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

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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.

REGINALD MEYRICK WAITES

Private, 6^th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment (Service Number: 41701)

Reginald Meyrick Waites was born in Cardiff in 1884 to George William Waites, a dock checker, originally from Bristol and Catherine Waites née Taylor, also originally from Bristol.  Reginald is in the 1891 census named Reginald Pearce and living in Ely.  In 1901 the family, still called Pearce at this stage, are living at 4 Compton Street and Reginald working as an errand boy.  By 1911, Catherine is now widowed and the family revert back to using the Waites surname and living at 7 Hereford Street, Grangetown.  Reginald, aged 25, is working as a haulier.  In 1913 he married Edith Maud Lewis and lived at 24 May Street, Cathays. They had two sons together. In WWI Reginald served with the Royal Field Artillery and then the 6^th Battalion, Yorkshire Regiment.  He was wounded when carrying rations to the front line on the Western Front.  He died of wounds on 7 Jul 1917 aged 32.  He is buried at the Bailleul Communal Cemetery Extension Nord (grave III. D. 245). He is remembered on the Grangetown War Memorial.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  

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JAMES CHRISTOPHER WARD

Sapper, 3^rd Railway Company, 1st Siege Company, Royal Monmouthshire Royal Engineers (Service Number: 6529)

James Christopher Ward was born in Cardiff on 5th May 1892, one of fourteen children born to Edwin Brown Ward, a cabinet maker and upholsterer, originally from Liverpool and Honora Ward nèe O’Neil originally from Ireland. The family lived in 33 Frederick Street in the centre of Cardiff.  James worked as a labourer and enlisted twice in the Royal Monmouth Royal Engineers, once in Jan 1911 (Service No.5858) and then again in Apr 1914.  James was 5’ 7¼” with blue eyes and brown hair and Roman Catholic.  He left Britain in Nov 1914 but became ill and was sent back aboard Hospital Ship Carisbook Castle on 9 Feb 1915 suffering from bronchitis having served three months in France.  He died on 6 Mar 1915 in hospital in Weymouth, Dorset aged 22.  The newspaper reported that he died from the effects of frostbite.  His body was transported back to Cardiff and he is buried in Cathays Cemetery (grave EB3).  James Christopher Ward has two headstones adjacent to each other, one a CWGC headstone and one a private headstone.  Note the different way in which the names are recorded on each and the day difference in the date of death.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  His mother Nora tragically died in 1921 and her body was found fully clothed in the Glamorgan Canal, near Hill’s Terrace in central Cardiff.

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ALFRED HENRY WARDEN

Air Mechanic 2nd Class, No.12 Training Depot Station, Royal Air Force (Service Number 125427)

Alfred Henry Warden was born in Cardiff in late 1898/early 1899 to Alfred James Warden, a carpenter, originally from Devonport, Devon, and Emily Elizabeth Warden nee Ellis, originally from Bristol.  He was baptised in St Andrew’s parish church on 28 Jan 1899.  The family lived at 45 Donald Street, Roath.  After leaving school he followed his father into the carpentry trade and joined the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters & Joiners when he was 16. He joined the RAF on 2 Jul 1917 and was promoted to Air Mechanic 2nd Class on 26 Jan 1918. His job in the RAF was an aero rigger.  He died on 25 Sep 1918 at Andover, Hampshire aged 19.  He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (grave EA. 2163).  His brother John fell in France and is remembered at the foot of Alfred’s headstone at Cathays.  Alfred was also listed on the Roath Road Wesleyan Methodist church memorial which has since been lost. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

 

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JOHN WILLIAM WARDEN

Private, D Company, 16th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number 23873)

John ‘Jack’ William Warden was born in Bedminster, Somerset, on 24 Mar 1897 to Alfred James Warden, a carpenter, originally from Devonport, Devon, and Emily Elizabeth Warden née Ellis, originally from Bristol.  He was baptised on 15 Apr at St Francis church, Ashton Gate.  By 1901 the Warden family had moved to Donald Street, Roath.  In 1911 John Warden was living at 45 Donald Street and attending Albany Road school.  By 1913, aged 16, he had left school and followed his father into the carpentry trade and was a member of the Amalgamated Society of Carpenters and Joiners trade union.  He joined the army and was a Private in the 16th Battalion (Cardiff City), Welsh Regiment.  Judging by his number was an original 16th Battalion recruit.  He survived  Mametz Wood which took so many in his regiment only to be killed in action days later near Courcelles.  He lost his life on the 18 July 1916 when his trench raiding party became engaged with Germans in no-mans land.  The only other casualty was L/Cpl Christopher Nelson, who was from North Clive St in Grangetown.  They were both laid to rest in Serre Rd Number 1 Cemetery.  Jack Warden was nineteen years old.  He is remembered on the war memorial plaque in St Martin’s Church on Albany Road.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  His brother Alfred Henry Warden was a mechanic in the RAF and died in 1918, buried at Cathays Cemetery.  John is mentioned at the bottom of his brother’s headstone.

