WWI REMEMBERED Discrepancy of death dates highlights the carnage and chaos of war

EARLY August 1917 brought more tragic news of South Wales soldiers killed serving their country: Private Samuel John Lewis, Lance Corporal Wilfred James Edwards and Private Thomas George Owen.

Pte John and his brother Clifford Prosser Lewis, the youngest of nine children, born in 1892 and 1895 respectively, had lived on New Road, Porthcawl, since 1881.

Their father, Samuel Lewis, ran a very successful grocer’s business in the town as the family employed two servants.

By 1901 the family had moved back to Penrhiwceiber, their father’s birthplace, and yet within a year their dad had emigrated to America.

In 1911, both Samuel Jr and Clifford were boarding and working in Aberfan, where Samuel worked as a clerk, and Clifford a coal miner.

It would seem Clifford did not take to life in the mine as he emigrated to America on the Campania in March 1912, to join his father in Oakland, California.

Following enlistment at Merthyr, the younger Samuel was called up to the Yorkshire Regiment and was killed on August 1, 1917, at the Battle of Passchendaele.

Later that year, Clifford enlisted into the 58th Infantry Regiment 4th Division, US Army.

He too was killed on July 18, 1918, at the Second Battle of the Marne.

Their father, Samuel, died in America in 1919 and their mother Margaret, in 1921 in Porthcawl.

The family are commemorated on a grave in St John’s Churchyard, Newton.

Lance Corporal Wilfred James Edwards, one of five children, was born in April 1897 in Trelleck, Monmouthshire. Sadly, his father, David, had died the previous October.

In 1901, his mother, Rachel, married William David Phillips, a widower with 10 children, who earned his living as a tailor in Cardiff.

In 1908, Wilfred’s brother, Charles, emigrated to Canada, aged 16.

In October 1914, he enlisted into the Canadian Expeditionary Force, but was discharged six months later being classed as medically unfit.

The rest of the family, however, moved to Mackworth Road in Porthcawl in 1911, where they opened a high class tailor shop in John Street, probably where New Look is today.

Initially, Wilfred, known locally as Wilfred Phillips, worked for the Porthcawl News, but by 1914 he had a job with the Porthcawl Gas Works.

Enlisting in 1916, Wilfred was drafted into the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, with whom he was posted to France in May 1916.

Wilfred’s death is recorded as August 4, 1917, yet one document records it as July 31, 1917.

He is remembered on the Arras Memorial as his body was never recovered. Coupled with the discrepancy of death dates, it highlights the chaos and carnage that became ever more evident during the war, and may have had some bearing on the course of action Charles then took in Canada.

In 1917, Canada brought in conscription and Charles was again brought to the colours. Yet on January 9, 1918, he was charged with misconduct and sentenced to serve 14 months at Stony Court Penitentiary, near Winnipeg.

Whatever his reasons for taking this course of action we can only surmise, but conscientious objectors were held at this prison.

Private Thomas George Owen, 15th Battalion of the Welsh Regiment, was born in Treforest in 1897, to Thomas and Florence Owen.

By 1901, the family had moved to 66, Brackla Street, Bridgend, where his father worked as a general labourer.

In 1911, both George and his father were working as coal miners in the local pit near their new address on Pwllygarth Street, Kenfig Hill.

By 1917, the family were found living at 16, George Street, Porthcawl.

Initially, George had worked during the summers for Michael William Shanly, an entrepreneur, who provided bathing huts, deck chairs and cafes, for the developing seaside resort.

In 1914, George was in the employ of Spillers and Bakers Ltd in Cardiff. Yet, by Christmas 1916, he had enlisted into the Welsh Regiment and was serving on the Western Front.

Pte Owen was sadly killed as a result of shell fire on August 5, 1917 at Passchendaele and, as his body was not recovered, is remembered on the Menin Gate Memorial, Ypres.

Researching George’s family tree, I found a few points of interest.

His maternal grandmother, Mary Wozencroft, was “born at sea” off Cape Horn.

Mary’s father, John Thomas, had been a regular soldier in the 11th Foot (Devonshire Regiment) 1823-1847, and on discharge had been treated at the Royal Hospital Chelsea for rheumatism.

He remained at Chelsea for a while although he had married Mary in 1841, and by the end of 1850 had a son William.

In 1851, the family had moved to Cardiff where John gave his profession as a Chelsea Pensioner, but within a few years he was employed as the turnkey (jailer) to Cardiff Goal, on the site where Cardiff Market is today. John died in 1861, aged 56 years old. On the home front in Porthcawl, the news was dominated by the visit of the celebrated actress and singer Blanche Tomlin. During her career, Ms Tomlin had appeared on the West End Stage and on Broadway.

Born in Leeds in 1889, she married Ronald Ford Wakley, a coal exporter from Barry, on July 12, 1917.

During their visit to his hometown the following month, they also spent a few days in Porthcawl, during which Ms Tomlin was invited to sing at the Porthcawl Allotment Show.

The event was to promote the increase of local food production with, according to the Porthcawl News, “a valuable cup being awarded for the best-kept and stocked war allotment”.

Sadly, Ms Tomlin’s marriage failed to last a year as her husband, Ronald, died in April 1918.