GEORGE SIDNEY FASSON
Lance Corporal, 20th Fortress Company, Royal Engineers (Service Number 13545)
George Sidney Fasson was born in Cairo, Egypt in 1889. His father, George Frederick Fasson was a Company Sergeant Major in the Royal Engineers who was born in Madras, India and his mother was Mary Ann Minnie Fasson nee Bunt, originally from Gosport, Hampshire. The Fasson family lived in Monmouth and at the age of just 14 Sidney Fasson followed his father and joined the Royal Engineers as a carpenter. The Fasson family later moved to Cardiff and lived at 29 Pearl Street, Roath and after retiring his father George became steward at the Roath Carlylian Club on Splott Road but passed away in 1914. Sidney was stationed in Malta from Sep 1909 to May 1914 and then joined the British Expeditionary Force in France from 15 Aug 1914. He was a member of the 20th Fortress Company of the Royal Engineers that was involved in laying mines and tunnelling near the front line. He died on 1 Mar 1915 aged 25 of wounds he had received while being treated at 3rd Field Ambulance base. He is buried at the Cite Bonjean Military Cemetery in Armentières, France, near the Belgium border (grave IX. A. 21). He is remembered on the War Memorial in Monmouth, though his initial is incorrectly transcribed and he appears as ‘L.Fasson’. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
THOMAS ONSLOW FEARBY
Gunner, 176th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery
Thomas ‘Tom’ Onslow Fearby was born on 8 Oct 1888 in Moerton, Shropshire to Angelo Fearby, a fancy-goods shop-owner originally from Bethnal Green, London, and Annie Fearby nee Harries, originally from Moerton, Shropshire. By 1891 the Fearby family had moved to Cardiff and were living in Canton. By 1900 they had moved to Tewkesbury Street, Cathays and Tom was attending Gladstone school. After leaving school Tom worked in his father’s jewellery shop in the Royal Arcade. He married Lillian Harries, originally from Pembroke Dock, in Oct 1908 and they live at 59 Florentia Street, Cathays. They go on to have two children together, Irene in 1910 and Eric in 1912. Tom enlists with the Royal Regiment of Artillery in Dec 1915 in Gosport, Hampshire. He was killed in action in northern Italy on 15 Jun 1918 aged 30. He is buried at the Magnaboschi British Cemetery (Plot 2. Row A. Grave 6.). He was remembered on the Woodville Road Baptist Church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
SIDNEY FELMAN
Flight Sergeant (Wireless Op./Air Gunner), 57th Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve
Sid Felman was born on 9th July 1917 to David Felman, a bullion buyer, and Jany Felman née Malamid. He attended Howard Gardens school. In 1939 the family were living at 7 Wordsworth Avenue, Roath with Sidney working as a canvasser. The Commonwealth War Graves Commission record for Sidney record the family address as being Penylan so they may well have moved in the early years of the war. He was on board the a Wellington bomber R1437 which was shot down and crashed, at Rholderfehn, Germany, on 10th Apr 1941. He was aged 22. He is buried at the Rheinberg War Cemetery, Nordrhein-Westfalen, in Germany (Grave17.C.I) and date of death recorded as the date he and the crew went missing.