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EDGAR JOHN WATKINS

Chief Engineer, Merchant Navy, S.S. “Emlyndene” (Cardiff)

Edgar John Watkins was born in Jun 1881 in Cardiff  and the eldest of nine children born to John Watkins, a builder’s  merchants foreman, originally from Llangybi, Monmouthshire and Caroline Watkins nee James originally from Cardiff.   He grew up at 87 Upper George Street (now called Wyeverne Road), Cathays and attended Crwys Road school.  By 1901 the Watkins family had moved to 112 Diana Street Roath and Edgar was working as a machinist.  In 1908 he married Bertha Maud Chamberlain, originally from Leicester. They had three children together between 1909 and 1915 and lived at 30 Alfred Street, Roath Park. Edgar joined the merchant navy and became Chief Engineer aboard the 500 tonne Cardiff based cargo steamship SS Emlyndene.  He died on 11 Dec 1917 when the SS Emlyndene was torpedoed and sunk by U-boat UC 50 in the English Channel, eight miles east of Start Point, Devon, on a journey carrying coal from Cardiff to Granville, France.  Edgar, aged 36, was one of fourteen lives lost when the Emlynedene sank.  He is remembered on the Tower Hill memorial in London for merchant seamen.  He was also remembered on the Woodville Road Baptist church memorial plaque.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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THOMAS LLEWELLYN WATKINS

Gunner, 122^nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery (Service Number: 348205)

Thomas Llewellyn Watkins was born in 1894 at 32 Glenroy Street, Roath, to Thomas Samuel Watkins a patternmaker originally from Bedwellty, Monmouthshire and Margaret Ann Watkins née Miles originally from Cardiff.  He was baptised on 26 Apr 1894 at St John the Baptist church.  The Watkins family moved to Porthkerry Road, Barry but tragedy struck in 1898 when his mother, father and five year old sister all died at different times that year.  Thomas was subsequently bought up by his maternal grandparents, Thomas and Margaret Miles.  In the 1911 census he was 16, living at 13 Kelvin Road, Roath Park with his grandparents and working as a builder’s clerk. The newspaper announcement of his death mentions him being a scoutmaster and athlete. He served as a Gunner, in the 122^nd Heavy Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery.  He died on 7 Apr 1917 at Vraucourt, France aged 23. He is buried at Vaulx Hill Cemetery (grave I.C.9). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. He is remembered on the war memorial in St Martin’s church, Roath.

 

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DAVID THOMAS WATSON

Private, 7th Battalion, Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment) (Service Number 24846)

David Thomas Watson was born in Cardiff in 1883.  He was son of David Watson, a licenced victualler (pub landlord) originally from Gelligaer, and  Ann Watson née  Edwards, originally from Quakers Yard.  In 1883 David Watson was publican at the Roath Cottage.   In 1891 the family lived in Duke Street in the middle of Cardiff before moving to Stacey Road, Roath.  By 1911 Ann is widowed, her husband having died in Pencoed in 1906,  and the family is living at 221 Albany Road.   David Thomas Watson was a carpenter by trade.  He enlisted it seems at first in the Welsh Horse Yeomanry before joining the Queen’s Own (Royal West Kent Regiment).  He died on the Western Front on 15th Feb 1915 aged 34.  He is buried at the Grandcourt Road Cemetery (Grave C 79) in the Somme region of France. The Commonwealth War Grave Commission record indicated the family address as being 160 Marlborough Rd.  He was also remembered on his parent’s gravestone at Cathays Cemetery in Cardiff with the words “Also of Private David Thomas Watson, dearly beloved son of the above who was killed in action in France February 15 1917 aged 34 yrs”. That gravestone on plot W1130 is marked as having been removed.  He was also remembered on the Mackintosh Institute Roll of Honour, also now sadly lost.

