Bethany Baptist war Memorial plaque used to be in the former church in Cardiff City Centre, Wharton Street but was moved to Bethany Baptist in Rhiwbina when the former church closed and the new one opened in 1964.
FIRST WORLD WAR
GEOFFREY DAVID DAVIES
Lieutenant, 18th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
Geoffrey David Davies was born on 15 Jul 1891 in Dinas Powys to Owen William Davies, a slate merchant and Marion Jones, daughter of Cardiff Mayor Alderman David Jones. Geoffrey attended Albany Road School and then Howard Gardens School for a number of years (but he is not remembered on their war memorial plaque). The Davies family were living at 21 Dumfries Place in 1901 and at 23 Gordon Road in 1911. After leaving school Geoffrey worked as a clerk in the income tax office. He was initially a Private in the Glamorgan Yeomanry before becoming a Lieutenant in the 18th Battalion Welsh Regiment serving with the 119th Brigade of the Trench Mortar Battery. He died of wounds received in action at Bourlon Wood, part of the Battle of Cambrai, on 27 Nov 1917 in France aged 26. He is buried at the Rocquigny-Equancourt British Cemetery (Plot V.B.2). He is remembered on the Bethany Baptist Church memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
HARRY DUDDRIDGE
Private, 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 56512)
Harry Duddridge was born in 1897 in Cardiff to Joseph Duddridge, originally from Brompton Ralph, Somerset, a coal tip foreman at the Cardiff Railway Company, and Annie Duddridge née Hughes, originally from Plymouth. He was one of ten children. In 1901 the Duddridge family were living at 12 Edward Street in central Cardiff and by 1911 they had moved to 18 Kings Road, Canton. After leaving school he worked as a clerk at Spillers. Harry enlisted on 1 Feb 1915. He embarked for France at Southampton on 29 Jul 1916. He served with the 16th Battalion (Cardiff City) Regiment. Records show that he wrote home to his mother asking her to send his copy of Walter Scott’s Quentin Durward. He died 27 Aug 1917 aged 20 at the Battle of Passchendaele. He is buried at the Poelcapelle British Cemetery in Belgium (plot XXXIV. E. 19). His war records also show he was a Baptist by religion so we can assume that he is the Henry Duddridge on the Bethany Baptist war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
JOHN TREVOR STUART EVANS
Captain, 19th Battalion, attached to 2nd Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
John Trevor Stuart Evans (known as Trevor) was born on 8 Jun 1891 in Cardiff to John Evans, an agent for Great Western Railways, originally from Aberdare, and Sarah Jane Evans née Davies, originally from Newport, Pembrokeshire. In 1901 the Evans family lived at 63 Plasburton Avenue, Riverside. Later that year he started attending Marlbourough Road school where the family address was given as 24 Edwards Terrace in the city centre. In 1904 he moved on to Howard Gardens school with the family address then 51 Dispenser Street. He left school in 1906 and started working for Great Western Railways. He served with the 19th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and was promoted to temporary Second Lieutenant in Jul 1915 and was later promoted to Captain. He died on 7 May 1918 aged 26 on the Western Front near the present France/Belgium border. He was originally buried at the Albert German Cemetery but is now buried at Serre Road Cemetery No1. The address on his probate was 24 Plasburton Gardens. He is remembered on the Bethany Baptist church memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ALFRED POOLE JONES
Private, 1st/24th Battalion, London Regiment (Service Number: 2214)
Alfred Poole Jones (known as Alf) was born on 4 Nov 1890 in Cardiff to Arthur Daniel Jones, a painter and decorator, and Elizabeth Annie Jones née Lewis, both originally from Cardiff. Alf’s father died in 1892 and Annie remarried Edward Newton Patterson, a corn merchant, originally from Scotland, in 1898. The family lived at 55 Column Road. Alfred attended Crwys Road school and then Gladstone school where his school record states he had also previously attended Albany Road school and after Gladstone went on to Cardiff Higher Grade school (though he is not remembered on their war memorial plaque). By 1911 the Patterson family had moved to Barry. Alfred worked in the milling and flour trade first on the Isle of Wight and then in London. He enlisted with the 24th Battalion of the London Regiment on 6 Aug 1914 and left for France on 8 Mar 1915. He was killed in action on 26 May 1915 aged 24 at Givenchy, France when attacking German trenches. A comrade wrote ‘when Alf fell I ran down the slope to see what I could do for him. He was lying on his back at the bottom. He said he was hit in the stomach, but would not let me attend to him. “Never mind about me, get on with the firing lad” he said, and I had to, as our line was very thin then’. This was the same action in which Lance Corporal Keyworth of the 23rd London Regiment won the Victoria Cross and other soldiers were decorated. Alf was described as a keen footballer who played for his regiment on many occasions. His burial place has not been identified and he is remembered on the Le Touret Memorial, France (Panels 46 & 47). He was also remembered on his father’s headstone at Cathays Cemetery but that is thought not to have survived time. Alf’s half-brother Edward Patterson also fell in WWI and both are remembered on the Bethany Baptist church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
DAVID JONES
Have not yet been able to identify this individual.
