service of commemoration & remembrance · nurtured, nourished, by the rain that fell, the blood...

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HEDDLU DE CYMRU • SOUTH WALES POLICE

CADW DE CYMRU’N DDIOGEL • KEEPING SOUTH WALES SAFE

SERVICE OFCOMMEMORATION& REMEMBRANCE

AT THE WAR MEMORIALPOLICE HEADQUARTERS BRIDGEND

FRIDAY 11TH NOVEMBER 2016 AT 10.50AM

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The Great War, the war to end all wars had acatastrophic effect on humanity and the world asa whole. Great empires centuries old collapsedand disappeared, new countries formed and theworld changed forever.

Please take sometime before the service beginsto read the following statistics.

1.1 million British and Commonwealthsoldiers lost their lives.

250,000 underage teenage boys enlisted in the army, the youngest age 13 years. 50% were killed.

The remains of 100,000 troops still lie underthe battlefields.

At the battle of the Somme, 1916 in Picardy,17,000 British soldiers were killed and40,000 wounded on the first day of battle.

14,287 merchant seamen lost their lives.

O valiant hearts who to your glory came.10 million civilians died of starvation and illness.

1 million civilians were killed as the result of military action

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GREAT WARCENTENARY1914-1918 2014-2018

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Blessed are the peacemakers forthey shall be called sons of God

MATTHEW Ch.5 v.9

POPPIES OF REMEMBRANCEDelicate and bright, they catch the eye, petals open to

embrace the world.Innocent, they push their way through soil and rubble,

seeking light.In the light they bring forth colour to a devastated land.Blood red, they reveal the horrors lived out on the

ground of their creation.Nurtured, nourished, by the rain that fell, the blood shed

of human life.Their birth into the ground of warfare, herald’s

remembrance.Delicate and bright, they catch the eye, petals gently

moving in the breeze.Innocent, and with gentleness, they subvert all the land

has witnessed.In the light of a new day they bring forth colours of peace

and hope.Blood red, they reveal the pulse and life of love possible

in humanity.Nurtured, nourished by creation, they become our

Remembrance,Of all that has been, and is, and never should be again.

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S E R V I C E O F C O M M E M O R A T I O N

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Chief Constable WELCOMEChaplain We are gathered here together in the

presence of Almighty God to give thanks andto commemorate the sacrifices of thosewho gave their lives for our freedom.

Amen

ACT OF REMEMBRANCE THE LAST POST THE SILENCE REVEILLE THE EXHORTATION

Chief Constable They shall grow not old as we that are left grow old:

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning

We will remember them. And all shall repeat:

We will remember them

LAYING OF WREATHS THE KOHIMA EPITAPH

Chief Constable When you go hometell them of us and sayfor your tomorrowwe gave our today.

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A READING MICAH Ch.4 v.1-5

It shall come to pass in the latter days, thatthe mountain of the house of the Lord shallbe established as the highest of themountains, and shall be raised up above thehills; and peoples shall flow to it,

and many nations shall come, and say:“Come, let us go up to the mountain of theLord, to the house of the God of Jacob; thathe may teach us his ways, and we may walkin his paths.” For out of Zion shall go forththe law, and the word of the Lord fromJerusalem.

He shall judge between many peoples, andshall decide for strong nations afar off; andthey shall beat their swords intoploughshares, and their spears into pruninghooks; nation shall not lift up sword againstnation, neither shall they learn war anymore;

but they shall sit every man under his vineand under his fig tree, and none shall makethem afraid; for the mouth of the Lord ofhosts has spoken.

For all the peoples walk each in the name ofits god, but we will walk in the name of theLord our God for ever and ever.

Police and Crime Commissioner for South Wales

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This year South Wales Policecontinues to play its part in thecommemoration of the centenaryof the First World War.

1916 was, of course, a year ofterrible losses for the BritishArmy. The first day of the Battleof the Somme, 1st July, saw itsuffering nearly 60,000 casualtiesof whom nearly 20,000 werekilled.

The Battle went on until 18thNovember by which time totalBritish and Commonwealthcasualties were over 400,000.The French and German armiesalso suffered huge losses.

