It was March, 1939. The world was tense with anticipation for the coming war. The two dictators, Hitler and Mussolini, were busy carrying out their imperialist machinations on the continent and, at home, the Swansea Air Raid Precaution Corps was busily preparing the town should the conflict spill over the English Channel. The newspapers reminded the people of Swansea daily that “no town, or district, however remote, can be assured of security from some sudden and hideous experience of war.”[1]

But in a little row house at 61 Tirpenry Street, the Williams family’s personal tragedy was unfolding. Mary, now 65 years of age, spent her days reclined in bed, weak from illness. The nights, which were soon to be cut through with the shrill sound of the air raid sirens, were haunted by the sickly wheeze of Mary’s belaboured breaths.[2]

Mary and her husband, Rees’, 39^th wedding anniversary came and went—the celebration dampened by Mary’s growing fragility. And the next day, she passed away, surrounded by family. Immersed in his grief, Rees[3] sat down in the ensuing days to write[4] the words that would accompany his beloved wife to the grave:

Sleep my beloved free from all pain
Till dawn, God willing, we’ll meet again
To dwell with him in Heaven above
In peace, in that realm of eternal love.[5] 

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[1] “Swansea A. R. P. Appeal.” South Wales Daily Post. Mar. 27, 1939, p. 4, col. 2. Digital Images. FindMyPast. https://www.findmypast.com/image-viewer?issue=BL%2F0004705%2F19390327&page=4, accessed Jan. 11, 2026.

[2] Mary was suffering from cardiac disease and chronic bronchitis.

[3] Rees Williams of Tirpenry was a brother of my 2x great grandmother.

[4] According to my Grampie’s cousin, Rees was the author of the poem on Mary’s tombstone. I also search various parts of the poem online, and didn’t find other copies of it.

[5] Mary and Rees’ tombstone reads, “In loving memory of/My dear wife/Mary Williams/Tirpenry St. Morriston/Who fell asleep March 26th, 1939/Aged 65 years.//Sleep my beloved free from all pain/Till dawn, God willing, we’ll meet again/To dwell with him in Heaven above/In peace, in that realm of eternal love.//Also of Rees Williams/Beloved husband of the above/Who died June 16th, 1946//Eternal rest grant unto them O Lord”