Aberystwyth ARP Wardens - part three

Here is the final part of our blog on some of the male ARP wardens. Watch this space for one on some of the female wardens over the coming months!

 

Photo/Llun: Archify Ceredigion Archives

 

 

BACK ROW (left to right)

 Thomas Islwyn Nicholas

Thomas Islwyn was born on 4th January 1903 the son of the famous poet, preacher and minister of the Welsh Independents at Horeb Chapel, Llandilo, Thomas Evan Nicholas. Thomas Evan was ordained on 6th Oct 1902, and continued to preach around South Wales, before going to live in Wisconsin for a year to continue his preaching. In 1903 the family returned to Wales eventually settling in Aberystwyth. Thomas Islwyn Nicholas married Mari Alice Rowlands in October 1926 and by 1939 became a dental mechanic in Aberystwyth, like his father and mother. In 1939 the couple lived at Glacoed, Elm Tree Avenue, Aberystwyth and by 1945 Thomas Islwyn was one of the ARP wardens of Aberystwyth.
He died on 7th August 1980 aged 77 years. 

 

Ernest John Haines

 

Ernest was born on 21st January 1909, the son of hotel worker John Haines. He served in WWI with the South Wales Borderers from 1914 to 1920. He married Edna Davies in January 1935 at Holy Trinity Church Aberystwyth and worked as a gardener. He was in the ARP in 1945 and lived at 6 Gogerddan Place, Aberystwyth. He died in 1962 aged 53 yrs.

THIRD ROW (left to right)

David Handel Morris 

 

David was born on 22nd August 1886 one of the large family of Margaretta and John Rees Morris who was a draper.  By 1911 David was an outfitter and lived 2 Princess Street, Aberystwyth.  On 22nd August 1917, on his 31st birthday, he joined both the Air Force and the Navy. The first ship he served on was HMS President and his last was HMS Turnhouse. By 1939 he was the owner of a drapers store and by 1945 he was an ARP Warden. David died on 8th February 1958 aged 72 years

Robert Henry Read L.A.R.P.  

Robert was born in Caernarfon in 1887 the son of journalist and author Henry W. Read.  He married Arabella in Cardiff on 8th September 1910 and by 1911 was working as a journalist.  By 1939 he was living at Myrtleville, St. David’s Road Aberystwyth, and was the managing editor of a newspaper.  He served in WWI with the Norfolk Regiment 7th Battalion from 1915 until 1919 and on 14th January1922 he was awarded the British War Medal. He died on 28th September 1947 aged 60 yrs.

Kenneth E. E. Thomas

 

Kenneth was born on 28th March 1893, the eldest of the five children of Thomas J. Thomas and Mary Thomas.  Kenneth’s father worked at the Government Dockyard in Pembrokeshire as a ship and engine fitter. The family lived at 16 North Street, Bufferland, Pembroke Dock.  In 1911 Kenneth was still living with his parents and family whilst he was working as a printer’s apprentice. Kenneth served in the Welsh Guards from 1914 to 1920 in the machine gun regiment. He married Mary Anne in 1929 and by 1939 he was working as an Inland Revenue Chief Inspector and lived at 1 First Avenue, Penparke.
Kenneth died in Cardigan in 1973 aged 80 years.

 

SECOND ROW (left to right)

John Davies Allen Ellis 

John was born 25th June 1866 in Lampeter. He married Mary Ann and had at least one son – David.
On 11th August 1914, David joined the Northamptonshire Regiment, but by 25th Sept 1914 he was discharged on health grounds. He then joined the South Wales Borderers, and was again discharged on health grounds. David sadly died on 13th May 1919 and is buried in St. Peter’s Church,Lampeter. In 1939 John lived at 6 Alfred Place, Aberystwyth and was a retired commercial traveller. He died on 24th Feb 1948 aged 82, outliving his son by 29 years.

