Langlois H. J. - (1838 -1906)

Mr. Helier John Langlois was appointed Deputy Dock Master at Penarth Dock and held the appointment in the years 1891-1895 according to a local trade directory. [180]

Also references : to H. J. Langlois - Captain - Deputy Dockmaster - Penarth Dock & Harbour Co. - (1887 - [298]) + (1895 - [298])

I suspect that most probably following the death of Captain Pengelley in 1897, Mr. Langlois undertook his duties until his death in 1906. It is rather sad that there is little else I can find about him other than the following newspapers accounts. Note that some published references to Mr. Langlois are spelt incorrectly i.e. Llanglois or Longlois etc . . .

1895 - Llanglois, Helier John, deputy dock master, Harbour view. - [175]

1895 - Shipping Casualty at Penarth - "About 8 o'clock on Friday morning the steamer Leda, whilst proceeding out of Penarth Dock, collided with the quay wall, thereby twisting her stem and damaging several plates. As she began to settle down, the steam tug Primrose was requisitioned, and, after pumping for some hours the Leda put back to discharge her cargo, the Primrose still being in attendance. Captain Langlois is to bo felicitated upon his promptitude in rendering the necessary assistance." - South Wales Daily News [325] [361] 27th April 1895.

1896 - The Islanders of Morganwg - Interesting Foregather - "The natives of the Channel Islands who are resident in South Wales and have long and honourably been connected with the business of the district are far more numerous than is usually recognised. It is probable that an early opportunityof exhibiting their numerical strength will be afforded by the carrying out of a project that these gentlemen should dine together in Cardiff, and a committee is now at work making the initial arrangements, Mr Cotterel acting as secretary. "Some time next mouth" is the vaguely-intimated date of the interesting event; and some time, somewhere, the local representatives of the ultra-British French-speakers, who have settled the Home Rule question to their own entire satisfaction and have just decided to retain their vernacular as the official language, will doubtless be in evidence. Among those who hail from the favoured isles of grapes and tomatoes - "where they grow the cabbages ten feet high" and turn the stumps into walking sticks - may be named Messrs Hacquoil, Morel, Filleul, Marquand, Bailhache, Longlois (Penarth Dock), Deslandes, and many others." - South Wales Echo [163] [361] 10th March 1896.

During July 2022, a gentleman named Ray, following his visit to St. Augustine's Church, made contact and disclosed that he was related to both Mr H. J. Langlois and Mr. John Philip Deslandes (Ray's grandfather) whom also had interests in Penarth Dock, both being natives of St. Helier, Jersey in the Channel Islands. A newspaper report within the Evening Express of 23rd October 1893 confirmed that Captain Langlois was in fact John Deslandes's uncle!

1906 - Funeral of Captain H. J. Llanglois, Penarth - "The remains of Captain H. J. Llanglois, Deputy Dock-Master at Penarth, were interred at St. Augustine's Churchyard, Penarth, on Tuesday. An impressive service was conducted in the church by the rector, Rev. John Thomas, assisted by the Rev. H. Coombes, chaplin local missions to seamen. The Union Jack Flag was bound round the coffin, deceased having been connected with the Royal Navy. There was a large attendance of sympathisers at the funeral, including Mr Samuel Thomas (dock superintendent), Mr Geo. Byfield (traffic inspector), Mr T. Heywood (engineer), Mr T H. Davey, Mr W. J. Edwards, Mr J. H. Jacob, Captain Bass, Mr J. H. Illingworth, Captain Barrett, Mr H. Carpenter, Captain Brice, and Pilots W. Williams, J. Morgan, J. and A. Woodward, John Hubbard, T. Bowen, and J. Thomas." Cardiff Times [019]  [361] 10th March 1906.

1906 - Death of Captain Llanglois - "Captain H. J. Langlois, the senior deputy-dockmaster at Penarth Dock, died at noon today of heart failure. The deceased, who was a native of Jersey, was for many years captain of the steamship William Banks, trading between Penarth and the North Coast of France. He succeeded the late Captain Davies, of Barry, as the senior deputy at Penarth when Captain Davies was appointed as dockmaster at Barry. Deceased, who was 68 years of age, had been at Penarth Dock for the last 21 years." Evening Express [157]  [361] 1st March 1906.

1906 - Local Wills - Captain Langlois, Penarth - "Captain Helier John Langlois, of Harbour View, Penarth, deputy dock-master, who died on March 1, aged 68 years, left estate of the gross value of £2,320 17s. 6d., and probate of his will has been granted to his widow, Mrs. Susan Elizabeth Langlois, and Mr. Samuel Thomas of Penarth. dock superintendent, and Mr. George Pile, of Kymin- terrace, Penarth, steamship owner." - Evening Express [157]  [361] 11th April 1906.