ALFRED LAMBERT

Private, 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment (Service Number: 316077)

Alfred Lambert was born on 18 Sep 1898 in Salford, Lancashire to Alfred Lambert, a foreman at the Institute for the Blind, originally from Lavenham, Suffolk and Maria Lambert née Lomas originally from Barrow, Lancashire.  The Lambert family moved to Cardiff around 1907 and lived at 61 Clifton Street. Alfred served as a Private with the 10th Battalion, Cheshire Regiment. He was reported missing in April 1918 and died on 22 Sep 1918 aged 20 whilst held a prisoner of war. He is buried at the Terlincthun British Cemetery (grave XVII. E. 3.).  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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WILLIAM HENRY LAMPERD

Private, 1st/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish) (Service Number: 515864)

William Henry Lamperd was born in 1890 in Penarth, the only child of John Lamperd, a baker, originally from Southampton, and Katherine Lamperd née Coles, originally from Burnham, Somerset.  In the 1911 census the family were living in Harriet Street, Cogan and William was employed helping in the bakehouse. He married Alice Gwendoline Cook in 1915.  Their daughter Olga Katherine Lamperd was born in Jan 1917. William served as a Private in the 1st/14th Battalion, London Regiment (London Scottish).  He died on 24 Nov 1917 aged 27. He has no known grave. He is remembered on the Cambrai Memorial in France which remembers those fought in the Battle of Cambrai on the Western Front. He is also remembered on the Penarth War Memorial in Alexandra Park, St Augustine’s church war memorial plaque, Penarth and his parent’s grave at St Dochdwy’s Church, Llandough.  His widow Alice remarried in 1921 and on her wedding certificate gave her address as 21 Clifton Street. This would explain William’s name (mis-spelt Lampurd) being included on the nearby Trinity Methodist memorial plaque.  Maybe Clifton Street was where William and Alice set up home after getting married. Commonwealth War Grave Commission record.

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VINCENT CLARKE LASHFORD

Second Lieutenant, 120 Squadron, Royal Air Force (Service Number 152618)

Vincent Clarke Lashford was born on 9th Dec 1893 in Cardiff.  He was one of thirteen children born to Edgar George Frederick James Lashford, a commercial traveller selling fruit and potatoes, originally from Almondsbury, Gloucestershire, and Alice Mary Lashford née Parker originally from Reading.  The family lived at 122 Richmond Road in 1911 and Vincent worked as a clerk. In May 1912 he emigrates to Canada leaving Bristol and arriving at Montreal. He enlists in the Canadian Officers Training Corps based at the University of Toronto in 1917 and transferred to the Flying Corps at Fort Worth, Texas, later the same year.  He arrived in England at Easter 1918 but is killed in an accident on 30 May 1918, aged 24, on his last training flight prior to going to France. He was flying an R.E.8, a two-seat biplane out of Cramlington, which dived into the ground in Newcastle.     He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (section D, grave 1053).  He is remembered on a plaque in St Peters Catholic church in Roath, Cardiff and the Canadian Virtual War Memorial.   Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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EMMANUEL COMBY LAVERICK

Master, S.S.Holmtown, Merchant Navy

Emmanuel Comby Laverick was born on 16 Oct 1853 in Redcar, Yorkshire to William Laverick, a hairdresser, originally from Whitby, Yorkshire, and Christina Porteus Laverick née Clark, originally from Redcar.  In 1871, aged 17, Emmanuel was living with his uncle in Stockton and was already a mariner.  He married Mary Hannah Harrison in 1881 and they went on to have four children together.  The family moved to Cardiff in 1895 living at 40 Angus Street, Roath.  They later moved to 1 Ilton Road, Pen-y-lan.  On 25 Nov 1916 he was Master of the S.S.Emlynverne when it was attacked and sunk by U-Boat-18 but he and the crew survived.  He returned to sea and was Master of S.S.Holmtown when it was attacked and sunk of the Devon coast on 6 Feb 1918 with the loss of all hands.  His body was found washed ashore at Swanage, Dorset before being returned to Cardiff for burial at Cathays Cemetery (grave CE1811).  Emmanuel was aged 64 when he was killed.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  His son William Leslie Laverick, also in the Merchant Navy, died in WWI.  Both Emmanuel and Leslie are remembered on the St Edward’s War Memorial Plaque and were named on the Mackintosh Institute Roll of honour. The story of Emmanuel and Leslie Laverick is told by Peter Grant, grandson of William, in our Nov 2001 Newsletter.

