Memorial details

Memorial type
Trophy / Relic
District
Monmouth
Town
Chepstow
County
Gwent
Country
Wales
Commemoration
First World War (1914-1918), VC or GC Recipients
Ceremony
  • Unveiled
    Date: 8th January 1922
    Attended by: Mrs Smith of Newport, sister of William Williams, V.C.
Lost
Not lost
WM Reference
36934

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Current location

Town Centre
Chepstow
Monmouth
Gwent
NP16 5XJ
Wales

OS Grid Ref: ST 53386 93916
Denomination: Undefined

View location on Google Maps
Description
Gun taken from a captured German submarine with dedicatory brass plaque attached to it. Inscription in white lettering. Additional inscription in Welsh and English on the paving slabs in front of the gun.
Inscription
Brass plaque attached to gun: "THIS GUN, TAKEN FROM A CAPTURED/ GERMAN SUBMARINE, WAS PRESENTED BY/ HIS MAJESTY KING GEORGE THE FIFTH/ TO THE TOWN OF CHEPSTOW IN/ RECOGNITION OF THE AWARD OF THE/ VICTORIA CROSS TO ABLE SEAMAN WILLIAM/ CHARLES WILLIAMS, R.F.R. OF THIS TOWN./ DURING THE LANDING FROM THE "RIVER/ CLYDE" AT V. BEACH, SEDDUL BAHR, HE/ ASSISTED IN REPLACING IN POSITION THE/ LIGHTERS FORMING THE BRIDGE TO THE/ SHORE AND WHICH HAD BROKEN ADRIFT,/ HOLDING ON TO A LINE IN THE WATER FOR/ OVER AN HOUR UNTIL KILLED (25TH APRIL 1915)."/ Paving slabs in front of the gun: In memory of Able Seaman William C Williams who was awarded the Victoria Cross for his bravery in assisting the landing of troops at Gallipoli on/ 25 April 1915. Standing in the water, under heavy fire, he held a rope to the boats that formed a bridge to the shore, for over an hour before being killed./ Er cof am Llongwr Cyflawn William C Williams a dderbyniodd y Victoria Cross am ei ddewrder yn cynorthwyo milwyr i lanio yn Gallipoli ar/ 25 Ebrill 1915. Cyn cael ei ladd, safodd yn y dwr yn ystod awr a mwy o frwydro ffyrnig yn gafael ym y rhaff i’r cychod oedd yn ffurfio pont i’r tir.
Inscription legible?
yes
Names on memorial
Williams, William Charles
See details
Commemorations
  • First World War (1914-1918)
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: rank, surname, date of death, service, place of death, forenames, manner of death, additional, decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
  • VC or GC Recipients
    Total names on memorial: 1
    Served and returned: 0
    Died: 1
    Exact count: yes
    Information shown: rank, surname, date of death, service, place of death, forenames, manner of death, additional, decorations
    Order of information: Undefined
Components
  • Gun
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Metal
  • Plaque
    Measurements: Undefined
    Materials: Brass
Condition
History
UPPER LEFT HAND CORNER OF THE PLAQUE HAS BEEN DENTED AND MAKES A FEW OF THE LETTERS HARD TO READ
Trust fund/Scholarship
No
Purpose: Unknown or N/A
Responsibility
CHEPSTOW TOWN COUNCIL
Reference
  • Gloucestershire Echo - Monday 09 January 1922 MEMORIAL TO CHEPSTOW'S FALLEN
  • 'THE GALLIPOLIAN', AUTUMN 1999

This record comprises all information held by IWM’s War Memorials Register for this memorial. Where we hold a names list for the memorial, this information will be displayed on the memorial record. Please check back as we are adding more names to the database.

This information is made available under a Creative Commons BY-NC licence.

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© WMR-36934

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