During the course of 1916 atotal of 29 police officers fromour predecessor forces ofGlamorgan, Cardiff, Swansea andMerthyr died.

Five Glamorgan policemen,including Dick Thomas, theformer Welsh international rugbyplayer, died at Mametz Wood onthe Somme where the WelshDivision displayed such heroismduring the capture of the Wood.

It was a great privilege for meto be present at the WelshNational Service of Remembranceat the Wood in July. It was a trulyhumbling experience to standwith Dick Thomas’ grandson on

the very ground on which hisgrandfather had died exactly onehundred years earlier.

Later in the Somme battle inSeptember thirteen police officersdied: 10 from Glamorgan and oneeach from Cardiff, Swansea andMerthyr.

There were others too whodied elsewhere in France, Belgiumand at home during 1916.

And so we continue toremember them all. If we areever in doubt about suchremembrance it is worth bearingin mind the refrain in a poemcalled “Aftermath” by SiegfriedSassoon who served with theRoyal Welsh Fusiliers during theWar:

“Have you forgotten yet?....

But the past is just the same-and War’s a bloody game....

Have you forgotten yet?...

Look down, and swear by theslain of the War that you’ll never forget.

Have you forgotten yet?....

Look up, and swear by the green of the spring that you’llnever forget.”

Gareth Madge OBEChair, First World War Project Group

“REMEMBERED WITH PRIDE”

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6TH JANUARYPC Walter

Archibald Stubbs (Merthyr/Grenadier Guards)

20TH FEBRUARYPC David Taffinder

(Glamorgan/Welsh Regiment)

7TH MARCHPC Joseph

Patrick Deehan (Glamorgan/Royal Marines)

13TH MARCHPC John Alfred

Griffiths (Glamorgan/

Welsh Regiment)

8TH MAYPC Edward John Taylor

(Glamorgan/Welsh Guards)

25TH MAYPC Thomas

Voyle Morgan (Merthyr/Welsh Guards)

1ST JULYPC George Henry

Lock (Cardiff/Welsh Guards)

PC William James Williams


7TH JULYPC Robert John Harris


PS Richard Thomas (Glamorgan/

Welsh Regiment)

PC William Edward Trinder


10TH JULYPC Edward Beresford

(Glamorgan/SouthStaffordshire Regiment)

PC William HenryLoud


12TH JULYPC Richard Hamer


18TH JULYPC Ernest Robert

Helson (Swansea/Welsh Guards)

10TH SEPTEMBERPC Edward

John Edwards (Glamorgan/

Welsh Guards)

PC Henry MorganJones


PC William Jones (Glamorgan/

Welsh Guards)

PC Reginald Lovis (Merthyr/Welsh Guards)

PC Arthur Richmond Perkins


PC Aubrey Alfred Smale

(Swansea/Welsh Guards)

14TH SEPTEMBERPC Frederick Charles Lord

(Glamorgan/Grenadier Guards)

15TH SEPTEMBERPC George Robert

Guy (Glamorgan/

Grenadier Guards)

16TH SEPTEMBERPC John Farley


PC Herbert JamesFisher

(Cardiff/Welsh Guards)

PC Augustus Harris (Glamorgan/Welsh Guards)

22ND SEPTEMBERPC Arthur Pugh


25TH SEPTEMBERPC Sidney Ambrose

Phelps (Glamorgan/Welsh Guards)

8TH DECEMBERPC Jack Randall Birch(Swansea/Welsh Guards)

We remember them with pride. Yn angof ni chant fod.

1916 ROLL OF HONOUR

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Chaplain We pray now for this nation, giving thanks for it’straditions of freedom and democracy.

Remembering the part we have played in peaceand conflict over many decades in all parts of theworld. Especially remembering all those who laiddown their lives to attain this freedom.

We pray too that in harmony and truth we maycontinue to seek the way of peace, joining ourprayers together as we say the Lords Prayer.

