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National Association of Retired Police Officers - (CARDIFF BRANCH)
Of Service - To Those Who Served
CLICKING ON THE TEXT BELOW WILL START THE THIN BLUE LINE VIDEO FROM YOU TUBE
South Wales Police
Memorial Page
Unknown Track - Unknown Artist
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The South Wales Police memorial page has been added to our website in order to preserve and locate items that may be of interest to our members either now or in the future.
It is hoped that items located within this page will prove useful especially in relation to those officer who made the ultimate sacrifice.
Any comments that you may have regarding the current and future content of this page would be greatly appreciated, as it is only by receiving your feedback that we can ensure we can truly reflect the wishes of our members.
South Wales Police Memorial & Memorial Gardens
In 2001 South Wales Police unveiled a Memorial Sundial in a garden at Police Headquarters in Bridgend. Made of Welsh slate it contains at its base the inscription:
'To our colleagues who died whilst serving the people of South Wales.'
The sundial formed a prominent feature over the years as the garden and green space grew in popularity especially during the summer months.
Most importantly it was also where the families of those who had lost loved ones could place item such as small plaques and flowers to remember them.
Each November following the Service of Remembrance at the War Memorial a service has also been held in the garden by the Chief Constable to remember colleagues that have died.
Redevelopment of the Headquarters site has made it necessary to relocate the Memorial Sundial and the memorial garden. The Sundial now stands in front of the new pavilion building.
Sundial rededication service 10th November 2017
Whilst the Memorial Garden is now a feature of the whole of the frontage of the Main Headquarters Building. The garden now contains in addition to grassed areas, shrubs and flowers four semi-circular walls on which are slate panels to which are attached plaques containing the names and other details of the officer and police staff who died whilst serving with South Wales Police since its formation in 1969.
Details of those officers and police staff whose names appear on the panels are also recorded within the 'Order of Service' booklet below. To view the booklet please click on the title below:
Service of Commemoration, Remembrance and Re-Dedication
The gallery below contains images of the slate panels and plaques. A grateful thanks is extended to Mr. Nigel Brown who has passed these images onto us for inclusion here. Please consider sharing this information with others especially the families and friends of those who appear on the plaques in order for them to know their loss is not forgotten.
To enlarge the image please click on the thumbnail picture within the gallery. If you hover your mouse over the thumbnail a year will appear the year refers to the first plaque on the slate panel therefore the person you may be seeking could be on one of the adjacent images to the right or left of the image you are on. To view more images within the gallery please click on the see more button at the foot of the gallery
1969
1971
1973
1974
1976
1977
1980
1981
1983
1984
Visiting the Memorial Gardens
Should any member wish to visit the memorial gardens, or know of any one else who might wish to do so please contact the Chief Constable's Staff Oficer as indicated below, who will undertake the necessary arrangements for you or those that might want visit to gain access to the Headquarters Site.
Contact: Chief Inspector Geraint White tel: (01656) 655555 Ext 20650
email: geraint.white@south-wales.pnn.police.uk
Remembrance Library
The links within the library will take the enquirer to the document, poem or video described following the link text which will be coloured light blue. The contents of the items have been made available from a variety of sources. We gratefully acknowledge the help and assistance provided by everyone who have contributed or permitted their work to be placed here.
Remembrance Section
The Great War Centenary - 1914 A booklet published in 2014 remembering with pride those who died in 1914
The Great War Centenary - 1915 A booklet published in 2015 remembering with pride those who died in 1915
The Great War Centenary - 1916 A booklet published in 2016 remembering with pride those who died in 1916
The Great War Centenary - 1917 A booklet published in 2017 remembering with pride those who died in 1917
The Great War Centenary - 1918 A booklet published in 2018 remembering with pride those who died in 1918 and also from injuries sustained in 1919.
Richard Thomas - Policeman, Sportsman, Soldier
A booklet recording the life of this man who was killed at Mametz Woods
The Welsh Guards & Police of South Wales
A booklet describing the long established connection between the Welsh Guards and the Police of South Wales
Ernest Rollings 'The Policeman who ended the war'
A leaflet describing how Ernest Rollings led a raid on a German Headquarters where he recovered 'Top Secret' documents, that resulted in the war ending sooner. He is also subject of an exhibition at 'The Firing Line' within Cardiff Castle that runs from:
1st November 2017 - 2nd February 2018. Ernest's father also served as a Cardiff Police officer.
Ernest Rollings 'The Policeman who ended the war'
The 34 page booklet written based on the research undertaken by
South Wales Police and others into the life and service of this officer.
Poems:
Within the South Wales Police area we are fortunate to have a number of retired police officers who are outstanding when it comes to utilising their retirement for the benefit of others. Whether its writing and recording songs, crime thrillers, undertaking charity events e.g. walks, half and full marathons, jumping out of a perfectly serviceable aircaft or writing poetry the list is in fact endless.
