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RMS Lusitania - Swansea connections

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RMS  Lusitania May 2024 will mark the 109 th anniversary of the sinking of RMS Lusitania .  RMS  Mauretania Launched by the Cunard Line during 1906, Lusitania was the largest ship until the completion of Mauretania three months later.   Lusitania was awarded the Blue Riband during 1908 for the fastest Atlantic crossing, after her second voyage when Lusitania arrived at Sandy Hook, after being at sea for 4 days, 19 hours and 53 minutes. Captain William Thomas Turner 1915, 7 th May whilst on her 202 nd voyage trans-Atlantic crossing from New York to Liverpool, captained by William Thomas Turner was sunk after the German U-boat U-20 commanded by Walther Schwieger fired a torpedo 11 miles off the Old Head of Kinsale, County Cork, Ireland.     Abroad were 1,962 passengers and 696 crew.   The Cambrian Daily Leader 8th May 1915 The torpedo hit the Lusitania on the starboard bow, and moments later a second explosion erupted within the Lusitania ’s hull where the torpedo had struck.
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Richard Hughes

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  The Tortured Poets Department Taylor Swift 2024 April 19 th marks the release of Taylor Swift’s latest album  The Tortured Poets Department  where Taylor makes a reference to Dylan Thomas.  So, what else connects April 19 th to Dylan? Richard Arthur Warren Hughes We must turn to 1900, Richard Hughes was born Richard Arthur Warren Hughes in Weybridge, Surrey.   His father, civil servant, Arthur Hughes and his mother, Louisa Grace Warren.   The 1901 Census, Richard aged 11 months is living at 136 St. Mary’s Road Beeching, Walton on Thames, Surrey.   His father, Arthur, 39, occupation is a Clerk in Public Record Office. Arthur dies December 1905. 1901 Census 136 St. Mary’s Road Beeching, Walton on Thames, Surrey 1911 Census 92 Park Road, Lee Roche, Caterham A decade later, 1911, Richard, now 11, is living at 92 Park Road, Lee Roche, Caterham.   His mother, Louisa, 40, occupation is Tuition and Private Means. Richard was educated at Charterhouse School, Godalming, Surrey.   Richa
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Porthcawl Cemetery - Thomas Wallace Shrimpton & John Francis Teskey

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  SS  Samtampa Porthcawl Cemetery.  The victims of the 39 crew members of the SS Samtampa , who perished during April 1947, of Mumbles Lifeboat disaster are buried here at Porthcawl Cemetery. However, a few years earlier, Thomas Wallace Shrimpton of the Royal New Zealand Air Force and John Francis Teskey of the Royal Canadian Air Force, were buried here following their plane, Boulton Paul Defiant MK I, crashed into the sea off Aberavon Beach. Aberavon Beach Sker beach 1939, Sker beach and Margam beach had been used for air-to-ground training range.  That April, the No.9 Armament Training Section had been established.  The range which consisted of 4x3.4 sq. screen targets situated on the north/south from Margam to Sker.  When the tide out a further 8 fabric targets had been laid on the beach.  The air-to-air firing had carried out over the Bristol Channel.  Boulton Paul Defiant MK I 22 nd September 1942, Flight T4074 , having been seen by residents was in an air-air exercise.   Hav
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Handley Page Halifax Mk II, flight JB870 - 16th/17th April 1943

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 17 th April marks the 81 anniversary of Handley Page Halifax Mk II, flight JB870 , of the 78 Squadron being shot down over Goyencourt, Somme, France. Handley Page Halifax Mk II The previous night, 16 th April, the Handley Page Halifax had taken off at 21.15, from RAF Linton-on-Ouse , North Yorkshire.  Its target was the Skoda factory, Pilsen. RAF  Linton-on-Ouse Yorkshire RAF Linton-on-Ouse , North Yorkshire, was opened during 1937, as a bomber airfield.   On the outbreak of the Second World War, bombers, flew from Linton-on-Ouse , to drop propaganda leaflets over Germany.   The airfield was eventually used to launch bombing raids on Norway, the Netherlands, Germany and Italy. The Luftwaffe bombed the airfield during May 1941, where 13 men were killed. At the end of the war the airfield was used in the transporting of passengers and freight back to the UK. Helmut Bergmann Flight JB870 , had a crew of 7, was shot down by the German night fighter pilot, Leutnant Helmut Bergman
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