Chaplain Our Father, who art in heaven,hallowed be thy name;thy kingdom come;thy will be done;on earth as it is in heaven.Give us this day our daily bread.And forgive us our trespasses,as we forgive those who trespasss against us.And lead us not into temptation;but deliver us from evil.For thine is the kingdom,the power, and the glory,for ever and ever. Amen

BLESSINGChaplain Go forth into the world in peace, ‘Be of good

courage, hold fast to that which is good,’ renderto no one evil for evil. Support the weak, helpthe afflicted love and serve the Lord and may thegrace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the love ofGod and the Fellowship of the Holy Spirit bewith you and all whom you love, now and always.Amen

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R E M E M B E R I N G O U R FA L L E N H E R O E S W I T H P R I D E

SERVICE OF

REMEMBRANCEAT THE MEMORIAL GARDENS

POLICE HEADQUARTERS BRIDGEND

LEST WE FORGET

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ACT OF REMEMBRANCEChaplain We have come to the Memorial Gardens to

remember before God our Father all those welove, but now no longer see, who died whilst aserving member of the South Wales Police, and togive thanks to God for their lives and dedication.

Chief Constable LAYING OF WREATHChaplain MEMORIAMChaplain O gracious Lord, help us to listen lovingly to your

Word, that we may find comfort in our grief, light inour darkness, and faith in the midst of doubt;through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen

ROMANS Ch.8 v.31-39; If God is for us, who is against us? He who did not

spare his own Son but gave him up for us all, willhe not also give us all things with him? Who shallbring any charge against God’s elect? It is God whojustifies; who is to condemn? Is it Christ Jesus, whodied, yes, who was raised from the dead, who is atthe right hand of God, who indeed intercedes forus? Who shall separate us from the love of Christ?Shall tribulation, or distress, or persecution, orfamine, or nakedness, or peril, or sword? As it iswritten, “For thy sake we are being killed all theday long; we are regarded as sheep to beslaughtered.” No, in all these things we are morethan conquerors through him who loved us. For Iam sure that neither death, nor life, nor angels, norprincipalities, nor things present, nor things tocome, nor powers, nor height, nor depth, noranything else in all creation, will be able to separateus from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord

A PRAYER FOR THE DEPARTEDChaplain Most merciful God, who in your loving kindness

gave us so much joy through your servants

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departed; we thank you for them and for ourmemories of them. We praise you for your goodness and mercy that followed them all thedays of their life and for their faithfulness in thetasks to which you called them. We bless you thatfor them the tribulations of this world are over andthat death is past; we give them back to you dearlord and we pray that you will bring us with themto the joy of your perfect kingdom, through JesusChrist our Lord. Amen

Chaplain A PRAYER FOR THOSE WHOMOURN

Eternal God we pray for all who mourn, comfortand support and uphold them. Help them to knowyou are always with them and not to think of thedarkness of death, but of the splendour ofeverlasting life in your presence. In Jesus name wepray. Amen

Chaplain A PRAYER FOR THE POLICE Almighty God we bring to you in prayer those who

bear responsibility for maintaining law and order inour land especially members of the police service.

Give them faith, hope, courage and wisdom tocarry out their duties justly and mercifully withoutfear or favour, so that the innocent may beprotected, evil doers be brought to account, therights of all be defended, so that we as a nationmay enjoy the blessing of a just, free and peacefulsociety... In Jesus name we pray. Amen

Chaplain BLESSING God grant to the living, grace; to the departed,

rest, to us and all his servants, life everlasting; andthe blessing of God Almighty, the Father, the Son,and the Holy Spirit be with you and abide with youalways. Amen

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S E R V I C E O F R E M E M B R A N C E

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South Wales Police is currently gatheringinformation about the many serving officersfrom our predecessor forces of Glamorgan,

Swansea, Merthyr Tydfil, Neath and Cardiff whofought and died during the First World War.

We want to ensure we uncover as muchinformation as possible about our proud

history, and the many men who served both the force and their country to ensure they

are never forgotten.All the stories and information collected,

including photographs, letters and newspapercoverage from that time will be shared online

and on Facebook.To make a contribution

please email: [email protected]

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www.south-wales.police.ukwww.southwalespolicemuseum.org.uk

LED BY IWM

service of commemoration & remembrance · nurtured, nourished, by the rain that fell, the blood...

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