ALFRED CHARLES FENDER
Petty Officer Stoker, H.M.S. Dunedin, Royal Nay (Service Number P/KX 77285)
Alfred Charles Fender was born in 3 Oct 1907 in Janette Street, Cardiff to Alfred George Fender, a gas man at a steel smelter works, and Elizabeth Fender nee Huntley, both originally from Cardiff. He was baptised at St Mary the Virgin church in Butetown on 25 Oct 1907. The Fender family moved to 11 Helen Street where Alfred attended Stacey Road School. After leaving school he joined the navy. He married Clarice May Holmes in 1936 in Cardiff and they had two children together, Clarice (b.1938) and David (b.1939) and they lived in Brunaby Street and later Adamsdown Square. Alfred died on 24 Nov 1941 aged 34 having served 15 years in the navy. He died when he was serving as a Petty Officer Stoke onboard H.M.S. Dunedin which was torpedoed in mid-Atlantic. Only four officers and 63 men survived out of Dunedin’s crew of 486 officers and men. Previously HMS Dunedin had been involved in a number of captures and sinking of enemy vessels including the German tanker Lothringen from which were gathered some highly classified Enigma cipher machines. Alfred Charles Fender is remembered on the Portsmouth Naval Memorial (Panel 54, Column 1). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
Alfred Charles Fender and HMS Dunedin
GEORGE FENDER
Leading Aircraftman, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number 1289807)
George Fender was born on 23 Sep 1911 in Cardiff to Alfred George Fender, a gas man at a steel smelter works, and Elizabeth Fender nee Huntley, both originally from Cardiff. The Fender family lived at 11 Helen Street and George attended Stacey Road School. In 1937 he married Violet Maud Prince. Prior to the war he worked as a hotel chef and Violet worked as a waitress. They lived at 24 Mercia Road, Tremorfa and in 1941 had a daughter Barbara Jean before later moving to Weston-Super-Mare. George joined the RAF in 1940, was based at 3rd General Service Training School and had served abroad for two years where he was a Leading Aircraftman. He died in a hospital in Rome on 4 Mar 1945, aged 33. The circumstances leading up to his death are not known. He is buried at the Rome War Cemetery (grave II, D, 6). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
WILLIAM FRANK FENNERTY
Stoker 1st Class, Royal Navy aboard H.M.S. Defence (Service Number SS/116201)
William Frank Fennerty as born on 10th Oct 1896 to William Henry Fennerty, a house painter, and Emily Fennerty née Godbeer, both originally from Devon. William Frank Fennerty joins the navy and serves aboard H.M.S. Defence as a stoker. The ship is lost in the battle of Jutland, off Denmark, on 31st May 1916 and 900 lives on board are lost. He is remembered on the Splott war memorial outside St Saviour’s church and the Naval War Memorial in Plymouth. His parents were living at 70, Ordell Street, Splott at the time. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
RICHARD JELLARD FORD
Captain, 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment
Richard ‘Dick’ Jellard Ford was born on 25 Jul 1876 in Swansea to Thomas Ford, a merchant, originally from Dartmouth, Devon and Matilda Ford née Jellard, originally from Blackawton, Devon. It appears he had a tragic childhood. His mother died whilst giving birth to him or shortly afterwards and was buried on 5 Aug 1876. His father remarried the following Spring to Matilda’s sister, Elizabeth Dimond Jellard, who raised him and his five siblings. Thomas Ford, his father, was originally a mariner, captaining copper ore vessels to Cuba and alike. He then became a merchant and prominent businessman and Mayor of Swansea. He died in 1883 when Richard Ford was only seven. Richard attended Wycliffe school in Gloucestershire before leaving for Texas to work as a rancher. He returned to home at the outbreak of the Boer War and went out to South Africa with the Imperial Yeomanry division, Kitchener’s Horse. He was involved in a number of engagements including the Relief of Kimberley. He received a commission during the war and transferred to the Worcestershire Regiment becoming a 2nd Lieutenant in Sep 1901. He was promoted to Lieutenant in Feb 1904 and served in West Africa from Dec 1904 to July 1909. On 30 Oct 1912 he married Eleanor Elizabeth Coward at St Margaret’s parish church Roath. Eleanor was daughter of Phillip Coward, a coal exporter and church warden at Roath. Richard continued his military career with the 1st Battalion, Worcestershire Regiment. His regiment was one of the first at the front on the outbreak at the WWI. For six months he was almost ceaselessly in action, taking part in the retreat from Mons and all the chief engagements which followed. In his despatch of Nov. 20th, 1914, Sir John French greatly praised the Worcester’s for their part in the recapture of Gheluvelt. Captain Ford was mentioned in despatches and received the Military Cross for gallantry in leading his company during this action, and by a happy coincidence his decoration was gazetted while he was in England on six days’ leave in the following December. He was killed in action on 9 May 1915 at the Battle of Aubers aged 38. He is buried at Le Trou Aid Post Cemetery, Fleurbaix, France (grave A.6). A Memorial Service was held at St Margaret’s on 18 May and he is remembered on a stained glass window at the church depicting St Michael and funded by his father-in-law Phillip Coward which was dedicated in Oct 1916. He is also remembered on the war memorial plaque at Wycliffe College Chapel, Stonehouse, Gloucestershire. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His address at his time of death was given as 1, East Grove, Tredegarville which was the Coward household. His elder brother William Arthur Ford was a Major with the 3rd Welsh Howitzer Brigade, R.F.A.