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WILLIAM LESLIE LAVERICK

Master, S.S.Petone, Merchant Navy

William Leslie Laverick (known to family as Leslie) was born in Middlesbrough on 2  Jan 1890 to Emmanuel Comby Laverick, a Master in the Merchant Navy and originally from Redcar, Yorkshire and Mary Hannah Laverick née Harrison originally from Norton, County Durham.  The Laverick family moved to Cardiff when William was 5 years old living at 40 Angus Street before moving later to 1 Ilton Road.  in 1905, at the age of 15, William followed his father’s footsteps into the Mercantile Marine as ship’s apprentice.  Prior to this Leslie had received a very good education and had become fluent in French and Spanish.  He qualified as 2nd Mate at the age of 19, and 1st Mate aged 20.  He passed his Masters certificate and on 26 Nov 1912 becoming one of the youngest Ships Masters of his time.  He married Margaret Amelia Jones in 1913 and they went on to have two daughters.  They lived at 7 Senghenydd Place, Cathays.  He was Captain of the S.S.Wolf when it was torpedoed in 1916 but the crew survived.  The exact circumstances leading up to his death are not known though it is believed he was operating covertly for the French government, and while sailing with a French crew.  It is believed the boat he was on was torpedoed by enemy action and sunk.  It appears that the survivors were adrift for a long period of time and Leslie contracted pneumonia before being rescued and admitted to hospital at Rouen, where tragically he died on 11 July 1918 aged 28.  His body was returned to Cardiff and he is buried in Cathays Cemetery close to his father’s grave who was killed the same year.  He is remembered on St Edward’s War Memorial plaque and was remembered on the Mackintosh Institute Roll of Honour (now lost). The story of Emmanuel and Leslie Laverick is told by Peter Grant, grandson of Leslie, in our Nov 2001 Newsletter.  Leslie’s name does not appear on a Commonwealth War Graves Commission record as it was decided by the Commission that it could not be established that he died as a direct result or injury caused by enemy action.

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FREDERICK JOHN LAWRENCE

Lance Corporal, 11^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 15382)

Frederick John Lawrence was born in 1892 in Cardiff to Frederick Lawrence, a council lamplighter, originally from Bishop’s Cleeve, Gloucestershire and Emily (Emma) Lawrence née Waldron, originally from Malvern, Worcestershire. The Lawrence family lived at 10 Inverness Place in 1901. They were still there at the time of the 1911 census when Frederick John Lawrence was working as a pianoforte tuner. The family later moved to 20, Northcote Street.  In WWI he served as a Lance Corporal with the 11th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He was later attached to 65th Trench Mortar Battery in Salonika and was undergoing officer training when he was killed in an accident on 6 May 1918, aged 25.  He is buried at the Sarigol Military Cemetery, Kriston in Greece (grave D681).   Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother, Sydney Lawrence, was injured by a gunshot in the right thigh on 27 Sep 1916 when serving as a Private (45016) with the Welsh Regiment. Sydney later served with the Labour Corps (261831).

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JOHN ALFRED LEWIS

Private, 5^th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (Service Number: 29792)

John Alfred Lewis and his twin brother Edwin Thomas Lewis were born on Christmas Day 1888 at 15 Russell Street to Daniel John Lewis, a mason’s labourer and blacksmith striker, originally from Merthyr Tydfil and Mary Lewis née Bryan originally from Cardiff.  Edwin sadly died two weeks later.  In 1891 the Lewis family lived at 7 Russell Street, in 1901 at 15 Lily Street and in 1911 at 50 Cyfarthfa Street when John was working as a trimmer at Perry & Turner’s Motor Garage.  In 1913 he married Beatrice Roberts and they lived at 64 Upper Kincraig Street.  He served as a Private with the 5th Battalion, South Wales Borderers.  He was killed on action on 13 Apr 1918 on the Western Front, aged 29.  He is buried at Wulverghem-Lindenhoek Road Military Cemetery, Belgium (grave IV.E.19).  He is remembered on Grangetown War Memorial.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. (His younger brother Thomas Christopher Lewis was also born also on Christmas Day, five years after him in 1893).

 

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PERCY VALENTINE LEWIS

Private, 11^th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 19265)

Percy Valentine Lewis was born in 1895 in Cardiff to Benjamin Charles Lewis, a hairdresser, originally from London and Hannah Lewis née Davies originally from Risca, Monmouthshire. He was baptised at St Andrew’s Church on 3 Mar 1897 when the family were living at 2 Cairns Street, Cathays (now called Rhymney Street). The family then moved to Canton and were living at 41 Radnor Road at the time of the 1901 and 1911 census when Percy was working as an office boy. They later moved to 117 Cyfarthfa Street, Roath.  He enlisted with the 11 Battalion ‘Cardiff Pals’, Welsh Regiment and embarked for France in Sep 1915 and then later to Greece.  The 11th Battalion were in reserve when the 22^nd Division attacked two hills overlooking Machukovo on Sep 13 1916, but a number of the battalion were allocated stretcher bearer duties.  Percy Lewis and eight other pals lost their lives as a result of this task, and he died of his wounds a week later on 18 Sep 1916.  He was 21 years old, and was laid to rest in Karasouli Military Cemetery (grave D. 721).  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother John named his son Percy Valentine Lewis after his brother who was born in Nov 1916.  He too tragically lost his life in WWII.

