Plaque | War dead, Civilian war dead | WW1, WW2

Swire war memorial - 1

Inscription

To the glory of God & the memory of those Taikoo men who died for King & Country.
{A list of 17 names of those who died in WW1, followed by a list of 69 names who died in WW2. See Subjects commemorated for the names.}

The names are grouped by brief company identifier, which we’ve recognised as follows:
B&S - Butterfield & Swire
CN Co - China Navigation Company Limited
TD & E Co - Shipbuilding, Hong Kong
JS &S - John Swire & Sons Ltd
TSR Co - Taikoo Sugar Refinery.

Site: London Scottish Regiment + Swire war memorial (3 memorials)

SW1, Buckingham Gate, 59, Swire House

Disappointingly we have failed to find a photo of the building that used to be on this site.

Swire is an international shipping company and 'Taikoo' is its Chinese name. We'd never heard of the company and then, just a few days after working on this entry, a character in a film we were watching explained his past presence in China by "I was working for Swire", and we knew what he meant.

2017: someone who tried to view these memorials has told us that he was told they are not here and never were. We took our photos in 2015 so they were in situ then.

2019: Andrew Behan has researched some of the names on this memorial. While doing so he spotted a discrepancy concerning the S.S. Shuntien: 'The Roll of Honour of the Merchant Navy and Fishing Fleets 1939-1947' held at The National Archives, Kew lists a total of 71 officers and men who died when that ship sank. But the data we received from the CWGC gives, on panel 97, a total of only 48 officers and men lost from that ship.

The sad story of the SS Shuntien is told on Brynberg's page. When the ship went down it was carrying a large number of prisoners of war. This is reminiscent of the sinking of the Arandora Star which was deporting a many Italians and Germans who had been living in England.

Credit for this entry to: Alan Patient of www.plaquesoflondon.co.uk

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This section lists the subjects commemorated on the memorial on this page:
Swire war memorial - 1

Subjects commemorated i

World War 1

We'd always assumed that this war was known as the Great War until WW2 came a...

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World War 2

Sorry, we've done no research on WW2, it's just too big a subject. But do vis...

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J. W. Bennett

CN Co. Mate Anshun. Andrew Behan has researched this man: Chief Officer Jame...

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D. Blackman

Andrew Behan has researched this man: Date of birth is not known. Blackman, ...

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Show all 89

This section lists the other memorials at the same location as the memorial on this page:
Swire war memorial - 1

Also at this site i

London Scottish Regiment

London Scottish Regiment

{Regimental badge:} London Scottish, strike sure. {Beneath the badge:} On ...

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Swire  war memorial - 2

Swire war memorial - 2

The names, given on the other plaque, are not Chinese (being Smith, etc.) so ...

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Nearby Memorials

Union Chapel - foundation

Union Chapel - foundation

N1, Compton Terrace, Union Chapel

The two foundation stones can be seen below the more ornate plaque. We do like their plain multi-layered frames. The building was threat...

1 subject commemorated
Henry VIII’s Manor House - Cheyne Walk

Henry VIII’s Manor House - Cheyne Walk

SW3, Cheyne Walk, 23

Royal Borough of Kensington and Chelsea King Henry VIII’s Manor House stood here until 1753 when it was demolished after the death of it...

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Marie Lloyd - E8

Marie Lloyd - E8

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Marie Lloyd, 1870 - 1922, music hall artiste lived here. Greater London Council

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Samuel Taylor Coleridge - W14

Samuel Taylor Coleridge - W14

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London County Council Samuel Taylor Coleridge, 1772 - 1834, poet and philosopher, lived here.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator
King George Tupou V

King George Tupou V

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We wonder if erecting this plaque was part of the deal for De La Rue getting Tonga's currency printing business.

1 subject commemorated, 2 creators

Previously viewed

Lord Trenchard

Lord Trenchard

SW1, Victoria Embankment, Victoria Embankment Gardens - Whitehall section

Unveiled by Prime Minister Harold Macmillan.

1 subject commemorated, 1 creator