Edith Lilian Fox
Civilian Casualty
Edith Lilian fox was born in Cardiff on 21 Jun 1891 at 3 Lady Margaret Terrace, Splott to Frederick Fox, a railway wagon carpenter, originally from Radstock, Somerset and Clara Ann Fox née Warren originally from Cardiff. In 1901 the family was living at 25, Adamsdown Square, Edith’s father having remarried to Mary Jane Ashman in 1900 following the death of his first wife. On the 1911 Census, Edith was a domestic servant at 9, Tydraw Place, Roath. In 1921 she was a housekeeper at the Roberts household, Bryncollen, Ty draw Road, Roath Park. By 1939, she was living with her brother, William Reginald Fox, at 14, Leamington Road, Whitchurch. She died in an air raid on 26 Feb 1941 at 7, Senghenydd Road, Cathays. Her funeral left from 63 Canada Road, Roath. She is buried at Pantmawr Cemetery (no headstone) and is commemorated on the Whitchurch War Memorial. She was 49 years old.
JOHN EDWARD FOX
Private, 4th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (Service Number 12768)
John Edward Fox was born in Bradford on 5 Aug 1897 to Arthur Fox, a police constable, originally from Pontefract, and Ada Sarah Fox nee Devine, originally from Llansamlet, Swansea. In 1901 the Fox family are living in Swansea. In 1906 John and his two brothers were in school in Tenby. By 1911 Ada and her three sons were living in Dowlais Cottages, 27 Layard Street, Splott and Arthur was back to Yorkshire and working on the police force in Bradford. Before joining up John worked in the Cardiff Theatre Cinema. He enlisted in August 1914. He served with the Mediterranean Expeditionary Force at Dardanelles from 4 July to 12 Aug 1915 when he was killed in action aged 18. He is buried at the 7th Field Ambulance Cemetery in Gallipoli, Turkey (grave ref: IV. A. 3.). He is also remembered on the Splott War Memorial at St Saviour’s church. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother Maurice Arthur Fox was also killed in WWI.
MAURICE ARTHUR FOX
Private, 1st Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers (Service Number 4634)
Maurice Arthur Fox was born in Bradford on 6 Jan 1894 to Arthur Fox, a police constable, originally from Pontefract, and Ada Sarah Fox nee Devine, originally from Llansamlet, Swansea. In 1901 the Fox family are living in Swansea. In 1906 Maurice and his two brothers were in school in Tenby. By 1911 Ada and her three sons were living in Dowlais Cottages, 27 Layard Street, Splott and Arthur was back to Yorkshire and working on the police force in Bradford. Before joining up Maurice worked as a dock labourer. He signed up on 23 Mar 1912. He was mobilised on 5 Aug 1914, went to France on 4 Oct 1914 and was killed in action on 20 Oct 1914 at Ypres, Belgium aged 20. He is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial (panel 22). He is also remembered on the Splott War Memorial at St saviour’s church. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother John Edward Fox was also killed in WWI.
