Notes: Ethel, aged one, died when a souvenir shell brought home by her uncle exploded, killing her and fatally injuring her sister and two cousins. Her uncle Private John Bagnall was seriously injured as well as her mother Sarah Roberts and her aunt Mary Bagnall. The children were buried in two graves in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt, where a memorial to the four girls was dedicated in March 2016.
Notes: Mary, aged four, died when a souvenir shell brought home by her uncle exploded, killing her sister and fatally injuring her and her two cousins. Her uncle Private John Bagnall was seriously injured as well as her mother Sarah Roberts and her aunt Mary Bagnall. The children were buried in two graves in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt, where a memorial to the four girls was dedicated in March 2016.
Notes: Sarah, aged 1, died when a souvenir shell brought home by her father exploded, killing or fatally injuring her and her three cousins. Her mother Mary Bagnall was seriously injured as well as her father and aunt Sarah Roberts. The children were buried in two graves in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt, where a memorial to the four girls was dedicated in March 2016.
Notes: Violet, aged seven, died when a souvenir shell brought home by her uncle exploded, killing or fatally injuring her and her three cousins. Her uncle Private John Bagnall was seriously injured as well as her aunts Mary Bagnall and Sarah Roberts. The children were buried in two graves in Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt, where a memorial to the four girls was dedicated in March 2016.
Report of the shell explosion that killed four girls and injured three adults, North Wales Chronicle 10th March 1916.
Newspaper report
Report of the explosion giving the names of the victims.
Newspaper report
Memorial to Sarah Bagnall, Ethel Roberts, Mary Roberts and Violet Williams at Holy Trinity Churchyard, Gwersyllt, dedicated March 2016.
Helen Smith (Thomas)
Place of birth: Swansea
Service: Child
Death: 1993, Swansea, Cause not known
Notes: Helen Smith, born 1908, was the daughter of Alfred and Elizabeth Smith of Swansea who emigrated to America when Helen was a few months old. In 1915 they decided to return to Swansea, and sailed on the Lusitania. When the ship was torpedoed on 7th May 1915 Helen had become separated from her parents and baby brother Hubert. They died, but she was rescued by a Canadian journalist, Ernest Cowper. She was reunited with her aunt Cecelia Owens, another passenger who had lost her two sons in the sinking. She later married John Henry Thomas and lived the rest of her life in Swansea.
Helen Smith with her rescuer Ernest Cowper. Photograph taken in Queenstown, County Cork, Ireland. Helen is wearing new clothes donated by local well-wishers.
Newspaper report (1)
Report of the story of Lusitania survivor Helen Smith (1). Cambrian Daily Leader 10 May 1915
Newspaper report (2)
Report of the story of Lusitania survivor Helen Smith (2). Cambrian Daily Leader 10 May 1915
Newspaper report (3)
Report of the story of Lusitania survivor Helen Smith (3). Cambrian Daily Leader 10 May 1915
Margaret Watts
Place of birth: Llanelli
Service: Child
Notes: In September 1915 11 year old Margaret Watts held a bazaar at home, selling ‘all her toys and little ornaments’ over two days. She raised half a guinea (10/6d) towards the cost of the Llanelly Motor Ambulance
Reference: WaW0234
Newspaper report
Report of Margaret Watts’s bazaar. Llanelly Star 25th September 1915.
Nancy Davies
Place of birth: Swansea
Service: Child performer
Notes: ‘Little Nancy Davies’, was billed as ‘Swansea’s little star’. She was a highly regarded child comedienne who appeared in fund-raising concerts in the Swansea area in 1918 and became a regular at the Swansea Empire. She also appeared on the bill of the Cardiff Empire.
Reference: WaW0456
Newspaper advertisement
Nancy Davies’s name on the bill of the Swansea Empire. Cambria Daily Leader 18th April 1919
Newspaper report
Review of Nancy Davies at the Swansea Empire. South Wales Weekly Post 10th May 1919
Newspaper report
Promotional piece about Nancy Davies. Cambria Daily Leader 15th November 1919