MARY MACASKILL
Leading Aircraftwoman, 953 Balloon Squadron, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (Service No: 2045888)
Mary MacAskill was born in c1921 to Norman and Joan MacAskill of Culrain, Scotland. she was a member of the 953 Balloon Squadron of the Women’s Auxiliary Air Force stationed in Cardiff. She died aged 22 along with two fellow squadron members on 18 May 1943 during an air raid when their station on Colchester Avenue, Penylan took a direct hit. On May 20th the remains of three casualties, left for their respective homes, each coffin accompanied by a WAAF Officer and NCO. She is buried at Kincardine Cemetery, Ross and Cromarty (grave 166). She is also remembered on the Ardgay War Memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ANGUS ALEXANDER MACKINTOSH
Captain, Royal Horse Guards
Angus Alexander Mackintosh was born on 6 Aug 1885 in Moy Hall, Inverness-shire, Scotland to Alfred Donald Mackintosh of Mackintosh, 28th Chief of the Mackintosh clan, and Harriet Diana Arabella Mary Macintosh nee Richards originally from Roath, Cardiff. He grew up in Cottrell Hall, St Nicholas, Glamorgan and attended school at Wixenford and Eton. After leaving school he embarked on a military career, joining the Royal Horse Guards in 1906. He was promoted to lieutenant in 1908 and later appointed as aide-de-camp to General Sir Arthur Paget, Commander-in-Chief of the Forces in Ireland. This was a time of turmoil in Ireland and Mackintosh witnessed at first hand the role of Paget in the Curragh mutiny in March 1914, although there is no indication of what his feelings were on the matter. When WWI broke out he returned to Windsor, England before embarking for Belgium on 8 Oct. He saw a couple of weeks of war action before he was shot in the chest on 30 Oct 1914 near Ypres. He was evacuated to the military hospital at Boulogne, where he was treated before being sent to hospital in England in mid-November.
After spending six months in hospital recuperating and being promoted to Captain he was appointed as the aide-de-camp to Prince Arthur, the Governor General of Canada in Oct 1915. A year later the Governor General of Canada was replaced by Victor Cavendish, Duke of Devonshire but Angus Mackintosh stayed in his role as aide-de-camp. The Duke of Devonshire was accompanied to Canada by his family and Angus Mackintosh and the Duke’s daughter, Maud Cavendish, fell in love and were married at Christ Church Cathedral, Ottawa in Nov 1917. They moved to Washington DC where Angus was appointed Honorary Assistant Military Attaché in the British War Mission. A few weeks after the birth of their daughter Anne Peace Arabella Mackintosh, Angus caught the Spanish flu and died of pneumonia on 13 Oct 1918 aged 33. He is buried at Arlington National Cemetery, Virginia (plot L.4140). He is remembered on the war memorial in St Nicholas, Vale of Glamorgan and Strathdearn War Memorial in Scotland. He was also remembered on the war memorial plaque that used to be in the Mackintosh Institute, Keppoch Street, Roath, Cardiff. Unfortunately this plaque can no longer be found. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. See also Commonwealth War Graves Commission in United States article.