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BERNARD WALTER WAY

Private, 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Service Number: 11946)

Bernard Walter Way was born in 1892 in Crediton, Devon to Arthur Way, a carpenter and joiner, originally from Exeter, and Emma Elizabeth Way née Sutherby, originally from Lambeth, London. Bernard’s father Arthur passed away before he was born. In 1911 Bernard was working as a sugar grinder in a medical lozenge factory and living in Crediton, Devon.  Bernard moved to Cardiff and worked as a porter for Great Western Railways, starting in Jan 1914 and leaving in Dec 1915. It is not clear where he was living at the time but the fact that his name appears on the Broadway Methodist Church War Memorial seems to indicate it was in the Roath area (there was a Way family from Devon living in nearby Topaz Street in 1911 who may have been relatives). Bernard signed up in Cardiff with the 2nd Battalion, Devonshire Regiment.  He died of wounds on 31 Dec 1916 aged 24. He is buried at the Grove Town Cemetery, Meaulte, France. (plot II. J. 23.). He is remembered on the Broadway Methodist Church war memorial plaque, now at Trinity Centre. He is also remembered on the Crediton War Memorial and on the memorial in Church of the Holy Cross, Crediton. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. Bernard’s brother Arthur William Way served 12 years in the navy from 1909 to 1921.

 

 

 

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JOHN MICHAEL WHALEY

Leading Aircraftman, 2925 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number 1315638)

John Michael Whaley was born on 8 Sep 1921 in Cardiff to Patrick Whaley, a general labourer on the railways and Agnes Theresa Whaley nee Donnelly, both originally from Cardiff.  The Whaley family lived at 1 Byron Street, Roath.  John attended St Peter’s school and then worked as a grocer warehouseman. His father died in 1931 and his mother in 1940. He joined the Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve and was serving as a Leading Aircraftman in 2925 Squadron when he was killed in an air raid by Luftwaffe on the RAF base in Lentini, Sicily on the night of 11 Aug 1943.  He was 21 years old. He is buried at the Catania War Cemetery, Sicily (grave I. F. 32). Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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STEPHEN WHITEHOUSE

Civilian Casualty

Stephen Whitehouse was born on 6 Jan 1922 in Cardiff to James Whitehouse, an electrical and mechanical engineer, from Cardiff and Mary Ellen Whitehouse née Mullins from Cardiff.  Stephen attended St Illtyd’s school (1933-40).  In September 1939 the family were living in Daisy Street, Canton.  He enrolled as a student at Cardiff University  on 1st October 1940 to study science.  During his first year at university he became a volunteer firewatcher, looking for any fires started during enemy bombing raids. He was badly injured on firewatching duty on the night of 26 Feb 1941, at Cardiff University College. The incendiary bombs fell on the Student’s Union building, the Gymnasium and in the area outside the main University building. He was taken to the Royal Infirmary but died the following day, 27 Feb 1941, aged 19.  He is buried in Western Cemetery, Cardiff (Section J, Grave number 644).  He is remembered on the St Illtyd’s school war memorial at St Alban Church, Splott and on a plaque at Cardiff  University’s Catholic Chaplaincy.  Commonwealth War Grave Commission record.    Cardiff University have posted a blog detailing the events of the night Stephen was badly injured.

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ALEXANDER FAUVEL WHITLEY

Lieutenant, 49th Siege Battery, Royal Garrison Artillery

Alexander ‘Alex’ Fauvel Whitley was born in Penarth on 12 Apr 1892 to Edwin John Whitley, a ship broker and storage agent, originally from Jersey and Jessie Mackintosh Whitley née Miller, originally from Galway, Ireland.  He was baptised at St Augustine’s church on 19 May 1892. In 1901 and 1911 the Whitley family lived at 14 Albert Crescent, Penarth.  Alex attended Cardiff High School, leaving in 1909.  By 1911 Alex was working as a coal merchant’s clerk.  In Mar 1914 he played rugby for Cardiff Exchange versus Baltic Exchange, London, in a game played at Cardiff Arms Park.  He also played for Penarth RFC. In WWI he served with the 49th Siege Battery of the Royal Garrison Artillery.  In Apr 1915 he took part in a military boxing tournament at Barry for regiments stationed there.  Whitley fought in the heavyweight class.  He was promoted to Second Lieutenant with effect from Mar 1915.  He was killed in action at the Somme on 23 Jul 1916 in France aged 26 and is buried at the Peronne Road Cemetery, Maricourt (grave I.A.31).  He is remembered on the Cardiff Coal Exchange memorial, Cardiff Rowing Club war memorial, Penarth War Memorial, St Augustine’s Church memorial (Penarth), Penarth RFC Roll of Honour and a stained glass window memorial in Gouvey Church, Jersey.  He is not listed on the Cardiff High School memorial.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. His brother Harry Perchard Whitley served with the Royal Field Artillery in WWI as 2nd Lieutenant and in WWII was awarded an OBE for his services as manager of the Mountstuart Drydocks Ltd.  His brother-in-law John Stewart Minshull Nicholls died in the WWII serving with the Merchant Navy and is on the Penarth Memorial. (Summary compiled with input from rugby historian Gwyn Prescott).