 

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PERCY VALENTINE LEWIS

Private, 1^st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment (Service Number: 4858285)

Percy Valentine Lewis was born on 13 Nov 1916 in Cardiff to John Frederick Lewis, an insurance agent, originally from Cardiff and Beatrice Lewis née Taylor.  He was baptized at St Margaret’s Church on 17 Jan 1917 when the family were living at 117 Cyfarthfa Street, Roath.  By the time of the 1921 census his mother Beatrice had died and his father was working as a labourer and serving with the 7^th Welsh Regiment Defence Corps.  Percy and his brother Leonard spent some being looked after in the workhouse in 1922. When Percy grew up he worked as an engineer and lived in Leicester. In WWII he served as a Private with the 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment. When his medals came up for sale they were described as India General  Service 1936-39,  1 clasp, North West Frontier 1937-39, implying he saw military service prior to WWII.  He died on the 2 Jul 1943, aged 26, while a P.O.W. of the Japanese, possibly as a result of being forced to work on the notorious ‘Death Railway’. He is  buried in the Kanchanaburi War Cemetery, Thailand (grave 8.M.53). The inscription on his headstone is ‘His life was a beautiful memory, his loss a silent grief. Dad and family’.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. Percy was named after his uncle, Percy Valentine Lewis, who was killed in WWI just a few months before he was born.

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REGINALD WOLSTAN LEWIS

Private, 8th Battalion, Royal Berkshire Regiment (Service Number 45072)

Reginald Wolstan Lewis was born in the summer of 1900 in Cardiff to Frederick William Lewis, originally from Newport and an accountant in a coal exporting and ship broking company, and Elizabeth Anne Lewis nee Morgan, originally from Cwmbran. The family lived in some of the grand streets of the time, Stacey Road (1901), Connaught Road (1911) and at 49 Richmond Road (1918). He enlisted in Farnborough joining the Royal Flying Corps at 16 and became A.M.I. (Wireless) (service no.67748); subsequently joined 1st Reserve Battalion, London Regiment (Royal Fusiliers) C Company in Nov 1917 and then the later the 8th Battalion, Princess Charlotte of Wales Royal Berkshire Regiment.  He was killed in action on 24 Aug 1918 aged 18 on the western front in the Somme region of France and is buried at Bapaume Post Military Cemetery.  He is also remembered in St Peter’s church, Cardiff with a plaque below the XI Station of the Cross.  His parents also donated a Processional Cross to the church in 1922 in memory of their son. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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JAMES HOWARD WILLIAM BEER LOCK

Able Seaman, Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, H.M.S. Astraea. (Service Number: Z/3889)

James ‘Jimmie’ Howard William Beer Lock was born in Splott on 27 Aug 1897 to George Howard Lock, a dock labourer and district secretary of the docker’s union, originally from Northam, Devon and Jennet Ann Lock née Thomas, originally from Cardiff.  In 1901 the Lock family lived at 147 Railway Street and in 1911 at 197 Carlisle Street.  The family later moved to 17 Cressy Road, Roath.  He attended Splotlands Elementary School before moving on to Howard Gardens School in 1909.  In WWI he worked as a steward in the merchant navy before joining the Royal Navy Volunteer Reserve in Jan 1917 and serving on the HMS. Astraea, a Cruiser that was sent to the West African station patrolling the Cape of Good Hope throughout the war.  He died on 12 Oct 1918 of influenza, aged 21 at the Royal Naval Hospital in Simonstown, South Africa having been ill for eleven days.  He is buried at Simon’s Town (Dido Valley) Cemetery (Naval Allotment Row B. Grave 07).  He is remembered on the Howard Garden’s War Memorial plaque and on his parent’s grave at Cathays cemetery.   Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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GEORGE HENRY LUKINS

Private, 2nd Battalion, South Wales Borderers (Service Number: 46976)

George Henry Lukins was born in Pontypridd in 1899, one of fourteen children born to Walter William Lukins, a coal miner and later a brake fitter, originally from Taunton, Somerset, and Catherine Lukins née Niblett, originally from Cardiff.  At the time of the 1901 census the Lukins family lived in Pontypridd.  They moved to Cardiff around 1905 and lived in 167 Pearl Street. Before the war George was employed as an electrical engineer by Cardiff Corporation. He enlisted around the start of 1917 and went to France early 1918. He was killed in action on the 12 Apr 1918, aged 19.  On the 11th and 12th Apr 1918 the 2nd South Wales Borderers suffered the full brunt of German attempts to capture the rail head of Hazebrouck. Ultimately the 2nd SWB was eventually taken in the flank and surrounded during a stubborn rearguard action. Only 150 Borderers escaped this invaluable delaying action. He is buried at  La Kreule Military Cemetery Hazebrouck (grave I. A. 22).  His grave carries the epitaph ‘One of the dearest, one of the best, God grant to you eternal rest’.  George Lukins in commemorated on the Cardiff Corporation employees memorial in City Hall.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His father and two brothers served and survived the war.