Angus Alexander Mackintosh and headstone at Arlington Cemetery
FREDERICK MAHONEY
Warrant Officer, 161 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number: 976750 )
Frederick ‘Fred’ Mahoney was born in Cardiff on 10 Apr 1917, the youngest of nine children born to Bartholomew Mahoney, a dock labourer, originally from Ballincollig, County Cork, Ireland and Jane Mahoney née McGivern, also originally from County Cork, Ireland. The Mahoney family lived at 85 Bedford Street, Roath. Fred attended St Peter’s School before then moving on to St Illtyd College. In 1939 Frederick was working as a club barman. He joined the RAF reservists between 1939 and 1941 and qualified as an Air gunner in Aug 1941 and an Instructor in Nov 1943. He was stationed in various airfields including the Middle East. Fred married Catherine (Kitty) Theresa McConnell, at St Peter’s RC church in Cardiff in 1944. He served as a Warrant Officer with 161 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve. He was killed on 5 Mar 1945, aged 27, when flying as an air gunner, one of seven crew in a Sterling Bomber from Tempsford, Bedfordshire. Stirling IV LK312 took off at 23.34 on 4 Mar 1945 from Tempsford on Soe Special Operation Tablejam 209 and headed for Denmark on a secret mission, possibly dropping arms to the resistance. It was shot down by a Kriegmarine Flak ship and crashed into the Limfjord off Livo Island. Frederick’s body was found washed ashore on 21 May 1945. He is buried at Loegstoer General Cemetery, Denmark. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
JAMES MALONE a.k.a. JAMES TAYLOR
Private, 331st Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps (Service Number: 29942)
James Malone was born in Gowran, Co Kilkenny, Ireland in around 1864 to Michael Malone and Johanna Malone nee Hogan. He emigrated to Liverpool and worked as a waiter. He enlisted with the Royal Lancashire Regiment on 5 Oct 1892 under the name James Taylor (Service Number: 3705) and served 12 years including in India (1894-96) and South Africa (1899-1902). He also served with the Manchester Regiment (Service number: 20113). In WWI he was a Private in the 331st Protection Company, Royal Defence Corps which was based in Newport. He died on 7 Oct 1920 aged 56 at Clyne House Red Cross Hospitals on Newport Road, Cardiff. His address at the time was given as 23 Coomassie Street, Newport. His disabilities at the time were listed as VDH (heart disease), albuminuria and bronchitis and his cause of death was attributed to nephritis and cardiac failure. He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot EB 106) and shares a headstone with two other members of the Royal Defence Corps. The headstone refers to James Malone served as 29942 Private J Taylor aged 60. He is unusual in having two Commonwealth War Graves Commission records under the names James Malone and James Taylor. He is remembered on the Red Cross memorial plaque at St Edward church, Pen-y-lan, Cardiff. His pension records name his next of kin in 1920 as being Margaret Malone, his sister, in Gowran, Co Kilkenny, Ireland.
JOHN MANLEY
Flight Sergeant, 229 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number: 1338749)
John Manley was born in Cardiff on 7 Dec 1922 to Denis Manley, a coal trimmer, and Catherine Mary Manley née James, both originally from Cardiff. In 1939 the Manley family were living at 31 Smith Street, East Moors and John was working as a shipping clerk. In the summer of 1944, shortly before he was killed, he married Norma Walker in Sunderland. He served as a Spitfire pilot in 229 Squadron. His plane was hit by flak off the coast of Holland on 15 Sep 1944 whilst he was on a coastal patrol to intercept enemy aircraft. Manley was seen to prepare to bale out, at about 10.15. Flames and white smoke came from its exhaust and he went into a spiral. His chute was seen to open at about 500 feet. Other Spitfire pilots scoured the area for the rest of the day searching for Manley without success. Eventually, Manley’s body washed ashore on the Dutch coast. He was 21 when he died. The shooting down of Manley’s Spitfire was witnessed by his friend F/Sgt. Paddy O’Reilly flying in another Spitfire. Manley and he shared a room in the sergeants’ mess and also an interest in motor bikes – O’Reilly owned a red Panther and Manley a Norton – which allowed them a certain independence in getting off the camp and into nearby villages and Norwich on their frequent escapades. He is buried at Bergen General Cemetery, Netherlands (Plot 2. Row A. Grave 20.). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
John Manley (pic credit – Tom O’Reilly) and headstone
OLIVE MARGRETT
Civilian casualty
Olive Margrett died aged 47 on 19th May 1943 at the Royal Infirmary following injuries sustained when a bomb fell on 12 Penylan Road the previous night in the final bombing raid on Cardiff. She was wife of Archibald George Margrett, a steam raiser on the Great Western Railway. She was born on 16th November 1896 in Cardiff. Her mother Elizabeth and daughter Patricia died in the same raid as well as her sister and niece. Commonwealth War Graves Commission page. Her story is told here: Pen-y-lan Road blitz victims
PATRICIA OLIVE MARGRETT
Civilian casualty
Patricia Olive Margrett died aged 19 on 19th May 1943 at the Royal Infirmary following injuries sustained when a bomb fell on 12 Penylan Road the previous night in the final bombing raid on Cardiff. She was daughter of Olive Margrett (who died in the same raid) and Archibald George Margrett. Patricia’s grandmother, aunt and cousin died in the same raid. Commonwealth War Graves Commission page. Her story is told here: Pen-y-lan Road blitz victims
JOHN FREDERICK MARSH
Trooper, 12th Army Tank Regiment, Three Rivers Regiment, R.C.A.C (Service Number B/38200)
John Frederick March was born Frederick John Marsh on 3 Oct 1915 in Cathays, Cardiff to Robert William Marsh, a brick kiln worker, originally from Street, Somerset and Sarah Ann Marsh nee Hutchings also originally from Street, Somerset. John grew up in 46 Flora Street and attended Gladstone School. In 1928 John and his parents and some of his siblings emigrated to Garson Mine, Ontario, Canada. He worked a labourer and joined up in Jul 1940 and leaves Halifax, Canada for Gourock, Scotland in Jun 1941. He was then based in the UK until Jun 1943 before sailing to Italy to be involved in the retaking of Sicily. He was killed late afternoon on 30 Jul 1943 in Sicily aged 28. He was killed when a mortar round landed near a water carrier vehicle he was travelling in and he was mortally wounded by shrapnel. He is buried at the Agira Canadian War Cemetery, Sicily (grave D, B, 404) . Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
John Frederick Marsh photo, initial burial place, final burial place with headstone.
