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World War 1
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The following
photographs and documents relate to Frank Hopkins, a Swansea Harbour
Trust employee who served as an Infantryman in the Anson Battalion,
Royal Naval Division, during the 1914-1918 war. Frank Hopkins was the
uncle of former Swansea
H M Customs Officer Peter Hopkins, to whom we are grateful for giving
us this fascinating insight into this family’s experience
of the Great War
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This
photograph of Frank Hopkins in uniform was taken in June 1917
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Dear Mrs Hopkins
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.
Yours sincerely
J
Lloyd Atkins
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Letter from France dated 11th November 1917. |
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Dear Sir
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 Dear Sir
Yours faithfully
Talfourd
Strick
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Letter from Swansea Harbour Trust dated 12th November
1917 |
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The King commands me
to assure
you of the true sympathy of his Majesty
and The Queen in your sorrow |
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Note of sympathy from King & Queen |
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Sir or Madam
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, Sir or Madam
Your obedient Servant
W. Flemming
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Letter from War Office dated 18th January 1918
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A
photograph of Frank Hopkins as a Prisoner of War |
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Dear Sir,
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.
Yours faithfully
P W Phillips
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Letter from Swansea Harbour Trust dated 26th March 1921
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Upon
resigning from the Swansea Harbour Trust, Frank Hopkins emigrated to begin a
new life Canada
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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. |
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World War 2
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The following photos show some of the damage inflicted
on Swansea Docks
by an enemy air-raid on the night of 17th/18th January 1941.
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Air raid damage to D
Shed Wharf.
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Inside of D Shed with the cargo covered by
sheets |
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D Shed East interior.
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View of the centre of D Shed |
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D Shed Wharf. |
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D Shed Wharf. |
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G Shed. |
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G Shed. |
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J Shed and J Shed Annex. |
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L Shed. |
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Machine Shop Harbour Road. |
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Machine Shop Harbour Road, ( exterior ) |
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Harbour Road Blacksmiths Shop.
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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.
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The tug Queenforth newly painted and
overhauled after her sinking. |
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P38 Lightning fighter planes on Phoenix Wharf
discharged from tanker Cayuse 23rd Sept' 1944.
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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. |
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Loading a 22,000 lb bomb. |
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14 of these 22,000lb bombs were shipped aboard the ss Frederick C Hicks in August 1945. |
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Bombs in N Shed 16th June 1944.
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