Our weekly look back at days gone by, with Abby Bolter
THEY made the ultimate sacrifice for their country and their names are displayed with pride on Bridgend’s cenotaph.
But what about the men themselves? What did they do before going to war and who did they leave behind?
Local history author Natalie Murphy intends to answer these questions and she will publish her research in a new book.
She is being assisted in her research by John Dunkley-Williams, the local and family history assistant from Ty’r Ardd Local and Family History Centre.
“The University of the Third Age has already done one about the men who died in World War I, but there isn’t anything on the men who died in the 1939-45 conflict, so I thought I would do something about it,” she said.
A plaque dedicated to the victims of World War II was unveiled in 1951 and years later the names of all the men were listed.
They include Natalie’s uncle Thomas John Jenkins, known as Jack, who was her mother’s brother.
He was a second lieutenant in the Welsh Regiment who had parachuted into Holland. But, while out on patrol in 1944, he was ambushed and shot. He left behind a wife and two sons.
Natalie would like to hear from anyone who has information on the men listed on the cenotaph or who can help her identify when a black and white picture of a man laying a wreath on the cenotaph, which she has been given, was taken.
Natalie can be contacted on 01656 663 041.