DAVID NOAH JAMES MARTIN
Private, 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment, South Wales Borderers (Service Number: 5183419)
David Noah James Martin was born in Cardiff, probably Wimborne Street, in 1915 to David William Martin, a soldier, and Laura Annie Martin nee Bradley who had been born in Newent, Gloucestershire. Any information on David’s youth has been difficult to find. He had a younger sister Florence Alma Martin born in 1919 and baptised at St Saviour’s church when the family were living at 35 Wimborne Street, East Moors. David Martin joined the army around 1937 and served in both India and Burma before serving in Europe. He was killed in action on 11 Apr 1945 aged 29 along with twelve others from the 2nd Battalion, Monmouthshire Regiment in the last major action the battalion were involved in during WWII when they forced a crossing of the River Aller at Rethem, Northern Germany. He was initially buried at Eystrup but the grave moved in Jun 1946 to the nearby Becklingen War Cemetery in Germany (grave 2.A.3). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
JOHN MATHEWS
Private, 15th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 35126)
John Matthews was born on 15 Aug 1889 in Cardiff to Thomas Matthews, a vaccination officer, originally from Cardiff and Margaret Matthews nee Jenkins originally from Llanbleddian, Cowbridge. In the 1891 census the Matthews family were living at 19 Llantwit Street, Cathays. John’s mother dies when he is only six leaving Thomas Mathews to bring up the seven children. In 1895 John enrolled as a pupil at Albany Road school and he later went on to attend Howard Gardens High School. By 1911 the family were living at 5 Alma Road in Pen-y-lan and John was working as a clerk in a ship owners. His father passes away in 1912 aged 67. On enlistment he joined the 15th (Carmarthenshire) Battalion of the Welsh Regiment. John was killed on the 11 July 1916 aged 26, during the closing stages of the battle for Mametz Wood. He was one of seventy men of the 15th battalion who were killed during the battle. The majority of the dead were buried within the wood where they fell, at Mametz Wood Cemetery. Many of these were lost during subsequent fighting in the area, and John is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the missing of the Somme. He is also remembered on the Howardian High School War Memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
IDRIS MATHIAS
Rifleman, 13th Battalion, King’s Royal Rifle Corps (Service Number: R/37992)
Eglwyswrw memorial
Idris Mathias was born in Llantood, Pembrokeshire in 1881 to David Mathias, a carpenter, and Lydia Mathias nee Thomas, both originally from Bridell, Pembs. By 1901 he had moved to Cardiff and was working at James Howell’s Ltd as a drapers assistant and living with other employees in the accommodation the company provided on the top floor of the department store. He married Hannah Howell, originally from Carmarthen, in Cardiff in 1904. Idris was a member of Woodville Road Baptist church, Cathays, from 1910 where the church records show that he was choirmaster (a remunerated position) in 1913 and 1914. Idis and his wife Hannah lived in Evansfield Road, Llandaff in 1911. They had three children together, the third Eira dying a few hours after being born and Hannah tragically dying a few weeks later in Feb 1913. Idris remarried a year later on 23 May 1914 to Anna Petricia Johnstone, originally from Scotland at Woodville Road Baptist church. They lived at 52 Merches Gardens in Grangetown. Idris signed up in Cardiff and served with the 13th battalion King’s Royal Rifle Corps. His division went to France in the summer of 1915 and fought at the Battles of the Somme and the Battle of Arras before moving onto Flanders and being part of the Passchendaele offensive. He was killed on 29 Jul 1917 aged 36. He has no know grave. His name appears on the Menin Gate memorial at Ypres, Belgium. He is remembered on the Eglwysgwrw war memorial not far from the village where he was born. His name is also on the Woodville Road Baptist church WWI memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
DAVID MATTHEWS
2nd Radio Officer, Merchant Navy
