Swansea airmen in the Great War

Just writing a short chapter on the above. Several Swansea men downed (and killed) by enemy action or air accident including one man - who had been at the front for exactly one week - who had the misfortune to run into 'The Red Baron', Germany's famous fighter ace who had already claimed over 40 'kills'. There could, sadly, be only be one outcome from that encounter...

Publication date agreed!

I am now up to about 60,000 words written on 'Swansea in the Great War' and still a little way to go. Loads of illustrations, too.

The publisher plans to publish the finished work on 1 October 2014.

So back to the writing - I have to complete the draft by early January 2014...

Swansea's foreign legion...

...not exactly. But a surprising number of lads who used to live in Swansea came back to fight for the 'old country'. They came from overseas with Canadian, Australian, South African, Canadian and American units. Not spotted any New Zealanders as yet. A number paid the ultimate price for their patriotism...

A number of them will have their stories told in 'Swansea in the Great War'.

Belgian refugees in Swansea, 1914

Writing about the above at present. Great welcome by the people of Swansea for over 700 Belgian refugees who arrived at Swansea having fled their native country due to the German invasion. 

Industry in Swansea during the Great War

Currently writing about the effect on the Swansea docks of restricted trade, the U-Boat menace and industrial unrest as prices rise faster than wages. Also about the munitions factories that were set up in the South Wales area.

Several female Swansea munitions workers (known as 'munitionettes' or 'canaries' since their skin often turned yellow due the the chemicals handled in armaments production) were killed in explosions at these works.

Recruiting and conscientious objection

Just completing a chapter on the above for the book. Writing up one objector who wouldn't fight but was prepared to do civilian work under the direction of the Government; another who joined a Friends Ambulance unit - he'd help the wounded but not fight; and one who refused to fight or do other work and so ended up in Wormwood Scrubs...

The writing continues....

Refreshed after two weeks in sunny Crete I have now written about 25,000 words out of a target of 35,000 for my forthcoming book 'Swansea in the Great War' (Pen and Sword Books, 2014).

I've now added chapters on food rationing in Swansea 1914-18, medical services and the role of women. About to start a hefty chapter on recruitment and the treatment of conscientious objectors.