Osborne Gwynnedon Stevens

 

Osborn was born in 1877 in Haverford West, the son of James Stephens, a builder from Pembroke. Osborne married Jane Ellen Richards on 20th December 1910 and in 1911 was a home painter.  He served in WWI, from 10th December 1915, in the Royal Engineers   He lived at 24 Pembroke Road Cardiff.  When the engineers were dispersed on 25th February 1919 he was awarded the Victory medal.   By 1939 he was living at 30 Third Avenue, Penparke. Osborne died in Aberystwyth in 1957 aged 80 years.

Joseph Salmon

            
Joseph was the son of railway engineer Joseph Salmon and was born on 16th March 1900. Joseph served in WWI with the Royal Welsh Fusiliers but was disabled. He married Hilda Cook in October 1925.   By 1939 he was Inn-keeper at the Cross Foxes, 17 Mill Street, Aberystwyth. In 1945 he was in the ARP and by 1965 had moved to 28 Queen Street, Aberystwyth. Joseph died at Tan-y-Bwlch, Hospital, Aberystwyth on 17th September 1965 aged 65 years.
 
 

Arthur Alexander Dykes

 

Arthur was born on 25the October 1887 and married Virginia Waters in 1920.  During WWI he served with the Battery Royal Field Artillery as a driver. After the war, he worked for the non-industrial Ministry of Agriculture and Fisheries. By 1945 he was living at 33 Third Avenue, Penparke, and was a member of the A.R.P.  Arthur died on 29the November 1968 aged 81 yrs.

 

Blog by Kath Phillips

Aberystwyth ARP Wardens - part two

 

Ffoto/Photo: Archifdy Ceredigion Archives

 

Following on from our blog of last time, below are some of the male ARP wardens that feature in the front row of the above photo:

Leonard Edwin Sulston 

Leonard was born in Charing Kent, the son of Jonas Sulston and Rosa A. Wells.  He married Dorothy Matilda Husselbee in July 1922 in St. Georges Hanover Square.  In 1911 he was an electrical engineer improver.  He Graduated in 1923, and then worked in the Physics Laboratory at U.C.W.A. By 1945 he was in the A.R.P. with Aberystwyth Borough. He died at Tan y Bwlch Hospital on 8th September 1959 aged 67yrs.

David Cromarty Rendell LARP  

David was born on 26th February 1896 in Monmouthshire, the son of John Rendell, who was a colliery labourer below ground. David worked as a sewing machine cleaner and then joined the Military aged just 19 in 1916.   David was in the Machine Gun Corps in 1920 and was awarded the U.K. Silver Badge. In 1921 he married Annie S. J. and moved to Aberystwyth in about 1935 and lived at the Corn Hotel, Mill Street, Aberystwyth.  By September 1941 he had married his second wife, Olive Margaret Haget. By 1945 he was in the ARP. He died in March 1966 aged 70 yrs.
 

Edward Hubert Chater 

Edward was born in St. Marylebone on 8th December 1902, the son of Edward Wilson Chater, a solicitor of the Supreme Court.  He married Margaret Hutchinson in 1931 in Hastings, and sometime later he moved to Wales and became a lecturer in Biology at U.C.W.A.  By 1945 he was living at Windover, Penrhyn Anchor, and was in the A.R.P.

Sydney Charles Herbert 

 

Sydney was born on 13th January 1886 at St. Martin in the Fields, the son of William Henry Herbert, who was a collector of Royal Statistics. He married Ellen in 1909 and by 1911 lived in Camberwell Surrey. By 1939 they had moved to 7, Marine Terrace and Sydney was a senior lecturer at U.C.W.A.  By 1945 he was in the ARP. He died on 7th December 1967 in Aberystwyth aged 81 years.

Major Horace Frederick Stimson T.D. F.R.S.A    

 

Frederick was born in 1885 in Peterborough, the son of a Railway train engineer, Samuel Stimson. He married firstly Eleanor Parkin 1912, and secondly Edith Richardson in 1944.  By 1944 he lived at Maldwyn, Caradog Road, Aberystwyth.  He was a lecturer in P.E. at U.W.A. and was also a Major in the T.A. at least during 1939-1945, and was decorated.  By 1945 he was the Chief Executive Officer of the ARP. Stimson T./Lt(A./Capt) holds the British Army WW1 medal as well as WWI and WWII Shipping and Seamen Rolls of Honour.  He died on 20th June 1954 at the Royal Masonic Hospital, Ravenscourt, London W6 aged 69 yrs.
 