David Matthews was born on March 5th 1920 in Pontypridd to Cyril Thomas Matthews and Elizabeth Matthews. In 1939 the family ran an ironmongers shop at 107 Albany Road and David was working an ironmonger’s assistant. During the war he was a 2nd Radio Officer on board the S.S.Victoria City which was lost at sea on 2nd Dec 1940. At 21.42 hours on 3 December 1940 the unescorted Victoria City, travelling from New York USA and Halifax, Canada, to London and a straggler from convoy HX-90, was hit on port side underneath the bridge by one G7a torpedo from U-140 and sank by the bow within 15 seconds about 30 miles north-west of the Donegal coast in Ireland. The master and 42 crew members were lost. The ship had been owned by Sir William Reardon Smith & Sons Ltd, Cardiff. He is remembered on the Albany Road Baptist Church war memorial plaque and the Tower Hill Memorial, London.
FRANCIS ALEXANDER MATTHYSSENS
Captain, 1st/4th Battalion, Welsh Regiment
Francis Alexander Matthyssens was born on 18 May 1887 in Cardiff. His parents were John Matthyssens, originally from Belgium, a commercial clerk and company’s secretary for a coal exporter, and Sarah Annie Matthyssens nee David, originally from Llanedern, Cardiff. Francis was baptised at St John’s church on 15 Jun 1887 when the family were living at 16 Wordsworth Ave, Roath. Francis entered Cardiff High School in its first ever intake on 20 Sep 1898, when his family were then living at Redbrook House, St. Martin’s Road, Caerphilly. He left the High School in December 1904. Like his father, he was engaged in business at Cardiff docks. In 1911 they were living at Witla Court in Rumney. He was gazetted second lieutenant to the 4th Battalion Welsh Regiment on 2 Sep 1914. He served with the 1/4th Battalion at Gallipoli from 1 Sep 1915 until the evacuation on 11 Dec 1915. He then proceeded to Alexandria, where he was promoted again. Captain Francis Matthyssens died of typhus at the General Hospital, Alexandria on 23 Jun 1916. He was 29. He is buried in Alexandria (Hadra) War Memorial Cemetery (B.1), Egypt. He is remembered on the Cardiff High School war memorial and also commemorated on the war memorials in Rumney and St. Mellons. There is also a road named after him in St Mellons. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
Francis Alexander Matthyssens alongside his name on the Rumney memorial and the St Mellons war memorial
GEORGE MAUNDER
Rifleman, 1st/5th Battalion, South Lancashire Regiment (Service Number: 50620)
George Maunder was born in Cardiff in 1898 to William Thomas Maunder, a flour mill labourer, originally from Stoodleigh, Devon, and Ada Maunder née Stephens, originally from Cardiff. In 1911 the Maunder family were living at 26 Daniel Street, Roath. After leaving school George became a seaman before joining the Prince of Wales’s Volunteers (South Lancashire Regiment) in 1917 and serving as a rifleman. He was killed in action on the Western Front on 13 Apr 1918 aged 22. He is buried at the Vieille-Chapelle New Military Cemetery, west of Lille (grave III. F. 9.). At the time of his death the his mother Ada was living at 71 Cairn’s Street (now called Rhymney Street). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ALFRED MICHAEL MAZZEI
Private, 6th Battalion, South Wales Borderers (Service Number 17042)
Alfred Michael Mazzei was born on 26 Dec 1892 on Nora Street to Frederick Mazzei, a plasterer, originally from Holborn, London and Elizabeth Mazzei née Hamilton, originally from Bristol. By 1911 his parents had passed away and he was living as a border in Nora Street giving his profession as a collier. He later lived with his sister 67 Constellation Street. He served with the South Wales Borderers and died on the morning of 27 May 1917 aged 24 when he was shot in the head on the western front in Belgium. The letter from his commanding office to next of kin said ‘Alfred was universally popular both with officers and men a sportsman a fine boxer and clean minded, his loss is one that leaves a gap in the Battalion’. He is buried at the Nieuwkerke (Neuve-Eglise) Churchyard in Belgium not far from the French border (grave reference G.2). He is remembered in the Splott War memorial at St Saviour’s church. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother Lewis also served and was killed in WWI and his brother William served with the 2nd Welsh Regiment and lost a leg.
