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Reginald Hamer and World War One. Fighting was severe in the early months of the war. As the German army advanced, so the French and Belgian and British armies fought back.
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Reginald Hamer and World War One Fighting was severe in the early months of the war. As the German army advanced, so the French and Belgian and British armies fought back. Fighting was particularly fierce around the Belgian town of Ypres, which the German Army was attacking and the British Army was defending.
On Monday, 26th October, 1914, Guardsman Hamer was ‘Killed in Action’ near Ypres. At the time of his death, Reginald had been ‘On Active Service’ for just twenty-three days. At the time of his death, Reginald was three months short of his twenty-fifth birthday. He was unmarried.
Reginald was buried in a temporary grave, outside Ypres. Dead soldiers were not brought home for burial.
At the end of the war, The Imperial War Graves Commission, [ I.W.G.C ], was established to provide and maintain suitable cemeteries and memorials to honour Great Britain’s dead. The I.W.G.C. is now the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, [ C.W.G.C. ]. The bodies of thousands of British soldiers were exhumed from their temporary graves and re-interred in War Graves Cemeteries.
Reginald’s grave can be found in Zantvoorde British Cemetery, near Ypres, in Belgium. A photograph showing the headstone that marks the grave of Reginald Charles Hamer.
Descendants of Thomas and Martha Hamer live locally, indeed some have been students at Afon Taf High School. Some family papers and photographs relating to Reginald still survive with various family members. Particularly poignant is a letter sent to Reginald, by his mother, Martha Hamer.
Bear in mind that the date on which Reginald died wasMonday, 26th October, 1914. Writing from 1, Diana Street, Troedyrhiw, on 4th November, Martha Hamer had no idea that her son was already dead. The following slide contains an extract from Martha’s letter to her son ...
My Dear Reggie,We received your letter safe on Friday and we were all glad to hear from you.Dear Son, it is awful to be here and think that you are so far from home and in such danger… but my boy, the same God is on the battlefield as is here and only trust in him and if it’s God’s will, He will spare you to come home safe again.… We all hope and pray that you will be spared … 4th Nov. 1914
Later in November, Martha’s last letter to her son was returned to her by the Army authorities, with some personal effects that Reginald had taken with him to France, such as family photographs. At the end of the war medals were awarded to surviving soldiers. Medals were awarded posthumously to soldiers who had been killed in action. These were posted on to the soldiers’ next of kin.
Reginald’s parents would have been sent his medals. The three medals awarded to Reginald were : The 1914 Star, The British War Medal and The Victory Medal. The 1914 Star.
No-one seems to know where Reginald’s medals are now. More than likely the medals were shared out among family members who may have lost them or put them somewhere safe only to forget about them. Medals similar to those that were awarded to Reginald can be bought today, from antique dealersand from specialists selling militaria.
On Wednesday, 28th September, 1921, at 4.30 p.m., The Troedyrhiw Fallen Heroes War Memorial was unveiled.
The figure of a soldier, on top of The War Memorial, Troedyrhiw.
Major-General C. J. Deverell, C.B., D.S.O. performed the unveiling ceremony.
The front face of the war memorial has an inscription in Welsh and a dedication in English. Names of the dead soldiers follow.
‘Arwyr y byd heria’r bedd’ is the Welsh inscription, and means, ‘The heroes of the world challenge the grave’, when translated into English.
This is followed by a dedication, in English … ‘ THIS MEMORIAL, RAISED BY THE INHABITANTS, IS DEDICATED TO THE MEMORY OF THE MEN OF TROEDYRHIW WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES FOR KING AND COUNTRY IN THE GREAT WAR, 1914 – 1918.’
Following the inscriptions come lists of the men who gave their lives for King and country. In total, the names of fifty-six are inscribed on the war memorial. The list begins ... CPL. R. C. HAMER 1st G. GDS.
If you would like to see the war memorial in Troedyrhiw Park, then why not take a walk and go and see it.
At the junction of Yew Street and Bridge Street, turn right and cross the road carefully.
Taking a left turn walk alongside the school yard until you reach the park and the memorial.
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