North Wales Police have today (Monday, August 4) marked the centenary of the outbreak of the First World War with a small service outside its Headquarters in Colwyn Bay.
Chief Constable Mark Polin led the commemoration, which involved officers and staff, by reading out the names of the 14 police officers who lost their lives.
In 1914, the North Wales Police area was served by five separate constabularies – Anglesey, Caernarvonshire, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Meirioneth. In total 104 officers from across the five constabularies served during the war.
Chief Constable Mark Polin said: “It is important that we all take time to come together and remember the great sacrifices made by the many people who gave their lives.
“We also pay our respects to the Police officers who left our Welsh communities to protect our country, so we could live our lives freely. By reflecting on the sacrifices of the fallen, and the great privileges that we enjoy today, we honour and pay tribute to their bravery, commitment and dedication. By remembering the fallen today, they will all live on forever.”
During the ceremony bugler Mr Bryn Davies, a former soldier with the Royal Welch Fusiliers played ‘The Last Post’ and the flag was flown at half-mast.
The details of the 14 police officers from North Wales who died for their country are:
- Pte. 14610 Albert Jones, 1st Bn. Grenadier Guards: Formerly PC 8 Jones stationed at Mold. Killed in action, aged 22, on 26th October 1914 at Ypres. Commemorated on the Menin Gate, Belgium, panel 9 and 11.
- L/Cpl. 14867 Thomas Charles Orris, 2nd Bn. Grenadier Guards: Formerly PC 19 Orris stationed at Bangor. Died, aged 27, on 8th December 1914 at No. 13 General Hospital, Boulogne, of wounds received in action. Buried at Boulogne Eastern Cemetery, France, plot III. B. 59.
- Pte. 1784 John Gregson Jones, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 74 Jones stationed at Connah’s Quay. Killed in action, aged 25, on 29th April 1916 at Ypres. Buried at Potijze Burial Ground cemetery, Belgium, plot B.6.
- Pte. 825 Robert John Hughes, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 32 Hughes stationed at Shotton. Killed in action, aged 29, on 21st June 1916. Buried at the Brandhoek Military Cemetery, Belgium, plot II. F. 6.
- Pte. 2248 John Lewis Thomas, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 84 Thomas stationed at Llandudno. Killed in action, aged 22, on 10th September 1916 at Ginchy, Somme Valley. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, panel reference Pier and Face 7.D.
- Pte. 1638 Richard Morris, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 90 Morris stationed at Bangor. Killed in action on 10th September 1916 at Ginchy, Somme Valley. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, panel reference Pier and Face 7.D.
- Pte. 1364 William Pritchard, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards, Prince of Wales’ Coy: Formerly PC 27 Pritchard stationed at Blaenau Ffestiniog. Killed in action, aged 24, on 16th September 1916 at Ginchy, Somme Valley. Commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial, France, panel reference Pier and Face 7.D
- Pte. 2249 John Henry Williams, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 79 Williams stationed at Llangollen. Killed in action, aged 29, on 15th November 1916 at the Somme. Buried at Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France, plot II. E. 42.
- Sgt. 40849 Steven Evans, Royal Welch Fusiliers: Formerly PC 39 Evans stationed at Llandudno. Killed in action, aged 30, on 8th April 1917 at Delville Wood, Somme Valley. Commemorated on the Arras Memorial, panel Bay 6
- Pte. 3601 Robert O. Roberts, 1st Bn. Welsh Guards: Formerly PC 51 Roberts stationed at Conwy. Killed in action, aged 25, on 1st December 1917 at Cambrai. Commemorated on the Cambrai Memorial, Louverval, France, panel 3.
- Sgt. 345596 Reginald Pierce, 24th Bn. Royal Welch Fusiliers: Formerly PC 55 Pierce stationed at Wrexham. Killed in action, aged 33, on 10th November 1918. Buried at Kezelberg Military Cemetery, Belgium, plot I. D. 26.
- Pte. 1242 Robert Jones, 5th Reserve Bn, Guards Machine Gun Regiment Attached to 1st Bn Welsh Guards): Formerly PC 82 Jones stationed at Caernarfon. Died, aged 25, on 13th November 1918 of illness contracted whilst on active service in France and Flanders. Buried at Pentrefelin (Tabor) Congregational Chapelyard.
- Pte. 20801 David L. Jones, 1st Bn. Dorset Regiment: Formerly PC 33 Jones stationed at Penmaenmawr. Died, aged 30, on 18th November 1918 at Princess Christian’s Hospital, Manchester (where he was being treated for wounds received in action in France) as a result of the influenza epidemic. Buried at Dwygyfylchi cemetery.
- L/Cpl. P/2934 Harold William Davies, Military Mounted Police: Formerly PC 74 Davies stationed at Connah’s Quay. Joined the army in December 1915. Died aged 25 on 2nd August 1919 of influenza whilst serving in the Army of Occupation. Buried at Cologne Southern Cemetery, Germany, plot IX. C. 16.