RONALD EDWIN FOX
Lance Corporal, Royal Army Service Corps (Service Number: T/3974611)
Ronald Edwin Fox was born on 16 Mar 1920 in Cardiff, the youngest child of William John Fox, a labourer at a flour mill, originally from Cardiff and Minnie Fox née Partridge, also originally from Cardiff. He was baptised at St German Church, Roath on 8 Apr 1920 when the family were living at 52 Cecil Street. In the 1939 Register they were living at the same address and Ronald, then aged 19, was working as a Grocer’s Assistant. In WWII he served as a Lance Corporal in the Royal Army Service Corps. He was killed in action on 27 Nov 1944 aged 24 in Belgium. He is buried at Schoonselhof Cemetery, Antwerp, Belgium (grave I. B. 6.). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
REGINALD STANLEY FOXHALL
Private, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment (Service Number: 260447)
Reginald Stanley Foxhall was born in Cardiff in 1894 to William Foxhall, a boiler stoker at the steel works, originally from Tredegar and Ada Foxhall nee Gould originally from Bath. He was baptised in Roath church in Dec 1896 together with two of his brothers. In 1901 the family lived in Keppoch Street and in 1911 they had moved to 21 Crofts Street. The 1911 census also tells us that Reginald Foxhall was at the time working as a page in private service. He later went on to be a porter in the goods department at Great Western Railway in Cardiff. He joined up in 1917. He served in France then Italy before returning to France in Mar 1918. He was killed in action on 28 Jun 1918 aged 24 near Caudescure, Belgium when serving as a Private, 12th Battalion, Gloucestershire Regiment but had previously also served in the Monmouthshire Regiment and South Wales Borderers. He is remembered in the Ploegsteert Memorial in Belgium and the Great Western Railway memorial. His three brothers also served in WWI. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
MALCOLM FRASER
Private, 17th Wellington Infantry Regiment, New Zealand Expeditionary Force (Service Number: 10/252)
Malcolm Fraser was born on 20 Oct 1886 in Cardiff to Malcolm Fraser, a foreman boilermaker, originally from Edinburgh, Scotland and Annie Fraser née Green, originally from Speyside, Scotland. In 1891 the Fraser family were living at 12 Woodville Road, Cathays before moving to Despenser Street, Riverside. Malcolm attended Severn Road primary school and then Cardiff Higher Grade School at Howard Gardens. After leaving school he was apprenticed as an engineer to Mount Stuart Dry Dock. In 1910 he left for New Zealand and settled in Wellington. He volunteered for the Imperial Service at the outbreak of war and joined the Wellington Infantry Battalion. He left for Egypt in Nov 1914 and proceeded to Gallipoli in Apr 1915. He was killed in action in Gallipoli on 8 Aug 1915 aged 28. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Chunuk Bair (New Zealand) Memorial in Turkey. He is also remembered on the City United Reformed Church memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ALBERT WALLACE FRAYLING
Private, 45th Training Squadron, Royal Air Force (Service Number 55551)
Albert Wallace Frayling was born on 5 Apr 1885 in Bristol to John Frayling, a cabinet maker, originally from Bath and Mary Ann Frayling née Chidley, a tailoress, also originally from Bath. Albert married Louisa Anne Kneath from Cardiff in 1906 and they have four children between 1907 and 1917. He worked as a furniture dealer and the Frayling family lived at 43 Crwys Road, Cathays. He enlisted in the army in Jan 1917 in later transfers to the 45th Training Squadron, Royal Air Force as a motorcyclist. His records appear to show he was wounded in Lincoln. He died on 1 Nov 1918 aged 33 in a military hospital in Lincoln. He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot Y. NC. 1300). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ENOS CHARLES FREE
Private, 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders (Service Number 18405).
Enos Charles Free was born in Cardiff in 1896 to Edward Free, a labourer, originally from Wiltshire, and Annie Free nee Streeting, originally from London. Enos was named after his paternal grandfather from Wiltshire who was a stone mason and publican. The Free family lived initially in Killcatton Street before moving to 16 Adamsdown Place. In 1911, Enos, aged 14, is working as a warehouse boy. In 1913 he is recorded as being a member of the National Union of Railwaymen, working for the Rhymney Railway as a number taker (these were employed to record the numbers of privately-owned or foreign wagons using a railway company’s goods yard). He served with the 6th Battalion, Cameron Highlanders and died on 14 Aug 1916 aged 19 at Somme, France, of wounds he had received. He is buried at La Neuville British Cemetery, Corbie, France (grave I. F. 48). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
Roath Local History Society 