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GILBERT JOHN TUCKER WILLCOCKS

Corporal, 2nd Company, 9th Div Train, Army Service Corps (Service Number T2/11639)

Gilbert ‘Bert’ John Tucker Willcocks was born in Taunton, Somerset in 1891. He was one of nine children born to Elias Willcocks, a miller, originally from Crediton, Devon, and Avis Jane Willcocks, née Tucker, originally from Cannington, Somerset. In 1901 the Willcocks family were living in Swansea. After leaving school Bert worked as a clerk for the Swansea Education Office before becoming a commercial traveller for Messrs Rank and Co.  Bert’s father died in 1910 leaving Bert the oldest of the children living at home.  By 1911 the family had moved to 1 Claude Place, Roath and Bert was working as a grocer’s assistant. He attended Crwys Hall Methodist chapel, Monthermer Road, Cathays and played football in the Cardiff Football League. He joined the army at the outbreak of war and went to France in May 1915 as a member of the Army Service Corps.  He was killed in action on 28 Nov 1915, aged 24,  when manning a canteen just behind the front line trenches which was hit by a German shell.  He has no known grave but is remembered on the Ypres (Menin Gate) memorial in Belgium. (Update 2020: His grave has recently been discovered and he is buried in Ypres Reservoir Cemetery, Ypres, Belgium in Plot IX, Row E, Grave 25 underneath a headstone which was inscribed ‘Unknown Corporal, Army Service Corps’.  A service of rededication took place in October 2022.  Corporal Bert Willcocks was a well-respected man as sometime after he died the Crwys Hall chapel received a letter from the front saying that the officers and men of 105 Company A.S.C. wished that a brass tablet in his name be erected at the church and had a collection among the soldiers to fund the making of it. When the work was commissioned, the maker in Birmingham refused to take any money for it.  In the end the £6 15s was donated to Bert’s widowed mother. The memorial was unveiled on 2 April 1916 in a packed church with over 1000 present including the Lord Mayor Dr Smith and the band of the 3rd Welsh.  It was the first memorial to a First World War soldier in any of Cardiff’s places of worship.  The name of Corporal Willcocks also appeared on the collective WWI memorial at Crwys Hall church.  Crwys Hall Methodist closed in the 1980/90s.  The building fell into disrepair for a time but has since been renovated and is now Highfields Church. The memorials were removed before or during the renovation process. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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BARBARA SARAH WATKIN WILLIAMS

Aircraftwoman 1st Class, Women’s Auxiliary Air Force (Service Number: 883075)

Barbara Sarah Watkin Williams was born on 29 Jul 1922 in Cardiff in to Thomas Baker Williams, an auctioneer, originally from Marshfield, Monmouthshire and Annie Maud Williams née Williams originally from Treorchy, Rhondda.  The Williams family lived at 18 Ninian Road, Roath Park. Barbara joined the Women’s Auxiliary Airforce in 1939. She died on 20 Jun 1940, aged 17,  as a result of injuries sustained in a motor vehicle accident at Temple Bruer, Lincolnshire.  She was in a car with two RAF pilot officers on the Lincoln-Sleaford road during the black-out when it was involved in a head-on collision with a truck.  All three occupants were killed.  She is buried at Cathays Cemetery (plot O.1107).  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  She is remembered on the war memorials at St Edward’s  and St Martin’s church.  Barbara’s elder sister Betty married British Heavyweight Boxing champion Jack Petersen at Marshfield in 1935. Barbara had been a bridesmaid at the wedding attended by hundreds of people and enthusiastic onlookers.  Her grave at Cathays Cemetery is adjacent to that of Jack Petersen.

