' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:51 am
The 100th anniversary
World War One: Death of Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart MP marked
As an MP, Crichton-Stuart was known for his hard work in the constituency - which then stretched to Cowbridge and Llanstrisant - and stood as a guarantor for £90 to Cardiff City Football Club.
BBC
02/10/2015
Lt Col Ninian Crichton-Stuart in his uniform in 1914 and as an MP
The 100th anniversary of the death of Wales' only MP to be killed in World War One is being marked in Cardiff.
Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart was shot in the head as he rallied his troops serving with the 6th Battalion Welsh Regiment on 2 October 1915.
The 32-year-old lieutenant colonel had been elected as Unionist MP for Cardiff in 1910 but was re-called to serve after the outbreak of the war.
A wreath will be laid at his statue at Gorsedd Gardens in the city centre.
Crichton-Stuart, the second son of the Marquess of Bute, was one of 22 MPs to die during the war. Another 24 members of the House of Lords were killed.
As an MP, Crichton-Stuart was known for his hard work in the constituency - which then stretched to Cowbridge and Llanstrisant - and stood as a guarantor for £90 to Cardiff City Football Club.
Wearing a bowler hat, he ceremoniously helped kick off the first match at the club's new stadium in 1910 which was named Ninian Park in his honour.
Crichton-Stuart had served as a lieutenant with the Scots Guards until 1907 but then moved to Cardiff to pursue a career in politics.
'Marooned'
After being elected as an MP, his interests in the House of Commons were mainly around the Army and Navy, while back in Wales he became commanding officer of the 6th Welsh Regiment in 1911.
When war was declared, the regiment - made up of volunteers from Swansea and Neath - became the first Welsh territorial regiment to head for France.
His granddaughter Marietta Crichton-Stuart has researched his life and visited where he fought and died in the second phase of the Battle of Loos.
One story about his death is that the he was leading his troops to save a soldier left behind during a retreat; another version is more mundane.
"The battalion were marooned in this section of trench and had run out of ammunition and were under attack from the Germans on three sides," says Marietta.
"My grandfather died on the fire step of the trench directing the machine gun to pick out a line of fire.
"This was in the days before steel helmets and he was shot in the head and died instantly."
Crichton-Stuart is buried in the town of Bethune.
The 6th Battalion suffered heavy losses during the war, with only 30 survivors from the 842 men who set out. But there were still veterans' reunions in Swansea until the late 1960s.
Marietta's father Michael was only six months old when Crichton-Stuart was killed. He later joined the Scots Guards himself and named one of his sons Ninian.
Although Ninian Park has now gone, the name is still remembered in a school and streets in the Grangetown and Riverside areas.
His name is also on the Grangetown war memorial.
World War One: Death of Lord Ninian Crichton Stuart MP marked
As an MP, Crichton-Stuart was known for his hard work in the constituency - which then stretched to Cowbridge and Llanstrisant - and stood as a guarantor for £90 to Cardiff City Football Club.
BBC
02/10/2015
Lt Col Ninian Crichton-Stuart in his uniform in 1914 and as an MP
The 100th anniversary of the death of Wales' only MP to be killed in World War One is being marked in Cardiff.
Lord Ninian Edward Crichton-Stuart was shot in the head as he rallied his troops serving with the 6th Battalion Welsh Regiment on 2 October 1915.
The 32-year-old lieutenant colonel had been elected as Unionist MP for Cardiff in 1910 but was re-called to serve after the outbreak of the war.
A wreath will be laid at his statue at Gorsedd Gardens in the city centre.
Crichton-Stuart, the second son of the Marquess of Bute, was one of 22 MPs to die during the war. Another 24 members of the House of Lords were killed.
As an MP, Crichton-Stuart was known for his hard work in the constituency - which then stretched to Cowbridge and Llanstrisant - and stood as a guarantor for £90 to Cardiff City Football Club.
Wearing a bowler hat, he ceremoniously helped kick off the first match at the club's new stadium in 1910 which was named Ninian Park in his honour.
Crichton-Stuart had served as a lieutenant with the Scots Guards until 1907 but then moved to Cardiff to pursue a career in politics.
'Marooned'
After being elected as an MP, his interests in the House of Commons were mainly around the Army and Navy, while back in Wales he became commanding officer of the 6th Welsh Regiment in 1911.
When war was declared, the regiment - made up of volunteers from Swansea and Neath - became the first Welsh territorial regiment to head for France.
His granddaughter Marietta Crichton-Stuart has researched his life and visited where he fought and died in the second phase of the Battle of Loos.
One story about his death is that the he was leading his troops to save a soldier left behind during a retreat; another version is more mundane.
"The battalion were marooned in this section of trench and had run out of ammunition and were under attack from the Germans on three sides," says Marietta.
"My grandfather died on the fire step of the trench directing the machine gun to pick out a line of fire.
"This was in the days before steel helmets and he was shot in the head and died instantly."
Crichton-Stuart is buried in the town of Bethune.
The 6th Battalion suffered heavy losses during the war, with only 30 survivors from the 842 men who set out. But there were still veterans' reunions in Swansea until the late 1960s.
Marietta's father Michael was only six months old when Crichton-Stuart was killed. He later joined the Scots Guards himself and named one of his sons Ninian.
Although Ninian Park has now gone, the name is still remembered in a school and streets in the Grangetown and Riverside areas.
His name is also on the Grangetown war memorial.
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Re: ' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 9:31 am
Long may we v remember our history and traditions and those who played major parts in it
Re: ' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 10:05 am
bluebirdowen wrote:Long may we v remember our history and traditions and those who played major parts in it
Re: ' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 1:43 pm
bluebirdowen wrote:Long may we v remember our history and traditions and those who played major parts in it
Who knows what would have happened if he hadn't agreed to be guarantor for what was to become our much loved Ninian Park.
Re: ' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 6:53 pm
I hope all city fans take a few moments today to remember the fantastic contribution this man made to the history of our club. Quite where we would be today if he hadn't provided both much needed financial support and, more importantly, getting his family to provide the land on which Ninian Park was built is anyone's guess. But I doubt if we would have made 2 Cup Final appearances within 20 years of Ninian Park being completed.
The club quite rightly named the new ground after this gentleman and as our colours changed to blue & white at the time Ninian Park opened, surely that decision was taken to thank the Marquess of Bute Estates for the gift of the land. Just a glance at the coat of arms of the Marquess of Bute and you will instantly see what I mean.
I hope the club finds a way to mark this sad anniversary at our next home game. Surely this is one man who deserves it.
The club quite rightly named the new ground after this gentleman and as our colours changed to blue & white at the time Ninian Park opened, surely that decision was taken to thank the Marquess of Bute Estates for the gift of the land. Just a glance at the coat of arms of the Marquess of Bute and you will instantly see what I mean.
I hope the club finds a way to mark this sad anniversary at our next home game. Surely this is one man who deserves it.
Re: ' LORD NINIAN '
Fri Oct 02, 2015 7:36 pm
Completely agree with Castleblue. We as a club need to make sure that his name in remembered and honoured. Rest In peace.