LEWIS PELEGRNA MAZZEI
Private, 1st Battalion, South Wales Borderers (Service Number 8673)
Lewis ‘Louis’ Pelegrena Mazzei was born on 10 Mar 1884 on Sandon Place to Frederick Mazzei, a plasterer, originally from Holborn, London and Elizabeth Mazzei née Hamilton, originally from Bristol. He was baptised on 2 Apr 1884 at St David’s church. By 1901 his parents had passed away and he was living with his sister and brothers in 41 Nora Street giving his profession as a general labourer. In the 1911 census he is already in the army with the South Wales Borderers and serving in South Africa. It appears from one record that he may have enlisted as early as Feb 1905. He returns to Europe and goes to the Western Front and was killed in action early in WWI on 21 Oct 1914 aged 30 at Langemark in the First Battle of Ypres. 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 Alfred Mazzei is also killed in WWI.
WILLIAM JOHN MAZZEI
Corporal, 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (Service Number 3964220)
William John Mazzei was born in Cardiff on 12 Jan 1919, to William Mazzei, a labourer from Cardiff who had been badly injured in WWI and Rose Lillian Mazzei née Shopland, also from Cardiff. In 1939 he lived at 187 North Rd, Cardiff with his parents. He was killed on 21 July 1944 aged 27 in Normandy, France whilst serving with the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment. He is buried at the Brouay War Cemetery (grave III. B. 4.). His cousin Alfred Monaghan fought alongside him in the same regiment and died the same day. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
JOHN McCONNELL
Driver, “D” Battery, 82nd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Service Number: 25783)
John McConnell was born in Cardiff in 1893 to William Henry McConnell, a shipwright, originally from Cardiff and Margaret McConnell née Coughlin, originally from Cardiff. In 1901 the McConnell family lived at 20 Milton Street, Roath and by 1911 they had moved to 47 Wimborne Street, Splott. John worked as a locomotive brakesman at the Dowlais Works. In WWI he served as a driver in the Royal Field Artillery. He was killed in action on 21 Oct 1917 on the Western Front aged 23 along with his officers, the Major and Captain of the battery at the same time. He is buried at the Vlamertinge New Military Cemetery, west of Ypres, Belgium (plot XII. F. 4.). John is remembered on the Guest Keen and Nettlefolds Cardiff Works WWI memorial. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
SAMUEL McCONNELL
Private, 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 24145)
Samuel McConnell, (birth registered as James Samuel McConnell) was born in Cardiff in 1884 to Patrick McConnell, a motor driver, originally from Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Ellen McConnell née Eccles, originally from Glenngariff, County Cork, Ireland. Samuel lived in Russell Street, Roath, initially at number 24 then at number 4. He worked as a labourer for the Taff Vale Railway. In WWI he served as a Private with the 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He was killed in action at Mametz Wood, France on 7 Jul 1916 aged 32. He has no known burial place. He is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 7 A and 10 A). He is also remembered on the Taff Vale Railway Roll of Honour at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay. His brother Thomas also fell in WWI. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
THOMAS McCONNELL
Private, 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 23945)
Thomas McConnell, was born in Cardiff in 1888 to Patrick McConnell, a motor driver, originally from Portsmouth, Hampshire, and Ellen McConnell née Eccles, originally from Glenngariff, County Cork, Ireland. Thomas lived in Russell Street, Roath, initially at number 24 in 1891 then at number 39 in 1901 and then Thesiger Street, Cathays in 1911. He worked as a labourer for the Taff Vale Railway. He married Mary Catherine ‘Kate’ Sullivan, originally from Merthyr, in 1915 in Cardiff. In WWI he served as a Private with the 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He was killed in action on 19 May 1916 on the Western Front aged 28. Thomas is buried at the Merville Communal Cemetery in France (grave VI. Q. 48.). He is remembered on the Taff Vale Railway Roll of Honour at the Pierhead building in Cardiff Bay. His brother Samuel also fell in WWI. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