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GEORGE FRANCIS WILLIAMS

Private, 4th Battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers (Service Number: 47366)

George Francis Williams was born on 25 May 1890 in Cardiff to Tom Williams, a printing compositor, originally from Weymouth, Dorset, and Lucy Mary Williams nee Clements originally from Stogursey, Somerset.  He was baptised at Canton Parish Church on 7 Aug 1890 when the family were living at 15 Market Road.  George became a compositor like his father. He enlisted in the army on 4 Jan 1915 and served with the 4th battalion, Lancashire Fusiliers.  He married Gladys Leonora  Phillips at St Luke’s church, Canton on 12 Oct 1915.  He left for France on 14 Oct 1917. He was discharged on 24 Jan 1919 on the grounds of ill health.  Their daughter Margaret Hannah Lucy Williams was born on 10 Aug 1919 when they were living at 3 Egham Street, Canton.  He died three months later on 21 Dec 1919 aged 29 in one of the Red Cross Hospitals on Newport Road, Cardiff.  He is buried at Cathays Cemetery (Plot  CE. 1247).  He is remembered on the Red Cross Memorial tablet at St Edwards church, Pen-y-lan.  His wife Gladys was refused a widows pension as they had married after George had enlisted.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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GLYN WILLIAMS

Private,  9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment (Service Number: 46452)

Glyn Williams was born in Llanelli in 1896 to David Richard Williams, a monumental sculptor originally from Llanestephan, Carmarthenshire and Catherine ‘Kate’ Williams nee John originally from Swansea. Glyn attended Llanelli Intermediate School before going onto Llandovery College from 1910 to 1912 where he played rugby for the first XV.  The Williams family moved from Llanelli to Cardiff and were living at 46 Shirley Road at the time of the 1911 census. After leaving Llandovery, Glyn was articled to Messrs. Jones and Robatham, Chartered Accountants, Dumfries Place.  He was a member of Clifton Street Chapel.  In August 1916, Glyn Williams enlisted at Cardiff into the 9th Battalion, Welsh Regiment, which was attached to 58 Brigade, 19th (Western) Division, and joined the Battalion on the Somme later that year.  The Division then moved North to Ypres, taking part in the Battle of Messines. They then fought during the Battle of the Menin Road. During the opening of an attack east of the Ypres-Comines Canal on 20 Sep 1917, the 9th Welsh was in Reserve at Hessian Wood. They were called up to repel a German counter-attack, and it was during the ensuing action that Glyn was killed along with 12 of his comrades, during heavy enemy shelling and machine-gun fire. He was 20 years old, and is buried at Woods Cemetery, Zillebeke, Belgium (grave II. CC. 1.).  He is remembered on a number of memorials including at Llanelli Grammar School, Llandovery College and on one believed to have been at Clifton Street Chapel as well as a Roll of Honour probably associated with the Forward Movement based at Clifton Street Chapel.  He is also remembered on his parents tomb in Llanelli Cemetery. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

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JANSEN OSWALD DAVID WILLIAMS

Captain, 11th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical Corps (Service Number 175669)

Jansen Oswald David Williams was born in the Bridgend area on 14 Nov 1917 to David Isaac Williams, a military contractor and caterer, and Hannah Williams, née Richards.  Jansen attended Bridgend Grammar school and Cardiff High School for Boys before embarking in further education at Emmanuel College Cambridge and qualified as a surgeon by training at and St Thomas’ Hospital, London. The Williams family live at 51 Ninian Road, Roath Park.  In 1941 he married Sylvia ‘Joy’ Baldwin in Amersham, Bucks. He joins the 11th Field Ambulance, Royal Army Medical which landed at Algiers in the November of 1942 before going through to Tunis in the May of 1943 then on to Sicily and Italy. He was killed by a shell on 4 Oct 1943, aged 25, at River Biferno, near Termoli, Italy They were with the Lancashire Fusiliers and the unit were in a barn putting a Thomas splint on a casualty with a broken thigh when they received a direct hit. Captain J.O.D.Williams and three of the others in the unit were killed. They were buried nearby and the bodies later re-interred in the Sangro River War Cemetery, Italy.  He is remembered on the war memorial plaque in Roath Park Congregational church (now Tabernacle).  He is also remembered at Bridgend Grammar school, Emmanuel College, Cambridge, and St Thomas’ Hospital chapel.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

