Swansea Family History

  In this short blog, I will be looking at a special mother.  But we will start it at the sinking of the French liner Champlain . The Champlain was a 28,124-ton French ocean liner, having been built during 1932 and with her maiden voyage being completed that June.   At this time, the Champlain was the largest, fastest and luxurious cabin class liner afloat.   By the outbreak of the Second World War, the Champlain was pressed in evacuee work, transporting refugees including Jews from Europe to safety of North America.   Retuning on her last trip, from St Lawrence, Canada to Casablanca on the 17 th June 1940, the Champlain with 381 passengers and crew had struck a German air laid mine whilst swinging at anchor in the waters off La Pallice, France. She heeled over on her side.   A few days later the German U-Boat U-65 , fired a torpedo into her hulk. At the time of the, it was reported that there were at least 300 fatalities, but this figure was only 11 or 12. The Champlain was

  In this article I will be looking at the blacksmith who worked and resided in Sketty.  The name Sketty in Welsh is Sgeti which itself comes from the Welsh Y Sgeti – “The Sketty”.  However, the name has been interpreted as a corruption of “Ynys Ceti” – “Ceti’s Island” We begin this article at 65 Vivian Road, the site of Sketty Library. This year it celebrates its 99th birthday. The architect was  Ernest Morgan , whose other work includes the original Swansea Police Station in Alexandra Road, Mayhill School, Swansea Technical College extension and the residential area of Townhill. The library will feature in a future article later in the year, so today we will turn 180 degrees to face  Mike’s Autos,  which is a  garage  today, but was previously the Sketty blacksmith’s  forge . The blacksmith in question was  George Blundell .  So, who was  George ? We have to look at the article “ Death of Sketty  “ Grand Old Man ”” published in  The Cambrian  dated 4th January 1907, to establish who 

 Below is the graph show the number of  burials and commemorations with different countries around the World.  

  Below is the graph show the number of  burials and commemorations with different countries around the World.  

 Below are the names of those who lost their lives during the First World War Abbott , A. British Army – (Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea) Abbott , H. R. British Army – (Resident at Swansea) Abrahall , A. E. British Army – (Enlisted at Swansea) Ace , A. British Army – (Born at Swansea) Ace , T. T. British Army – (Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea) Ackland , S. British Army – (Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea) Adams , J. G. British Army – (Born at Swansea) Adams , P. J. British Army – (Resident at Swansea) Adams , W. J. British Army – (Born, Resident and Enlisted at Swansea) Adley , E. E. British Army – (Enlisted at Swansea) Ahearn , D. Mercantile Marine Ahearn , W. Royal Navy (1)