JAMES HENRY McKERGO
Corporal, D Company, 9th Battalion, Seaforth Highlanders (Service Number: S/5881)
James Henry McKergo was born in Splott on 24 Aug 1896 to David McKergo, a hydraulic man on the railways, originally from Cardiff and Ellen McKergo nee Whitehouse, originally from Wolverhampton. In 1901 the family were living at 24 Clare Road and in 1904 James attended Grangetown Elementary school when they were living at 21 Bromfield Street. By 1909 the family had moved to 81 Sanquahar Street, Splott. James then attended Howard Gardens school having previously also attended Adamsdown elementary School. He left school in 1911 and went on to become a tailor. He enlisted in Cardiff and went on to serve as a Corporal with the Seaforth Highlanders in France. He was killed in action on 16 Jul 1916 aged 19. He has no known grave but is remembered on the Thiepval Memorial (Pier and Face 15 C). He is remembered on the Howard Gardens school war memorial plaque and on a Roll of Honour, currently of unknown origin. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
DAVID JOHN McGREGOR
Engineer Lieutenant Commander, H.M.S. Hawke, Royal Navy
David John McGregor was born on 7 Jul 1874 in Hebburn, Tyneside, to Donald McGregor, a clerk, originally from Banffshire, Scotland and Mary McGregor née Fairley from Newcastle On Tyne. The family moved to Cardiff and David McGregor attended Cardiff Higher Grade School (Howard Gardens) and then Cardiff University College studying engineering. After leaving university he served an apprenticeship at Wallsend Engineering works in Cardiff for five years before joining the Royal Navy. He won a scholarship to Greenwich Naval College. He served many years afloat and his naval records contain many references to him being zelous and having a lot of ability and reluctant to retire. He became the Admiralty Coal Inspector in Cardiff. He was summoned to active service but died on 15 Oct 1914, aged 40, when H.M.S. Hawke was sunk in the North Sea sixty miles off Aberdeen when it was torpedoed by German U-boat U9 and hit amidships near a magazine. The detonation was followed by a second terrific explosion, in which a large number of the crew were killed. The ship sank within 5 minutes and was only able to launch one ship’s boat. Five hundred and twenty five perished. He is remembered on the Howardian War Memorial plaque and the Cardiff University War Memorial plaque. He is also remembered on the Chatham Naval Memorial. A white marble family headstone at Cathays Cemetery (Grave Reference L3572) also remembers him with the following words: ‘Also of Engr Lt Commr David J McGregor R.N. / of H.M.S. Hawke. Lost with vessel in North Sea 15th October 1914 / A model son and kind brother‘. His obituary and picture appeared in the South Wales Daily News on 17 Oct 1914. We pick up his address when he died on his probate record as being 18 Balaclava Road in Penylan, Cardiff. Commonwealth War Grave Commission record.
David John McGregor and headstone at Cathays Cemetery
HUBERT MERCHANT
Private, 16th Battalion Welsh Regiment. (Service Number 56557).
Hubert Holinshead Merchant was born on 26th July 1896 in Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire. He was the eldest son of Arthur Davies Merchant, a colliery labourer, originally from Gloucester and Emily Merchant née Solomon originally form Bristol. In 1911 we find the family living at 124 Broadway with Arthur a caretaker and Hubert, aged 14, working as a boot dealer’s errand boy having previously attended Moorland Road school. He enlisted 26th April, 1915, in 7th Welsh (Cyclists) before transferring to the 115th Trench Mortar Battery, 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment. He served on the Western Front from 28 July 1916, and was killed in action after the Battle of Pilkem Ridge on 1 Aug 1917 aged 21. His Captain wrote: ‘He went into the fight with his usual cheerfulness, and went right over Pilkem Ridge, as far as the River Steenbeek, where he fought gallantly until he was hit by a sniper in the side’. He is remembered on the Ypres Menin Gate Memorial (Panels 37). His military papers record the Merchant family living at 176 Cathays Terrace at the time. He was remembered on the Charles Street Wesleyan Methodist Church WWI memorial currently in the safe keeping of Cardiff Bereavement Services. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ARTHUR JOHN MITCHELL
Sergeant, 15th Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve.