 

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JOHN LEWIS WILLIAMS

Captain, C Company. 16th ‘Cardiff City’ Battalion, Welsh Regiment

John ‘Johnny’ Lewis Williams was born on 3 Jan 1882 in Whitchurch, Cardiff to Edward Williams, a farmer/licensed victualler /rate collector, originally from Radyr and Mary Williams née Lewis, originally from Whitchurch. At the time of the 1891 census the Williams family were living at the Hollybush Inn where Edward was the licensed victualler.  In 1892 Johnny started attending  Cowbridge Grammar School.  By 1901 the family were living at 2 Rhiwbina Rd and Johnny, aged 19, was working as a clerk. By 1911 the family were living at ‘Llwyncelyn’, Pantmawr Road, Whitchurch and Johnny a partner in a coal-exporting firm Greenslade & Williams at the Cardiff Coal Exchange.  He was a brilliant rugby wing three-quarter and was one of the most distinguished of all the 135 international rugby players who lost their lives in the War.  He played initially for Whitchurch and Newport but spent most of his career with Cardiff, whom he captained in 1909-10. He won 17 international caps between 1906 and 1911, during one of the most successful periods ever for Welsh rugby.  He played in three Grand Slam teams and was also a member of the British (Anglo-Welsh) Team in Australia and New Zealand in 1908.  He enlisted in the Royal Fusiliers early in the War and was commissioned in the Cardiff City Battalion in Nov 1914. This battalion had a strong contingent of officers and men who were members of Cardiff Rugby Football Club and Johnny was one of four Welsh rugby internationals who joined at that time.  Shortly afterwards, in early 1915, he married Mabel Anne Morgan of ‘Caercady’, Archer Road, Penarth.  He went overseas with the 38th (Welsh) Division in the following Dec. During the Battles of the Somme, he was very badly wounded in the Cardiff City Battalion’s attack on the ‘Hammerhead’ in the Battle of Mametz Wood.  He succumbed to his wounds several days later on 12 Jul 1916 at a casualty clearing station, aged 34.  He is buried in Corbie Communal Cemetery Extension, France (plot 1. row C. grave 31). He is remembered on the following memorials:  Whitchurch War Memorial, St.Mary’s Church, Whitchurch, Welsh Rugby Union War Memorial, Cardiff, Cardiff Coal Exchange War Memorial, Cowbridge Grammar School Memorial, Cardiff Masonic Lodge War Memorial, Newport Athletic (Rugby) Club War Memorial, Penarth War Memorial, All Saints Church, Penarth.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. (Summary compiled with input from rugby historian Gwyn Prescott).

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LAWRENCE VICTOR JAMES WILLIAMS

Serjeant, 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Service Number: 11336)

Lawrence Victor James Williams was born on 28 Jan 1897 to Sidney Williams, a foreman on the railways, and originally from Undy, Monmouthshire, and Fanny Williams nee Lawrence, originally from Llanhilleth, Monmouthshire. He was baptised on 27 Feb 1897 at St German’s church at which time the family were living 27 Prince Leopold Street, Adamsdown. By 1901 the Williams family had moved to 68 Clifton Street and were still there in 1911. Lawrence attended Splott Road elementary school before moving onto Howard Gardens school. After leaving school in 1911 he went onto become a clerk. He enlisted in Cardiff and served as a Serjeant in France with the 9th Battalion Devonshire Regiment.  He was killed in action on 1 Jul 1916 in the first Battle of the Somme aged 19. He was one of 160 men from the Devonshire Regiment to die that day in the face of heavy German machine gun fire. He is buried in the Devonshire Cemetery at Mametz (grave A7).  His headstone reads ‘Proud and Loving Memories of One of England’s Best. Sleep on Dear Son’.  He is remembered on the Howard Gardens War Memorial plaque and also on a Roll of Honour of unknown origin. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. 

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REGINALD WILLIAMS

Private, 14th (County of London) Battalion, London Scottish Regiment (Service Number 515329)

 Reginald Williams was born on 7 Sep 1890 in Pontypridd to William Williams, an insurance inspector from Aberdare, and Mary Adams née Adams, originally from Bristol.  In 1891 the family were living in Wood Road, Treforest, Glamorgan.  In 1893 the family had moved to Cardiff and lived at 83 Albany Road, Cardiff where Reginald attended Albany Road School.  By 1901 however the Williams family had all moved to Headingly, Yorkshire.

