Bonvilston war memorial
There are two parts to the community’s war memorial: a stone cross in the churchyard and a tablet inlaid into the churchyard wall. For information on the local men who died in the First World War, see below.
Study drawing for war memorial plaque © W Clarke, Llandaff
Unusually, the tablet lists all of the local men who served without distinguishing between those who died and those who survived. Officers are named at the top of the list, with other ranks below. The tablet is a replacement of the original but is surrounded by the original frame. The frame was carved by William W Taylor, an employee of W Clarke of Llandaff. He worked to the study drawing shown here.
Front of programme for war memorial
dedication service © W Clarke, Llandaff
The cross and its plinth stand on a medieval base, where a preaching cross once stood. The names of the men who died in the war are carved on the plinth.
The memorial was unveiled in 1920 by Harriet Mackintosh, whose son Angus served as a Captain in the Royal Horse Guards. He was wounded in 1914 and died, aged 33, in the USA in 1918. He is also commemorated locally on St Nicholas war memorial.
Harriet’s husband was Alfred Donald Mackintosh CBE, the 28th chief of Clan Chatton, an officer in the Highland Light Infantry and Lord Lieutenant of Inverness. His local connection was through his marriage to Harriet.
Postcode: CF5 6TP View Location Map
Details of the memorial’s construction – Church Monuments Society website
Local men who died in the First World War
Mackintosh, Angus Alexander, Captain. Died 13/10/1918 aged 33. Royal Horse Guards. Buried at Arlington National Cemetery, USA. Only son of Alfred Donald Mackintosh of Mackintosh, 28th Chief of Clan Chattan, and Harriet Diana Arabella Richards. Severely wounded 1914. Later was secretary of the Duke of Devonshire, Governor General of Canada. Married one of the duke’s daughters, Lady Maud Louisa Emma Cavendish. Died of flu in Walter Reid Hospital, Takoma Park, Maryland.
Traherne, George Gilbert, Captain. Died 06/08/1916 aged 49. Royal Garrison Artillery. Buried Warloy-Baillon Communal Cemetery, France. Husband of Elsie Juliette Traherne. Served on the Indian Frontier 1888-1891 and throughout the Boer War 1900-1902.
Williams, Charles L Wyndham, Midshipman. Died 27/04/1916 aged 19. Royal Navy – HMS Russell. Commemorated Chatham Naval Memorial. Son of Lawrence Gardner and Harriet Diana Williams.
Higgins, David Henry, Sapper 450408. Died 31/08/1918 aged 25. Royal Engineers. Buried St. Sever Cemetery, France. Son of Samson and Elizabeth Higgins of Grove End; husband of Ethel May Higgins, of Grove End, Rumney, Cardiff.
Hobbs, Thomas