DAVID LLEWELLYN JONES
Have not yet been able to identify anyone by this name associated with Cardiff and having fallen in WWI.
It could be an incorrect transcription of Dan Llewellyn Jones who on one of the census returns appears to have been known as Llewellyn. The family lived in Cathedral Road and were strong supporters of the Baptist church.
DAN LLEWELLYN JONES
Second Lieutenant, 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
Dan Llewellyn Jones was born in Penarth on 26 Nov 1891, the youngest son of John Price Jones, a well-known local architect, and Mary Elizabeth Jones née Stowe both originally from Cardiff. His father died in 1893 when Llewellyn was only 2 years old. The family later moved to 66 Cathedral Road, Pontcanna. He was the brother of Major Percy Lewis Jones MC and Bar (19th Siege Battery Royal Garrison Artillery) and Staff Captain George Howard Jones MC (2nd Battalion Welsh Regiment). Another brother Ivor Price Jones was a Cardiff architect and played rugby for Cardiff. Dan Llewellyn attended Cardiff High School from 1903 and was serving his accountancy articles with Emerson Davies Brothers in Cardiff when war broke out. He was commissioned early in 1915 into the 12th (Reserve) Battalion Welsh Regiment and trained at Barry and Kinmel Park, near Abergele. He went out to the Western Front on 6 Oct 1915, serving in the 9th Battalion Welsh Regiment who spent the winter of 1915-16 in trenches and reserve in the Neuve Chapelle and Laventie areas. Second Lieutenant Dan Llewellyn Jones was wounded on 13 Mar 1916 and he died of wounds on 14 Mar 1916. He was 24. He is buried in Merville Communal Cemetery (VII.A.9), France. On the day before his mother had received the news of Dan Llewellyn’s death, she had been informed that his older brother George had been awarded the Military Cross. He is remembered on the Cardiff High School war memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
WALTER RUTHIN MORRIS
Lance Corporal, 11th Battalion, Welsh regiment (Service Number: 15414)
Walter Ruthin Morris was born in Cardiff on 26 Jul 1894 to Rev William Morris, a grocer and Baptist minister, originally from Martletwy, Pembrokeshire, and Catherine Morris née Phillips, originally from Newport, Monmouthshire. The Morris family lived at 15 Ruthin Gardens, Cathays. Rev William Morris was instrumental in setting up a number of Baptist churches in Cardiff including Albany Road, Woodville Road and Splott Road Baptist. Walter was educated at Albany Road school before going on to secondary school and then Cardiff School of Commerce. He was them employed as a clerk at the Cardiff offices of Great Western Railways. He enlisted in Aug 1914 and served with the 11th (Cardiff Pals) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. Walter was in Salonika from Nov 1915 and was killed in action on 14 Sep 1916 aged 23 near Lake Doiran. He is buried in the Karasouli Military Cemetery. He is remembered on the Bethany Baptist church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
HAROLD JOHN NASH
Lieutenant, 4th Battalion attached to the 9th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers
Harold John Nash was born in Cardiff on 19 Apr 1894 to John Thomas Nash, a basket maker, originally from Cardiff and Mary Ann Nash née Godwin, originally from Newport. In 1901 the Nash family were living at 27 Glynrhondda Street, Cathays. By 1911 they had moved to 88 Ninian Road, Roath Park and Harold was working as a coal merchant’s clerk and later at Messrs Hall, Lewis & Co in Cardiff Docks. Harold’s parents married at Bethany Baptist church where Harold was a worshiper too. In WWI he served with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, gaining promotion to 2nd Lieutenant on 1 Jan 1916. On 28 Jun 1916 he returned to Cardiff to marry Rose Hunt, a short-hand typist. They married at St Andrew’s church. Rose at the time was living in May Street, Cathays, and Harold at the Park Hall Camp in Oswestry. He returned to serving on the Western Front but was killed in action on 24 Mar 1918 at Frèmicourt aged 23. His burial place is not known. He is remembered on the Arras Memorial in France. He is also remembered on the St Andrew’s and St Teilo’s church memorial and the Bethany Baptist Memorial plaque. His probate states that at the time of his death his address was 4 Montgomery Street, Roath Park. His letters home from the front have been handed down through the family and extracts were reproduced in a Bethany Baptist church magazine in 2014. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