In the 1911 census most of the family had moved to Merthyr Tydfil but Reginald moved back to Cardiff and was living as a boarder at 34 Strathnairn Street, Roath, and working as an insurance clerk.  He married Margaret Hilda Watson in 1913.  They have a son Francis Watson Williams born on 6 Jun 1916 and they lived at 17 Wellfield Place, Roath.

Reginald Williams was a Private in the London Scottish Regiment – 14th (County of London) Battalion.  He enlisted in Cardiff but died on 1st Dec 1917 aged 27 in the battle of Cambrai on the Western Front that marked the first large-scale, effective use of tanks in warfare.  He is buried at Achiet-le-Grand Communal Cemetery  Extension, south of Arras in north-east France (Grave Reference: II. A. 3.).  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. He is remembered on the war memorial plaque in St Andrew’s URC church on Wellfield Road, Cardiff.

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RICE WATKIN WILLIAMS    

Private, 23^rd Battalion, Royal Fusiliers   (Service Number: PS/1075)

Rice ‘Ricey’ Watkin Williams was born in Treorchy on 16 Sep 1889 to Henry Williams, a grocer and hotel keeper, originally from Brynmenyn, Glamorgan, and Sarah Ann Williams née Davies, originally from Bassaleg, Monmouthshire.  At the time of his baptism in May 1890 the family were living at 19 Bute Street, Treorchy.  In the 1891 census they were at the Tyler’s Hotel in Tylorstown.  By the time of the 1901 census his mother had passed away and the family were living at 18 Ninian Road, Roath.  He attended Cardiff High School for one term in the autumn of 1904 and then left to continue his education from 1905 to 1909 at Llandovery College, where he was a member of the rugby First XV and also played cricket.  After school, Rice worked in the shipping business at Cardiff docks as a chartering clerk and was living at home at 18 Ninian Road in the 1911 census.  He was a keen sportsman, and played rugby at half back and three-quarter for Cardiff Roxburgh RFC.  He also spent some time in Bordeaux where, in 1911-12, he played at three-quarter for Stade Bordelais who, a year earlier in 1910-11, had won the French Championship for the seventh time.  After losing his place there, Rice joined the Burdigala (Bordeaux) rugby club.  He enlisted in Cardiff early in the war in one of the four Public Schools battalions of the Royal Fusiliers but later transferred to the 23rd Battalion (1st Sportsman’s) Royal Fusiliers.  This battalion arrived in France on 17 Nov 1915, though it is not known whether Rice had joined them then. He was, however, subsequently wounded twice, so he must have served in France some time before his death.  Private Rice Williams was killed in action on the Somme, aged 26, by machine-gun fire during the 2nd Division’s attack on Redan Ridge during the Battle of the Ancre, on 13 Nov 1916.  His captain wrote to his sister: ‘Your loss is my loss: he was a good and very keen soldier and undoubtedly the most popular man in the platoon’.  He has no known grave and is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial.  Rice Watkin Williams is commemorated on the Thiepval Memorial to the Missing of the Somme, France.  He is also commemorated on the war memorials at Cardiff High School, Llandovery College, St. Edward’s Church, Roath, and St. Martin’s Church, Albany Road, Cardiff.  He is also probably the ‘W Williams, Royal Fusiliers’ on the Cardiff Coal Exchange War Memorial plaque.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record. Rice’s sister Ann, had two daughters: Annie who married the boxing champion Jack Peterson and Barbara Williams who served in the WAAF in WWII but was killed in a car accident, aged 17.  Annie and Jack Peterson’s son David was a successful sculptor and designed the dragon sculpture memorial at Mametz Wood, France commemorating the WWI battle there. (Summary compiled with input from rugby historian Gwyn Prescott).

