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Fallen Heroes of World
War II- In Proud and Honoured Memory
November 2021 sees the publication of ‘In Proud & Honoured
Memory’, compiled by Ceri Stennett, that pays tribute to men and women
who fell during the Second World War from the Whitchurch area of north
Cardiff.
The book is a follow-up to the 2018 publication that dealt with First
World War casualties and was a collaboration between Ceri and fellow
Cardiff historian, Gwyn Prescott.
The war memorial outside Whitchurch Library carries 154 names of
those who lost their lives between 1939-1945, as well as several who
succumbed to their wounds / illness in the immediate post-war years. Apart
from service personnel, the memorial also remembers ten civilians who died
as a result of air raids on the city.
In addition, Ceri has found a further 103 casualties who had
connections to the area and these have also been included. Neighbouring
areas covered are: Llandaff North, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina and Tongwynlais,
which were also included in the first volume. From sixteen year old
Merchant Navy Cadet, Emrys Williams, to seventy five year old Civilian Air
Raid casualty, Elizabeth Gilbert, all their stories are told.
The book also looks at other aspects from that time with chapters on Whitchurch
at war, parishioners decorated for gallantry, prisoners of war,
other places of commemoration and medals and awards issued.
There is a final chapter that remembers Richard Fice, a musician
with the Royal Marines from Rhiwbina, who lost his life in the IRA bombing of
his barracks in Deal, Kent, in 1989. His name was added to the memorial with his
family’s permission and is the only one not connected with either of the World
Wars.
The limited edition book is fully illustrated and runs to some 240
pages. Many images have been made available by kind permission of Media Wales as
well as families of the fallen and from Ceri’s own collection.
Published by Candy Jar Books, Cardiff (candy-jar.co.uk)
and priced at £14.99. It will be available from the publishers, as well as
direct from Ceri (ceristennett@gmail.com)
and from Siop y Felin, Merthyr Road, Whitchurch.
Ceri said: ‘It has been a real privilege to undertake this
research over the last few years and to discover the remarkable stories of
heroism and sacrifice. I hope that the book will stand as a fitting tribute to
them all and give our current generation an opportunity to reflect on their
service.’
Note: Ceri can be contacted via his email for further information.
I can thoroughly recommend this book to anyone interested in the history of the
Second World War - Peter Garwood
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