William Orchard
Have not been able to identify this individual with any certainty as yet. It may be:
THOMAS WILLIAM ORCHARD
Private, 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 14802)
Thomas William Orchard was born in Cardiff in 1874 to William Orchard, a ship’s fireman, and Elizabeth Jane Orchard née Davies, both originally from Cardiff. He grew up in central Cardiff in the Wharton Street area (Baker’s Row and Green Gardens) and then at 12 Ruperra Street. He worked as a glass and china warehouseman. In Apr 1915 he married Maria Wilkins in Cardiff. He served with the 11th battalion Welsh Regiment but he died of dysentery on 17 Sep 1916 aged 42 in Salonika, Greece. He is buried at the Salonika Lambet Road Military Cemetery. He may be the William Orchard remembered on the Bethany Baptist church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
or less likely:-
WILLIAM HENRY ORCHARD
Private, 1st Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 38191)
William Henry Orchard was born in Cardiff around 1868. He married Florence Ann Greening at St John the Baptist church on 17 Jun 1899. At that time he was living at 65 Cathays terrace and working as a labourer. The wedding certificate indicates that his father was William Orchard, a sailor. In the 1901 census they are living at 69 Coburn St, Cathays with their newly born daughter Enid. He was a member of the Cathays Conservative Club as well as a members of the Workers Union. In 1911 they are living at 19 Lionel Road, Canton and William was working as a timber merchant. By this time they have four children and go on to have a fifth in 1913. He served with the 1st Battalion Welsh Regiment. He died of illness in hospital in Salonika on 29 Jan 1916 aged 45. He is buried at the Salonika Lembet Road Military Cemetery. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record records their address as being 32 Harriet Street, Cathays. There is a possibility he is the William Orchard named on the Bethany Baptist church war memorial.
EDWARD LABARTE PATERSON
Second Lieutenant, 10th (Scottish) Battalion, King’s (Liverpool Regiment) (Service number: 53915)
Edward Labarte Paterson was born on 25 May 1899 in Cardiff to James Newton Patterson, a Corn Merchant manager originally from Haddingtonshire, Scotland, and Elizabeth Annie Paterson née Lewis, originally from Cardiff. In 1901 Edward and family were living at 55 Column Road, Cardiff. In 1911 the family lived at The Elms, Harbour Road, Barry. He later lived at 5 Western Drive, Grassendale, Liverpool; and then of 27 Strathbrook Road, Streatham, London. Edward’s half-brother was Private Alfred Poole Jones was served with the 1/24th Battalion London Regiment when was killed in action on 26 May 1915. Edward attended Bethany Baptist Church then located in Wharton Street, Cardiff. He was educated at Barry County School; Cardiff High School from 19 Sep 1911 to 25 Jul 1913; and then Taunton School, which he left in 1916. He went on to study medicine at Liverpool University in 1917. At school and university, he served in the Officer Training Corps. Edward enlisted as a private in the Territorial 10th Battalion King’s (Liverpool Regiment). Then, after training at Alston Hall with an Officer Cadet battalion, he was gazetted to the Liverpool Scottish Battalion. He went out to the Western Front on 2 Oct 1918 and was attached to the 25th Battalion King’s (Liverpool Regiment), which had just come out of the line, at Erquingham, near Armentieres. In the remaining weeks of the war, this battalion was engaged in the rapid advance eastwards. On 18 Oct, they left Chapelle d’Armentières and by the 20th had reached the river Schelde north of Tournai at Esquelmes but here they encountered determined resistance. The next day, the battalion crossed the river on pontoons but could not proceed far over the marshy ground on the eastern bank where they struggled waist deep in water. It was in this operation that Edward was seriously wounded by shell-fire. Two days later, he died of wounds at No 2 Australian Casualty Clearing Station at Nouveau Monde, near Estaires, on 23 Oct 1918. He was still only 19 and had been in France just three weeks. Second Lieutenant Edward Paterson is buried in Estaires Communal Cemetery Extension, France (5.G.15). He is commemorated on the war memorials at Barry Hall of Remembrance; Bethany Baptist Church (now located in Rhiwbina); Taunton School; and Liverpool University. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