Retired Det. Sgt Arthur Cole is no stranger when it comes to taking up the pen and writing, especially in his collaboration with Nigel Williams in relation the the Terry Mcguire crime thriller series or on his own with regards to the many hundreds of poems.
The poems linked below have been written and reproduced with Arthur's permission and refer to events in war:
"Tanks...The Battle of Cambrai" Since writing this poem, Arthur has been advised that it will actually be
read out at the "Cambrai Memorial" Northern France, on Monday the
20th November 2017, this being the 100th anniversary of the battle.
'A True Welsh Hero' This poem is dedicated to the memory of Denis Patrick Sullivan MM.DCM and has been placed here with kind permission of the author and Ret. Det Insp.Thomas Page. You may be wondering why Thomas Page is mentioned above. Arthur Cole wrote this poem in memory of Toms grandfather Denis. Denis passed away in 1973 when Tom was aged 26. Tom never realised how brave his grandfather was because Denis never ever spoke of the war, and his courageous exploits. it is believed that this is a trait in most war heroes.
The medals that Denis won are on display in the Welsh Regiment Museum, Cardiff Castle. If you would like to read more about Denis Patrick Sullivan please copy the link below into your web browser
http://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/wales-news/read-incredible-story-wwi-hero-8526021
SOUTH WALES POLICE
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2024
We are again rextremely grateful to Mr. Gareth Madge for proding us with a copy of the South Wales Police Remembrance Day Pareade 2024, album of images and a copy of the Order of service. To view the album etc please click on the relevant links below. Some items will open in a separate window on your computer wheras others will appear in your computer's DOWNLOADS folder:
TO VIEW SERVICE CLICK ON LINK OR COPY TO WEB BROWSER
https://youtu.be/3yM0n1QU40g?si=Vn0MghVbVuRA2_ZM
TO VIEW ORDER OF SERVICE: CLICK HERE
GALLERY OF IMAGES - CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
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11/2024 PB
SOUTH WALES POLICE
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2023
We are once again extremely grateful to Mr. Gareth Madge for providing us with a copy of the South Wales Police, Remembrance Day Parade 2023 album of images, as well as a copy of the Order of Service.To view the album of images please click on the link below or copy it into the web browser on your computer:
https://darrenthomasphotography.pixieset.com/swp2023remembranceday/
To view the Order of Service PLEASE CLICK HERE
11/2023
SOUTH WALES POLICE
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2021
The South Wales Police Remembrance Day service at Police Headquarters was again heavily restricted due to the current pandemic. Only representatives from Headquarters based departments were in attendance.
We are most grateful to Mr Gareth Madge for providing us with a copy of the order of service and also a link to a short film of the service at Headquarters.
CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE
TO VIEW THE ORDER OF SERVICE
CLICK ON ABOVE
IMAGE
TO VIEW THE VIDEO PRESENTATION
SOUTH WALES POLICE
REMEMBRANCE DAY 2020
The South Wales Police Remembrance Day service at Police Headquarters was heavily restricted due to the current pandemic. Only representatives from Headquarters based departments were in attendance.
We are most grateful to both Mr Ian Cameron for providing us with some images of the service and also to Mr Gareth Madge who has supplied us with a copy of the order of service and also a link to a short film of the service at Headquarters and of other locations across the force area.
CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW ORDER OF SERVICE
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CLICK ON IMAGE TO ENLARGE
CLICK ON ABOVE IMAGE TO VIEW VIDEO OF SERVICE
Remembrance Day 2019 - Police HQ, Bridgend
This year the NARPO Cardiff branch wreath was laid at the Police War memorial Headquarters by Mr Roger Jones who was assisted by Branch Sec. Mr Alan Greaves. The images below were supplied courtesy of Mr Gareth Madge OBE. We have also been fortunate to receive a copy of a short video compiled from the service. To view the video please click on the link below.
CLICK HERE TO VIEW VIDEO
Remembrance Service 10/11/2017 Images
Our grateful thanks is extended the Chief Insp. Mark Lavanagh Staff Officer to Chief Constable Peter Vaughan who has been kind enough to provide us with some images taken during the the Headquarters Memorial Service.
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Remembrance Service 10/11/2017 - Video Links
The South Wales Police Rememberance Service took place at Police Headquarters, Bridgend yesterday 10th November 2017.
The below video links have been copied from a Facebook site and are produced here for our members to view should they wish to do so. Grateful thanks to Mr. John Cooper of the force communications department for allowing the use of his video footage
LINK No1: https://www.facebook.com/577151514/videos/pcb.1735953473082503/10157649073486515/?type=3&theater&ifg=1
LINK No2: https://www.facebook.com/577151514/videos/pcb.1735953473082503/10157649080886515/?type=3&theater&ifg=1
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