Arthur Mitchell was born in Cardiff on 22nd April 1918 to Arthur Mitchell and Hannah Mitchell née Domville. Prior to the war Arthur worked as an ordnance surveyor. The family lived in Pinehurst on Ty Gwyn Road, likely to have been just north of where the road passes over the Eastern Avenue today. He has no known grave. He died on 23rd July 1941 aged 33 and is remembered on the RAF Runnymede Memorial, Surrey. He is also remembered on a memorial in St Edward’s church and their website records the following information: On an operation as the Flight Engineer in a Stirling bomber (N6038) to attack the Battle cruiser Scharnhorst, they took off from RAF Wyton with five other aircraft at 6.05pm on 23rd July 1941. They encountered heavy anti-aircraft fire and were attacked repeatedly by ME109s which forced the bombers to dive to low level. N6038 was fatally damaged and crashed into the sea off Pembroke, claiming the lives of the crew. [Some details from the book “Short Stirling Units in World War 2” by Jonathan Falconer.] Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ALFRED JOHN THOMAS MONAGHAN
Lance Corporal, 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment (Service Number 3965467)
Alfred John Thomas Monaghan was born in Cardiff on 15 May 1918 to Robert Joseph Monaghan, a steel works labourer, originally from Newport, and Rosina Maria Monaghan née Mazzei, originally from Cardiff. He grew up in the Splott area and was living at 67 Constellation Street with his parents in 1939 and working in the blast furnace at the steel works. In May 1937 the newspaper reports that Alfred, then aged 16, had saved a boy, Alec Coakly, aged 6, from drowning in the canal near Hayes Bridge. Alfred, a non-swimmer himself, had jumped in and rescued the boy. Alfred served with the 1/5th Battalion, Welch Regiment. He was killed in action at Normandy on 21 Jul 1944, aged 25. He is buried at Banneville-la-Campagne war cemetery (grave VI. E. 24). His cousin William Mazzei fought alongside him in the same regiment and died the same day. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
PERCY MOORE
Private, 14th Battalion, Royal Welsh Fusiliers.
Percy Moore was born in 1893 in Cardiff to Edwin Moore, a railway inspector, from Arlingham, Gloucestershire and Annie Moore ( née Pritchard) from Croesyceliog. The family lived in various locations in Roath including Inverness Place, Montgomery Street and Arran Street. Percy is recorded as working as a clerk in the 1911 census. He joins the 14th Battalion of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers and is killed in action at Ypres, Belgium on 25th Feb 1917 aged 23. He is buried at Medinghem Military Cemetery in Belgium near the French border. He is remembered on the Albany Road Baptist Church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record
ILTID MORGAN
Iltid Morgan was born in 1873 in Cardiff to Philip Morgan, an accountant, originally from Cowbridge, and Eliza Morgan nee Newman, originally from Salisbury, Wiltshire. Iltid was baptised at Llandaff on 16 Aug 1873. He grew up on Bridge Street, Llandaff and initially trained as a carpenter, then worked as an insurance agent and then a coal merchant. He married Lily Emily Fry in Cheltenham in 1897 and they set up home in the Canton area. They had two sons, Charles (b.1899) and Philip (b.1901). Charles worked as a chemist in High Street but died young aged 29. Iltid and Lily moved to the Cathays area and were members of Woodville Road Baptist church from 1933. In 1939 Iltid and Lily were living at 103 Monthermer Road, Cathays with Iltid describing himself as a retired traveller for a credit drapery. Lily died on 23 Nov 1939. In WWII Iltid was a firewatcher and was injured at Marlborough Road school on 3 Mar 1941 when the school suffered serious bomb damage during an air raid. He died the following day aged 68 at the Emergency Hospital in Whitchurch. Both Lily and Iltid are buried at Cathays Cemetery in an unmarked grave (plot EJ 166). He is remembered on the Woodville Road Baptist church WWII memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
The original Marlborough Road Board School opened in 1900, on the corner of Blenheim Road and Marlborough Road.