EDGAR THOMAS
Lance Serjeant, 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Service Number: 56908)
Edgar Thomas was born in Cardiff in 1895 to Robert Thomas, a coal trimmer, originally from Cardiff and Sarah Jane Thomas née Sawyer, originally from Liverpool. Edgar was one of eight children. In 1901 the Thomas family were living at 38 Caroline Street in central Cardiff. By 1911 they had moved to 8 Harpur Street, off Penarth Road. Edgar, then aged 15, was working as a barber’s apprentice. He later worked as a glass beveller. He enlisted in Sep 1914 and served in the 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers. He was reported wounded and missing on 31 Jul 1917 on the first day of the Battle of Passchendaele but is recorded as having died on 4 Aug 1917. He would have been aged 22. His records show he was awarded the Military Medal for bravery. He is buried at Cement House Cemetery, Belgium (grave XI. E. 25.). He is remembered on the Bethany Baptist church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ALBERT AUBREY WADE
Private, 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman’s), Royal Fusiliers (Service Number: 4460)
Albert Aubrey Wade was born on 22 Dec 1880 in Cardiff to Lewis Robert Wade, a grocer, originally from Abercarn, Monmouthshire and Annie Wade née Gething, originally from Aberdare, Glamorgan. In 1881 the Wade family were living at 39 Millicent Street in the centre of Cardiff. Albert Wade attended Albany Road school before moving up to Howard Gardens School in 1892. His father, Lewis Wade, died in 1898 and shortly afterwards the Annie Wade and her children moved to 74 Colum Road. In the 1901 census Albert, aged 20, is working as a chemist’s clerk. In the 1911 the Wade family have moved to 68 Kimberley Road, Pen-y-lan and Albert is working as a clerk at a house agents. In WWI Albert served with the 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman’s) in the Royal Fusiliers. He was killed in action on 14 Nov 1916 aged 35 on the Somme in France. He is buried at the Serre Road Cemetery No.2 (grave I. G. 30.) in France. He is remembered on the Bethany Baptist war memorial plaque (In 1915 Albert’s sister Leah married in Bethany Baptist church). He is also remembered on the Howard Gardens High School war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. In December 1919 a member of the Wade family donated money towards the building of the Welsh National War Memorial in Cathays Park in memory of Albert Wade.
SECORND WORLD WAR
CYRIL ERNEST TRIGGS
Sergeant, 139 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number: 973935)
Cyril Ernest Triggs was born on 28 Mar 1918 in Cardiff, the eldest of seven children born to Ernest Edward Triggs, an able seaman, and Francis Winifred Triggs née Dolbear, both originally from Cardiff. He was baptised on 2 May 1818 in Canton when the family were living at 79 Kings Road. The 1939 Register shows the Triggs family living at 1 Mark Street, Riverside. Cyril at this time was working as a warehouseman and stock-keeper. In WWII he served as a Sergeant in 139 Squadron of the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed on 4 Jun 1941 aged 23. He was flying in a Bristol Blenheim IV aircraft (R3903). The plane took off at 19.00hrs from Horsham St.Faith airfield in Norfolk with five other aircraft for a bombing operation on De Kooy Airfield, Netherlands. The aircraft is believed to have been shot down over the sea west of Bergen-aan-Zee, Netherlands. He is remembered on the Runnymede Memorial (Panel 53) and on the International Bomber Command Centre memorial. He is also remembered on the Bethany Baptist Church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
Roath Local History Society 