Great Western Railway war memorial, Cardiff

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Great Western Railway war memorial, Cardiff

These plaques, at the main entrance to Cardiff Central station, were created to commemorate local Great Western Railway workers who died in the First World War and Second World War. To discover who the fallen of the First World War were, see below.

The original war memorial at Cardiff Central was lost when the station was refurbished in the late 20th century. The plaques currently on display date from 2011. The Rev Ron Keen, Railway Mission Chaplain, compiled a list of local railwaymen who died in the First World War by drawing on the Great Western Railway’s maps and lists at Shrewsbury and Chester. Network Rail cast the new plaques and placed them on display at the eastern end of the booking hall.

Since 2011, a commemoration has been held here on Remembrance Sunday each year.

At a railwaymen’s memorial service in Cardiff in 1919, the Bishop of Llandaff said 7,111 men from the railways in the district had joined the army or navy for the war effort, and 56 were known to have died.

At the time of the First World War, several local railway companies served Cardiff as well as the Great Western Railway and London & North Western Railway. The crests of four local companies adorn the central plaque of the memorial.

The local companies were amalgamated into the GWR by the Second World War. During that war, railway workers were exempt from conscription to the armed services because the railways were so important to the war effort. However, many railway workers were injured or died when ports, industrial facilities and railways were bombed by the Luftwaffe.

The war memorial for Taff Vale Railway employees who served in the First World War is on display at Cardiff Queen Street station. Our information about it is available here.

Two of the men named on this war memorial, Thomas Bona and George Wright, are also commemorated on the Carmarthen railway war memorial.

With thanks to Adrian Hughes, of the Home Front museum in Llandudno, and to David Hughes, the Rev Ron Keen and Steven John

Postcode: CF10 1EP    View Location Map

Goods department
Engineering Department, Cardiff (Goods)
Hotels Department
Traffic Department
Locomotive and Carriage

 

 

 

Goods Department

  • Baldwin, Herbert Percy, Pioneer 251321. Died 16/10/1918 aged 34. Royal Engineers. Buried Delsaux Farm Cemetery, France. Husband of Emily Baldwin of 10 O'Cormell Street, Limerick. Was a GWR invoice typist before enlisting.
  • Crews, Hector, Private PS/8702. Died 20/07/1916 aged 19. Royal Fusiliers. Thiepval Memorial, France. Son of Harry and Annie Crews of 135 Donald Street, Roath Park, Cardiff.
  • Diggory, Edwin Thomas, Quartermaster Sergeant 845. Died 20/08/1915 aged 25. Royal Army Medical Corps. Buried Hill 10 Cemetery, Turkey. Son of Mr and Mrs H R Diggory of 46 Albany Road, Roath Park, Cardiff. Was a GWR goods clerk before enlisting.
  • Drury, Robert, Private 7001. Died 04/06/1915 after suffering from frostbite. Lincolnshire Regiment.  Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial, Belgium. A resident of Cardiff. Worked as a GWR porter.
  • Evans, John Trevor Stuart, Lieutenant. Died 07/05/1918 aged 26. Royal Welsh Fusiliers.  Buried Serre Road Cemetery, France. Son of John and S. J. Evans of 24, Plasturton Gardens, Cardiff.
  • Farr, James Alfred, Private 18425. Died 09/07/1916 aged 18. King's Own Scottish Borderers. Buried Peronne Road Cemetery, France. Son of James Farr of 74 Mardy Street, Cardiff.
  • Foxhall, Reginald S, Private 260447. Died 28/06/1918 aged 24. Gloucestershire Regiment.  Ploegsteert Memorial, Belgium. Son of Mr and Mrs W Foxhall of 8 Letty Street, Cathays, Cardiff.
  • Jerrett, William, Private 117654. Died 29/11/1917 aged 23. Machine Gun Corps. Buried Grevillers British Cemetery, France. Son of William and Clara Jerrett of 37 Arthur Street, Cardiff. Was a GWR goods porter.
  • Kingdon, JH. Died of pneumonia. Possibly: Kingdon, J, Private 2941. Died 26/07/1921 aged 36. Welsh Regiment, transferred to (545103) 552nd Home Service Employment Company Labour Corps. Fforestfach (Calfaria) Welsh Baptist Chapelyard. Son of Thomas and Hannah Kingdon; husband of Elizabeth Kingdon, of 2 Cadle Cottages, Raven Hill, Fforestfach, Swansea.
  • Lewis, TA. Worked as a clerk at the GWR’s Cardiff District goods manager’s office.
  • Lowe, Reginald John, Gunner 73091. Died 10/09/1918 aged 21. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Varennes Military Cemetery, France. Son of Ernest and Mary Lowe of 127 Inverness Place, Roath, Cardiff.
  • Parsons, Thomas Arthur, Private 41794. Killed in action 27/08/1918 aged 19. South Wales Borderers. Buried at Borre British Cemetery, France. Son of Susannah Parsons, of 23 Harrow Road, Newport. Attended St Julian’s High School, Newport. Worked as a GWR goods clerk.
  • Scott, Alexander. Was a GWR carman before enlisting.
  • Skelly, William Harold, Private 9226. Died 16/05/1916 aged 22. Lancashire Fusiliers. Arras Memorial, France. Son of David John and Hannah Skelly of 10 Court Road, Grangetown, Cardiff. Worked for the GWR from January 1910, his last job being goods shed porter.
  • Solman, George A, Private 634. 27/09/1915. Welsh Guards. Loos Memorial, France. Was a GWR goods messenger.
  • Spurway, Arthur George, Sergeant 743. Died 05/05/1918 aged 26. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Brandhoek New Military Cemetery, Belgium. Son of James and Hannah Spurway of Roath Park, Cardiff. Was a GWR cartage loader.
  • Wason, Cyril Ernest, Second Lieutenant. Died 30/11/1917. Royal Fusiliers. Cambrai Memorial, France.
  • Wickson, CR. Probably: Private 10237. Died 07/11/1914. Worcestershire Regiment. Buried at St Julien Dressing Station Cemetery, Belgium. Was a GWR porter before enlisting.
  • Wills, A George, Private 6490. Died 25/11/1916. Herefordshire Regiment. Buried Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery. Was a GWR messenger boy in Cardiff.
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Engineering Department, Cardiff (Goods)

