Wales Daily News” in the early 1900’s has many advertisements for qualified men to work in stone
quarries around Penarth and Cardiff, both underground and inside.
By 1911, the family had moved, but not so far this time, from number 6 to 8 Machen Street. Only
John, Rose Anna and Dora are reported on the census. Willie is more than likely staying with his
Aunt and Uncle at 76 Wyndham Road, Cardiff, and employed as a Telegraphic Messenger with the
Post Office. We cannot be absolutely sure that this is, in fact, Willie, as he has put his place of birth
as Penarth instead of High Ham and his age is incorrect, but it is more than possible that his Uncle
did not know the actual details.
Dora went on to marry John Elwyn Gedrych and lived at New Station Road in Whitchurch, Cardiff.
They had one child Vivian Elwyn Gedrych, who was a Telecommunications Inspector. Dora died in
1953.
(Dora)
Willie enlisted for War immediately; he was a Bombardier Driver (service number 62538) with the
Royal Field Artillery, 55th Battery. Willie would be classed as part of the “The British
Expeditionary Force” which would refer to those forces in France prior to the end of the First Battle
of Ypres on 22nd November 1914. The BE.F remained the official name of the British armies in
France and Fl anders throughout WW1. Emperor Wilhelm II of Germany was famously dismissive
of the BEF, allegedly issuing an order, on 19th August 1914, to “exterminate....the treacherous
English and walk over General French’s contemptible little army”. Hence, in later years, the
survivors of the regular army dubbed themselves “The Old Contemptibles”. No evidence of any
such order being issued by the Kaiser was ever found.
Willie was wounded in September 1914 and returned home for some while. He returned to the
firing line in December 1915. Willie would have been involved in the major battles in France and
Flanders. He died on 17th November 1916, when he was struck by a fragment of shell and died
almost instantly. He was 24 years of age. We can presume that he was involved in the Battle of the
Somme and also the Battle of Ancre.