their rank and name who gave their lives for our Country.

To commemorate the WW1 Centenary, I have created a linked and detailed web page for nearly all WW1 & WWII soldiers, below.

WWII memorial left
WWI centre memorial
WWII memorial right
 
To show a brief glimpse of these men lives, if you have some basic details I will gladly link the information to their highlighted names.
 

1939 – 1945

TO THE MEMORY OF
THE MEN OF THIS
DISTRICT WHO FELL
IN THE GREAT WAR
1914 – 1919

1939 – 1945

CAPT: LACEY. E. RAYMOND* CAPT: ANDREWS, GLYNDWR L *| PTE: HUDSON, JOHN*
SGT: IRWIN, JOHN
LT: HENLEY, W. LEONARD* A/S: ISAAC, D. GRAHAM*
LT: MORGAN, W.M.* SGT: JAMES, CYRIL T.*
F/O: THOMAS, D. SELWYN* L/S: JONES, GLYN.*
2ND.LT: DAVIES, THOMAS* L/S: JONES, JOHN D.*
PTE: ACKERMAN, HENRY J.* SGT: JONES, L. WYNDHAM*
A/S: BLAKE, ALFRED H* SGT: JOHN, HYWEL*
GNR: BLAKE, THOMAS J.* PTE: KEAST, WALTER SHEM*
A.S: BOWDITCH, REG* 3/ENG: LEWIS, GLYN F.*
SGT: BOWEN W. EDWIN* SGT: LONGDON, WILFRED.*
PTE: BEYNON, DENNIS T.* A/S: MAINWARING, GLYNDWR*
GNR: CADLE, ED. TERENCE* STKR: MARSH, ALBERT T.*
BDR: CHUGG, PHILIP* GDSM: McQUEEN, THOMAS H.*
L/CPL: CLEMENT, HYWEL J.* TPR: MIGGINS, THOMAS B.*
L/TL: CLOWES, EDWIN J.L.* SGT: MUGFORD, ALAN I.*
CPL: COWLEY, D. LOUIS* SGT: PHILLIPS, T. J.*
SGT: DAVIES, ROY LSA: PIPER WM.*
PTE: DAVIES, RON. PTE: RICHARDS, FRANK.*
GNR: DAVIES, LLEWELLYN* FW: RICHARDS,THOMAS.*
A/S: EVANS, COL.
GNR: ROGERS, JAMES
GNR: EVANS, HUBERT* SGT: ROWCLIFFE, WM. S.*
L/CPL: EVANS, WM. S.* SGT: SHEHAN, THOMAS*
PTE: FIFIELD, WM. R.* SGT: THOMAS, IVOR*
SPR: GILTINAN, TREVOR G.* CPL: WILLIAMS, D. EMLYN*
SPR: HASSETT. WM. J.* PTE: WILLIAMS, DANIEL R.B.*
TPR: HOCKNELL, JOHN D.* SGT: WILLIAMS T. CLIFFORD*
PTE: HOWELL. R. LESLIE* PTE: YANDLE, RONALD A.*
Welsh poignant words

The lower centre brass plate, has this Welsh phrase: "GWELL ANGEU NA CHYWILYDD".

translated "BETTER DEATH THAN DISHONOUR".1

This memorial tablet is on the right hand side, on the right gate wall.
Memorial Tablet

The words on the tablet:
The Memorial Tablet was unveiled
20th July, 1922, by
Brigadier-General Douglas Campbell, C.P
Sketty Hall, Swansea.

The other War Memorials in Swansea are:
  • Cenotaph including surrounding walls, Mumbles Road, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial in Morriston Park, Vicarage Road Entrance, Morriston, Swansea - LB grade II
  • South African War Memorial, Mumbles Road, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial in grounds of Church of St Catherine, Alexandra Road, Gorseinon, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial, junction of Glebe Road, Loughor, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial, St Teilo Street, Pontarddulais, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial, Parc Briallu, Off Frederick Place, Llansamlet, Swansea - LB grade II
  • War Memorial in Danygraig Park, St Thomas, Swansea - LB grade II
  • Memorial to the Swansea Merchant seamen who lost their lives at sea during WWII, off Kings Road, Marina, Swansea.
  • Anti-aircraft gun, memorial of the 387 civilian and Military personnel who died in the air-raids on Swansea. Positioned on New Cut Road, between bridges, Swansea.
  • Mumbles War Memorials - link.

 

NOTE:

1 This translation was found on a visit to Swansea Museum, printed on a certificate "AS A TOKEN OF APPRECIATION FOR SERVICES RENDERED" during WWI. Presented to Royal Navy Gunner Edwin Vaughan Owens by the "INHABITANTS OF LOUGHOR".


 

I decided to make it as quick as possible to access as much valuable information by linking to the Swansea Listed building pdf's from below.

 

Swansea Local Government - LB436 Schedule & Map:

 

 

 

For further information on Swansea Listed Buildings and Ancient Monuments, this is a fantastic resource below:

 

Swansea Local Government - What are Listed Buildings

 

 

 

If you wish to find details of Forces War Records,Commonwealth War Graves Commission website Link, http://www.http://www.cwgc.org/.

 

Please let me know if outside links become broken!

I bear no responsibility for any outside content!