Wednesday 21 August 2013

Swansea VCs of the Great War

Interesting to see that the Government intends providing the birth place of every Great War VC winner with a memorial paving stone in remembrance of the winnner.

In the case of Swansea there is, of course, William Fuller VC and George Prowse VC. Fuller VC lived in the town until his death in 1974 and is buried in a local cemetery. Prowse VC was killed in action and his body lost in the subsequent fighting. His widow remained in Swansea until at least the late 1920s.

Under the Government scheme neither man will be remembered in Swansea as both were born elsewhere. It is very difficult to determine exactly which town 'owns' particular VC winners as people frequently 'moved around' so I suppose place of birth is pretty definite, even if the man subsequently lived elsewhere. 

Monday 19 August 2013

Let the writing commence...

The research for 'Swansea in the Great War' is about 95% complete and I'll be starting the writing this evening while mopping up the odd bit of outstanding research as I go along. Just the 35,000 words to go then!

The book will cover the home front e.g. recruitment, conscientious objection, fund raising for soldiers comforts, hospitals and nurses, the effect of the war on industry, the treatment of aliens, Belgian refugees etc. It will also contain vignettes from the front whether on land, sea or in the air as experienced by the men (and women) of Swansea.

Interested? The book should be out in autumn 2014 and if you wish to express a possible interest (no obligation, of course) add a comment here ideally with an e-mail address and I'll add you to the update list.

Bernard Lewis