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RONALD FRANK WILLIS

Sergeant, 219 Squadron, Royal Air Force Volunteer Reserve (Service Number: 1003600)

Ronald Frank Willis was born at 42 Broadway, Roath on 11 Jan 1916, one of six boys born to Alfred Walter Willis, a pork butcher, originally from Pontypridd and Emily Julia Willis née Wheeler, originally from Cardiff.  He was baptised at St Margaret’s church on 9 Apr 1916. By 1939 the Willis family had moved to 33 Stacey Road, Roath and Ronald was a manager at a butchers.  In spring 1940 he married Mary Joan Evans, a clerk/typist from Gabalfa in Cardiff.  He joined the RAF in Jun 1940 as an Aircrafthand.  He volunteered for aircrew duties, completed a radar course and joined 219 Squadron at Catterick in early Oct 1940 where he served as a Sergeant.  He and two others died on 8 Feb 1941 when their Beaufighter R2074 crashed at Cumber Farm, Slindon, Sussex. Ten minutes before the crash the crew reported that the aircraft was full of smoke. Ronald was aged 25 when he died and he was buried at Cathays Cemetery (grave L1329C) on 13 Feb 1941 following a requiem mass at St Martin’s church.  He is remembered on the St Martin’s War Memorial, Albany Road and on a plaque at Kings Monkton School.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.

 

 

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ELIZABETH WING

Civilian casualty

 Elizabeth Wing, aged 81 years, widow of John Wing, died on 18th May 1943 at 12 Penylan Road in the final bombing raid on Cardiff. Two of her daughters and two of her granddaughters died the same night as well as a neighbour.  She is buried at Cathays Cemetery, plot EF 8692. Elizabeth Wing née Bailey was born in Leicester on 13th Feb 1862.  She was married John Wing, a house painter from Milford, Pembrokshire, in around 1887.  She had eight children and was a dressmaker. She is remembered on the Albany Road Baptist Church war memorial plaque.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  Her story is told here: Pen-y-lan Road blitz victims

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LILIAN WING

Civilian casualty

 Lilian Wing, aged 49, died on 18th May 1943 at 12 Penylan Road in the final bombing raid on Cardiff.  She was born on 24th Sept 1892 in Cardiff and was daughter of Elizabeth Wing who died in the same house that evening.  She is buried at Cathays Cemetery, plot EF 8692 with her mother. She was a shop assistant in a confectionery shop, presumably downstairs from where they were living and appears to have been owned by her sister Dora described in the 1939 register as a confectioner and tobacconist.  Her story is told here: Pen-y-lan Road blitz victims

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CARYL STEWART WITCHELL

Corporal, 9th Battalion, Devonshire Regiment (Service Number: 11337)

Caryl Stewart Witchell was born in Cardiff on 21 Nov 1897 to Joseph Witchell, a haulier, originally from Bristol and Jane Witchell nee Wales, originally from Kenfig Hill, Glamorgan. The Witchell family were living at 42 Elm Street at the time of the 1901 and 1911 census.  Caryl attended Croft Street National School before moving on Albany Road School in 1905.  In 1911, at the age of 13, he is both attending school and a pert-time butcher’s assistant. He enlisted in Cardiff and went to France where he served s a Corporal with the 9th Battalion of the Devonshire Regiment.  He was killed on 30 Sep 1915 at the Battle of Loos aged 17. He has no known grave.  He is remembered on the Loos Memorial (Panel 35 to 37).  He is also remembered on the St Ann’s war memorial plaques which were originally on the pulpit at St Ann’s and are now at St Edward’s.  He is also named on a Roll of Honour the origin of which is not yet known. Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.  

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EDGAR WOOD

Corporal, C Battery, 93^rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery (Service Number: 28130)

Edgar Wood was born in Cardiff on 12 Feb 1889 to John Wood, a coal trimmer, originally from Upper Cwmbran, Monmouthshire and Janette Wood née David, originally from Cowbridge, Glamorgan.  In 1891 the Wood family were living at 16 Coveny Street, Splott. When he was registered to attend Albany Road School in 1893 they were living at 135 Glenroy Street, Roath.  In 1901 they were at 21 Walker Road, Splott and in 1911 at 37 Marion Street, Splott and Edgar was working as a Locomotive Fireman for the Rhymney Railway Company.  In WWI he served as a Corporal with C Battery, 93rd Brigade, Royal Field Artillery.  He was injured in the Battle of the Somme by gun shot on 29 Oct 1916 and taken to the military hospital in Rouen where he was described as seriously ill.  He was returned to England but died of his wounds later in the 2nd Western General Hospital, Manchester on 12 Nov 1916, aged 28.  His body was returned to Cardiff and he is buried in Cathays Cemetery (grave V 782).  He was awarded the Military Medal, circumstances unknown. His mother received it in Jul 1917 in a ceremony in Westgate St.  He is remembered on the Splott War Memorial.  Commonwealth War Graves Commission record.