In Proud & Honoured Memory 2

November 2021 sees the publication of ‘In Proud & Honoured Memory 2’, compiled by Ceri Stennett, that pays tribute to men and women who fell during the Second World War from the Whitchurch area of north Cardiff.

The book is a follow-up to the 2018 publication that dealt with First World War casualties and was a collaboration between Ceri and fellow Cardiff historian, Gwyn Prescott.

The war memorial outside Whitchurch Library carries 154 names of those who lost their lives between 1939-1945, as well as several who succumbed to their wounds / illness in the immediate post-war years. Apart from service personnel, the memorial also remembers ten civilians who died as a result of air raids on the city.

In addition, Ceri has found a further 103 casualties who had connections to the area and these have also been included. Neighbouring areas covered are Llandaff North, Birchgrove, Rhiwbina and Tongwynlais, which were also included in the first volume. From sixteen-year-old Merchant Navy Cadet, Emrys Williams, to seventy-five-year-old Civilian Air Raid casualty, Elizabeth Gilbert, all their stories are told.

The book also looks at other aspects from that time with chapters on Whitchurch at war, parishioners decorated for gallantry, prisoners of war, other places of commemoration and medals and awards issued.

There is a final chapter that remembers Richard Fice, a musician with the Royal Marines from Rhiwbina, who lost his life in the IRA bombing of his barracks in Deal, Kent, in 1989. His name was added to the memorial with his family’s permission and is the only one not connected with either of the World Wars.

The limited-edition book is fully illustrated and runs to some 240 pages. Many images have been made available by kind permission of Media Wales as well as families of the fallen and from Ceri’s own collection.

Published by Candy Jar Books, Cardiff (candy-jar.co.uk) and priced at £14.99. It will be available from the publishers, as well as direct from Ceri (ceristennett@gmail.com) and from Siop y Felin, Merthyr Road, Whitchurch.

Ceri said: ‘It has been a real privilege to undertake this research over the last few years and to discover the remarkable stories of heroism and sacrifice. I hope that the book will stand as a fitting tribute to them all and give our current generation an opportunity to reflect on their service.’