With deep regret I inform you of your son’s death in action. He was a good and willing soldier and will be missed by all his comrades.
I sincerely sympathise with you in your great loss and may God grant you strength in your sad bereavement, but rest assured he died nobly fighting for his king and country.
If you care to write to me my address is Sub. Lt. Atkins. Anson Batt., B.E.F. France.
Letter from France dated 11th November 1917.
At the meeting of the Trustees held today, the Chairman, Sir Griffith Thomas, referred to the sad death of your son, who was a member of the Collectors’ Department, and I was directed to convey to you the deep sympathy of the Trustees in the great loss you have sustained.
I am directed to inform you that a report has been received in this Department that Frank Hopkins is a Prisoner of War. The description given is not, however, sufficient to enable the soldier to be identified. As your name and address are mentioned in the report, it is believed that you will be able to supply a full description of this Prisoner of War.
I am therefore to request that you will be good enough to complete the attached form and return it in the accompanying envelope, which will not require a stamp.
I am in receipt of your letter of the 24th inst., informing me of your intention to leave the Trustees’ employ on the 31st inst., which is in order.
The above photo shows a group of wounded soldiers from the 1914-18 war dressed in hospital blues. It was taken in either Chamberlain Hospital, France or the 1st Southern General Hospital, Birmingham, and includes Ernest Edward Beynon (later to be a Shunter on Swansea Docks) on the far right. Ernie Beynon served in the 14th Battalion Welsh Regiment, and was wounded in Lavanti in 1915 and again in Bourlon Wood in 1917. He retired from Swansea Docks in 1958 and can be seen on the day of his presentation in one of the photos on Page 1 of our Personnel section.
by an enemy air-raid on the night of 17th/18th January 1941.
Air raid damage to D Shed Wharf.
J Shed and J Shed Annex.
Britannia Towing Company’s tug ‘Queenforth’ was swamped by a near-miss from an enemy bomb during an air raid on Swansea Docks on the night of the 19th February 1941. The photographs below show her being raised from the dock bottom and put into dry dock for repairs.
The tug Queenforth newly painted and overhauled after her sinking.
P38 Lightning fighter planes on Phoenix Wharf discharged from tanker Cayuse 23rd Sept' 1944.
The photos below show the transfer of P47 Thunderbolt fighter aircraft from the 'Empire Milner' to the U.S. auxiliary aircraft carrier 'Ganandoc' on the 16th August 1944.
Loading a 22,000 lb bomb.
14 of these 22,000lb bombs were shipped aboard the ss Frederick C Hicks in August 1945.
Bombs in N Shed 16th June 1944.