  • Jeffries, AA. Worked as a GWR engineer in Cardiff before enlisting.  Possibly: AH Jefferies, Private 82708. Died 29/10/1918 aged 29. Welsh Regiment. Buried at Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery. Son of Mr and Mrs J Jefferies. Born and enlisted in Cardiff.
  • Wyatt, Phillip, Sapper 239281. Died 31/10/1917 aged 22. Royal Engineers. Buried Lijssenthoek Military Cemetery. Son of Luther and Sarah Wyatt of 3 Blanche Street, Roath, Cardiff.
  • Bona, Thomas, Private 38147. Died 25/09/1915. Welsh Regiment. Loos Memorial. Son of Ann Bona, of Danybank, Carmarthen. He worked for the Great Western Railway as a blacksmith’s striker in Carmarthen before enlisting with the Royal Engineers. He was discharged as physically unfit, but joined the Welsh Regiment at its first recruitment event in Carmarthen.
  • Wright, George Edgar, Private 355512. Died 18/09/1918. Royal Welsh Fusiliers 25th (Montgomeryshire and Welsh Horse) Bn. Templeux-Le-Guerard Communal Cemetery Extension. Born in Leeds. Son of John Richard Wright and Isabella Wright. Was a GWR blacksmith’s striker in Carmarthen before enlisting in 1916.
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Hotels Department

  • Powditch, Thomas, Private G/4832. Died 18/08/1916. Middlesex Regiment. Thiepval Memorial, France.
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Traffic Department

  • Bagg, Albert, Private 99832. Died 30/11/1917 aged 23. Machine Gun Corps. Cambrai Memorial, France. Son of Adam and Emily Bagg of 141 Clare Road, Grangetown, Cardiff.
  • Bissatt, Robert George, Private 51072. Died 02/11/1918 aged 19. Lancashire Fusiliers.  Buried Ors British Cemetery, France. Son of George William and Sarah Kezia Bisatt of 15 St Fagans Road, Ely, Cardiff.
  • Clarke, F. Was a GWR parcel porter in Cardiff before enlisting.
  • Cooper, FC, Private 39872. Died 23/05/1918. East Lancashire Regiment.  Buried Anzac Cemetery, France. Was a GWR van boy.
  • Evans, George Bowen, Private 35365. Died 10/07/1916. Welsh Regiment. Thiepval Memorial.
  • Frost, AW. Private 6923. Died 04/05/1917. Hampshire Regiment. Buried at Hyeres New Communal Cemetery, France. Was a GWR platform porter. Died when SS Transylvania, carrying his battalion to the Middle East, was torpedoed. His body was washed up a fortnight later at Hyeres, southern France.
  • Harding, Frederick Percival, Private 48884. Died 12/04/1918 aged 21. Lancashire Fusiliers.  Ploegsteert Memorial. Son of George and Clara Elizabeth Harding of 60, Ordell Street, Splott.
  • Heal, NH (surname given as Neal on war memorial). Was a GWR passenger porter. Possibly: Private 3/5693. Died 22/10/1915. Devonshire Regiment. Buried at Guards Cemetery, Windy Corner, Cuinchy.
  • Holloway, HJ, Corporal 25457. Died 02/09/1917 aged 27. Dorsetshire Regiment.  Buried Coxyde Military Cemetery. Son of John and Martha Holloway of 9 Thomas Street, Walcot, Bath. Native of Chapmanslade, Westbury, Wiltshire. Enlisted in Cardiff.
  • Pardington, F, Private 34617. Died 29/01/1918 aged 30. Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried Ham British Cemetery, France. Son of William and Mary Ann Pardington of Longborough, Gloucester; husband of Harriet Knight of 14, Stafford Road, Grangetown, Cardiff. Was a GWR platform porter.
  • Patten, Joseph, Driver 29005. Died 23/10/1916 aged 20. Royal Field Artillery.  Buried Lahana Military Cemetery, Greece. Son of Joseph John and Mary Margaret Patten of 29 Comet Street, Cardiff. Was a GWR signal porter.
  • Rich, Douglas Tom, Private 14851. Died 28/04/1918. King's Own Yorkshire Light Infantry.  Buried Esquelbecq Military Cemetery, France. Son of Alfred and Annie Rich of 64 North Clive Street, Grangetown, Cardiff.
  • Stone, H, Gunner 290389. Died 05/08/1917. Royal Garrison Artillery.  Buried Dozinghem Military Cemetery, Belgium. Was a GWR parcels porter.
  • Taylor, EW, Lance Corporal 11608. Died 10/02/1917. Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried Amara War Cemetery, Iraq. Was a GWR porter.
  • Watts, WH, Corporal 99853. Died 02/11/1918 aged 22. Machine Gun Corps. Buried Preseau Communal Cemetery. Son of William and Ellen Watts of 27 Lyndhurst Street, Canton, Cardiff. Was a GWR policeman in the traffic department.
  • Hawker, F. Died after being taken prisoner of war. Was a GWR porter at Cardiff Riverside station, south of Cardiff General (now Central), before enlisting.
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Locomotive and Carriage

