For casualties whose surnames begin with other letters of the alphabet please visit the main Roath Virtual War Memorial page.

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JACQUES THEODOULE PAUL MARIE VAILLANT De GUELIS

Major, Special Operations Executive (Service Number: 184312)

Jacques Theodoule Paul Marie Vaillant de Guélis was born on 6 Apr 1907 to Raoul Gabriel Vaillant de Guélis, a coal export agent, originally from Herry, Cher, France and Stephanie Uline Marie Georgine Vaillant de Guélis née Barbier, originally from Salford, Lancashire.  In the 1911 census the family lived at 3 Richmond Terrace (now called Museum Place). His father died in France in WWI in 1916. Jacques went to school in Wrekin College, Shropshire before going onto Magdalen College, Oxford. He had dual French/British nationality, and was therefore required to undertake French national service which he did with the French Cuirassiers in the 1930s.  He married Beryl Richardson at St Augustine’s church, Kensington, London on 26 Feb 1938.  Both Jacques and Beryl worked in Press Advertising in London. He had a handle-bar moustache and was 6 feet 3 inches tall.  In WWII he initially served with the French Army. He was appointed liaison officer to the British II Corps, escaped via Dunkirk, but then returned to France.  He then found himself escaping the enemy again via the Pyrenees into Spain.  On returning to UK he was recruited to the Special Operations Executive (SOE). He undertook many missions behind enemy lines and saw service in France, Algiers and Italy.  He rose to the rank of Major, receiving many awards for his bravery including the Croix-de-Guerre with palms, Military Cross and MBE.  He was involved in a serious car accident with a car driven by a German soldier near Flossenbürg concentration camp on 16 May 1945.  He was immediately flown to Paris for an operation, and a while later repatriated to a hospital in Burtonwood, Staffordshire, but was to lose his life after further unsuccessful operations on 7 Aug 1945 at the age of 38.  His body was returned to Cardiff and cremated and the ashes buried in Cathays Cemetery (plot I.22E) alongside his sister Jacqueline Marie was killed in a road accident in Pen-y-lan in 1934 aged 23.  His wife Beryl died in Paris in 1978.  His life has been recorded in the book ‘Jacques de Guélis SOE’s Genial Giant: His Life, His War & His Untimely End’ by Delphine Isaaman in 2018.  Other articles include those found in Wikipedia, the Western Mail and on BBC.  He is remembered on Wrekin College WWI memorial plaque and Magdalen College WWII memorial plaque as well as a blue plaque on 3 Museum Place.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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RAOUL GABRIEL VAILLANT De GUELIS

Brigadier, 11^th Artillery Regiment, French Army

Raoul Gabriel Vaillant de Guelis as born on 26 Dec 1872 in Herry, Cher, France to Théodule Vaillant De Guélis, a farmer, and Marie Louise De Guelis née Josserand from Sauvigny-les-Bois, France.  He came to Cardiff around 1900 and worked as a coal export agent, ending up as a business partner with Sam Powell coal exporter. In the 1901 census he lived at 28 Ruthin Gardens, Cathays.  He was a member of the Cardiff Anglo-French Society where he delivered lectures periodically.  In Aug 1904 he married Marie Stephanie Barbier, daughter of Paul Barbier, French professor at the university. They went on to have two children together, Jaques (b.1908) and Jacqueline Marie (b.1911).  At the time of the 1911 census they lived at 3 Richmond Terrace (now called Museum Place). He joined the French army upon the call to arms in Aug 1914 and served as a Brigadier with the 11^th Artillery Regiment. He died of pneumonia on 19 Apr 1916 aged 44 whilst serving in Argonne, France.  He is remembered on the Cardiff Coal Exchange war memorial.  His son Jacques Vaillant de Guélis became a Special Operations Executive (SOE) agent, an undercover spy, for the British army who carried out missions in France during the Second World War and was killed in France.  His daughter Jacqueline Marie was killed in a road accident in Pen-y-lan in 1934 aged 23.

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ARTHUR VODDEN

Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant, 8th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers (Service Number: 1866911)

Arthur Vodden was born in Cardiff on 27 Feb 1907 to George Shellabear Vodden, a coal trimmer in the docks, originally from Cardiff and Laura Vodden née Stephens, originally from Devonport, Plymouth.  The Vodden family lived 17 Swansea Street, Splott at the time of the 1911 and 1921 census. Arthur attended Moorland Road School and in the 1921 census he was working as an apprentice carpenter. He served in the army from 1927 to 1931 and rose to the rank of Lance Corporal.  In 1933 he married Margaret Pearce in Cardiff and they lived at 78 Keppoch Street, Roath. They had a daughter together, Georgina Elizabeth Vodden, born in 1939.  Arthur and his brother William owned a leather merchants business on City Road.  In WWII he was attached to the Royal Engineers and won a Military Medal for leadership and bravery in a heavy German attack at Commines, France just before the evacuation at Dunkirk. He received his medal from the King in early 1941. He served as Squadron Quartermaster Sergeant with the 8th Field Squadron, Royal Engineers.  He died on 30 Dec 1944 aged 37 when serving in Italy. He is buried at Faenza War Cemetery (grave V. C. 5.).  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.