NANCY REES MORGAN
Civilian Casualty
Nancy Rees Morgan was born in Cardiff on 20 Oct 1922 to Cuthbert Robert Morgan, a print compositor, originally from Pontypool, and Gwendoline Rees, a tailoress, originally from Splott, Cardiff. In 1922 the Morgan family were living at 133 Penarth Road, Grangetown. By 1937 they have moved to 147 Mynachdy Road, Gabalfa. Her mother died in 1937 and the following year her father married her aunt. In 1939 Nancy is working as a dressmaker. She was accepted into membership at Woodville Road Baptist church by baptism during 1941. During the war she worked at the Royal Ordnance Factory in Llanishen on the corner of Ty Glas Road and Caerphilly Road which made shells.. She was one of 12 people who died on 27 March 1944 when a misdirected anti-aircraft shell, fired from a gun based in Gabalfa, landed on the factory. She was just 21 when she died. She is buried at Cathays Cemetery in her parent’s family grave (plot Y1564). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. She is also remembered on the WWII memorial plaque that was at Woodville Road Baptist church.
ALFRED JOHN MORRIS
Private, 183rd Company, Machine Gun Corps (Infantry), (Service Number: 89978)
Alfred ‘Fred’ John Morris was born in Cardiff on 22 Apr 1898 to Alfred Joseph Morris, a marine engine fitter, and Annie Morris nee Jones, both originally from Cardiff. The Morris family lived at 45 Manor Street Cardiff. Fred attended Allensbank Elementary school before going on to attend Howard Gardens school in 1909 and leaving in 1914 to work as a clerk. He enlisted in Cardiff and served initially with the Royal Army Service Corps before moving to the 183rd Company of the Machine Gun Corps (Infantry). He was killed in action on 6 Sep 1917 aged 19 at Ypres, Belgium. He has no known burial place. He is remembered on the Tyne Cot memorial in Belgium. He is also remembered on the Howard Gardens school memorial plaque and the Woodville Road Baptist church plaque. He was remembered on the headstone of his grandparent’s grave at Cathays Cemetery (Plot V237/238) (now removed). The inscription on the headstone read ‘Faithful in life, fearless in death’. 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.
HERBERT VICTOR MORSE
Private, 1st Battalion, Leicestershire Regiment
Hubert Victor Morse was born in 1891 in Penarth to Edwin Morse, a general haulier, originally from Gloucestershire and Ellen Morse, née Ashelford, originally from Somerset. Hubert worked as a clerk in a rents and estates business before joining the Leicestershire Regiment as a Private. The family had lived at 105 City Road in 1911 but Hubert’s war record show them then living at 40 Bedford Street. The memorial states that he died of his wounds on 25th Apr 1917. He is buried at the Philosophe British Cemetery in northern France. He is remembered on the Albany Road Baptist Church war memorial plaque. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
ESME AILEEN MOULD
Civilian Casualty
Esme Aileen Mould was born on 23 Apr 1921 in Cardiff to Cyril Henry Mould, a schoolmaster, and Hilda Louisa Mould nee Harding. In 1930 she was living with her parents at 10 Agincourt Road and listed as a University Student. She was killed aged 20, alongside her mother and brother, in an air raid on 3 Mar 1941 at the family home. She is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot EK 1254). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
HILDA LOUISA MOULD
Civilian Casualty
Hilda Louisa Mould was born Hilda Louisa Harding on 16 Nov 1894 in Cardiff to Walter Tom Harding, a builder, originally from Illchester, Somerset, and Frances Eliza Harding nee Abbott, also from Illchester. The Harding family were living at 178 Mackintosh Place in 1901 and 14 Shirley Road in 1911. Hilda married Cyril Henry Mould, a schoolmaster, at Roath Parish church on 27 Jul 1920 when she was living at 30 Sandringham Road. Hilda and Cyril went on to have three children together. Their son Peter died in childhood aged two in 1933. Hilda was killed aged 46 in an air raid on 3 Mar 1941 at the family home, 10 Agincourt Road, Penylan, which also killed her daughter Esme and son Michael. Her husband Cyril, a WWI veteran, escaped death, may be because he was on duty as an ARP warden. Cyril, who worked as a schoolmaster at Albany Road Boys School, remarried Nancy Louise Griffiths in 1942 and was to live till 1960. Hilda is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot EK 1254). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.
MICHAEL JAMES LESLIE MOULD
Civilian Casualty
Michael James Leslie Mould was born in on 17 Jan 1937 in Cardiff to Cyril Henry Mould, a schoolmaster, and Hilda Louisa Mould nee Harding. He was killed aged 4 alongside his mother and sister in an air raid on 3 Mar 1941 at the family home. He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot EK 1254). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. Note the CWGC has his name recorded as Michael John whereas it is Michael James on the cemetery headstone.
Roath Local History Society 