  • Cale, Frederick Harold, Private 1787. Died 05/05/1915. Welsh Regiment. Buried Cardiff (Cathays) Cemetery. Worked as GWR locomotive cleaner before enlisting.
  • Campbell, Thomas Cornelius, Sapper 387769. Died 31/10/1918 aged 25. Royal Engineers. Buried Les Baraques Military Cemetery, France. Son of Cornelius and Margaret Campbell of Carrigans, County Donegal. Was a GWR locomotive fireman.
  • Castle, A. Died in Belgium. Was a GWR carriage cleaner before enlisting. Possibly: Private 8547. Died 23/10/1914. The Queen's (Royal West Surrey Regiment) 1st Bn. Poperinge Communal Cemetery.
  • Chappell, Alfred, Private 15628. Died 15/08/1915. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Helles Memorial. Worked for the GWR as a locomotive cleaner.
  • Condon, Lawrence, Private 3015.  Killed in action 15/08/1915. Royal Munster Fusiliers. Was a GWR carriage cleaner.
  • Evans, HC, Gunner 43158. Died 20/09/1916 aged 23. Royal Field Artillery. Buried Bronfay Farm Military Cemetery. Son of William and Sarah Ann Evans of 29, Lyndhurst Street, Canton, Cardiff.
  • Gardiner, FE. Was a GWR boiler cleaner based at Sudbrook, near Severn Tunnel Junction.
  • Humphries, H. Was a GWR carriage cleaner in Cardiff. Surname spelled Humphreys by GWR. Possibly: H Humphreys, Gunner 14204. Died 08/05/1918 aged 25. Royal Field Artillery, attached to Inland Water Transport Royal Engineers. Buried Basra War Cemetery, Iraq. Born in Cardiff. Enlisted in Newport.
  • Jennings, G. Possibly: George William Jennings, Private 14706. Died 05/06/1917 aged 24. Gloucestershire Regiment. Buried Heudicourt Communal Cemetery, France. Son of Joseph Edward and Mary Ann Jennings of 22, Meteor Street, Cardiff.
  • Murley, Charles, Private 8571. Died 03/10/1918 aged 27. 17th Lancers (Duke of Cambridge's Own). Buried Bac-du-Sud British Cemetery, France. Son of Kate Murley of Heathside, Mandeville Place, Riverside, Cardiff.
  • Newman, Frank, Private 5102, Died 22/06/1915 aged 33. Wiltshire Regiment. Ypres (Menin Gate) Memorial. Son of John and Esther Newman. Was a carriage cleaner, and had worked for the GWR for 10 years. Was in military service in the South African War and in India.
  • Pearce, AJ. Was a GWR locomotive cleaner in Cardiff.
  • Quance, CT, Sergeant 15623. Died 15/09/1915 aged 19. Royal Irish Fusiliers. Buried Pieta Military Cemetery. Son of Robert and Maud Quance of 13 Paget Street, Grangetown, Cardiff. Worked one year for the GWR as a locomotive cleaner.
  • Watkins, WH. Was a locomotive cleaner under the GWR’s Cardiff District goods manager’s office. Possibly: Private G/4530. Died of wounds 06/01/1916. Middlesex Regiment. Buried at Calne (Holy Trinity) Churchyard, Wiltshire.
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