One of the papers, presented by Dr Gethin Matthews looked at the memorials across Wales which commemorate those killed at sea. His study also included, alongside the civic memorials, those created by specific communities which are diverse in their message and design.
These include a number of naval images and whilst listening to his talk I couldn't help notice the few slides that included airships alongside the more numerous images of steaming battleships.
Although Dr Matthews made no reference to the airships in his talk, it seemed another case of seeing them if you were looking for them!
Gethin kindly reviewed his slides and shared the following images that show airships.
There is an airship on the Rhiwderin image, Tabernacle, St Paul’s stained glass window and the Morriston memorial also has an outline of an airship.
Also featured is a wireless operator, to commemorate the son whos Mother advised him to enlist as a such, being a less dangerous service than the Western Front and was drowned when his ship was torpedoed.
The talk showed a variety of WW1 memorials from across Wales and illustrated the variety of responses to the need for communities to commemorate the war, and which gave an idea of how the 'Great War' was understood in the intermediate post-war period.
Notes: Dr Gethin Matthews is a lecturer in History at Swansea University in a post funded by Coleg Cymraeg Cenedlaethol. His new book 'having a Go at the Kaiser' is to be published in November.