Morgan J. Owen 

 

Morgan was born in Aberystwyth in 1890, the son of John Owen, who was a carpenter, joiner and undertaker living at 1 Rheidol Terrace Aberystwyth. Morgan married Elizabeth Griffiths in September 1922 and by 1939 lived at 10 Rheidol Terrace Aberystwyth.  He worked as a clerk of building works. From 1914 until 1920 he served in WWI with the South Wales Borderers and was awarded both the British War Medal and the Victory Medal. By 1945 he was the head of ARP Wardens.

Cyril Thomas Daley 

Born in Hammersmith in 1891, the son of Julia and Thomas Daley, who was a tobacconist.  Cyril was a piano tuner in1914 before he joined the Royal Army Medical Corps in which is served from 28th August to 29th November 1914, when he was discharged as unfit for service. In 1919 he married Gwladys M. Lewes in Carmarthen. By 1939 he lived at College House, King Street, Aberystwyth, whilst Gwladys was living at 45 Marine Terrace, Aberystwyth. He was the proprietor of a piano music business. By 1945 he was the ARP Sub controller, Central Area. He died in 1962 aged 61 years and is buried in Llanerchaeron, Ceredigion.
 

Frederick Joseph Bumford  

 

Frederick was born on 21st January 1897, the sixth of ten children of Martha E Bellis and Thomas Henry Bumford,  who was a foreman blender in wool manufacture.  The family lived at Dolafon House in Newtown, and Fred eventually became a yarn plasterer in 1911 aged 14 years.  At the outbreak of WWI Fred, aged 17, joined up with the Welsh Fusiliers in 1914 and stayed in the Military until 1919.
Hed married Gwyneth in December 1925 and by 1939 had moved to Aberystwyth and lived at 25 Third Avenue, Penparke by 1945. By 1945 he was in the A.R.P.  Fred died on 02/06/1959 in Aberystwyth aged 62 years.
 

Isaac Clayton Thomas 

 

Isaac was born on 28th Sept 1890, the son of Betsey and Mariner James Thomas, who lived at 4, Shipbuilders Row, Aberystwyth. He married Mary Jane on 2nd December 1903 and they lived at Britannia, 13 High Street Aberystwyth.  By 1911 he was a Civil Servant working for the P.O.
In 1914 he started working for the Military as a Sapper with the Royal Engineers. He was discharged in 1920 and was awarded both the British War medal and the Victory Medal. He died on 28th March 1955 at Withybush Hospital, Pembrokeshire aged 65 years.
 

 Sydney Edward Foulkes 

 

Sydney was the son of Rose and William Robert Foulkes, who was a cotton warehouse man. He was born on 5th April1904 and lived at 19 Beech Street Salford Lancashire in1911. He married Florence Catherine Page in 1932 and by 1937 he had moved and lived at Sandown, Rheidol Road, Penparke.and his work was as an insurance inspector.  By 1945 he was in the ARP. He died on 26/04 1973 in Aberystwyth aged 69 years.

Blog by Kath Phillips

Aberystwyth Borough ARP Wardens

Ceredigion Archives, one of our partners in the project, has made available to us  a photograph of the Aberystwyth Borough ARP wardens, taken during WWII, complete with the names of the personnel written underneath.  Their roles within the APR are also noted and, in the case of those associated with the  University, their academic qualifications.  As might be expected, they are mostly men but there are also twenty women among their number.  A couple of our wonderful project volunteers are currently researching these men and women to find out a little bit more about them, and we'll be posting their findings here over the coming weeks. In the meantime, here is the photograph and the names of the personnel are transcribed underneath. 

 

Llun trwy gwrteisi Archifdy Ceredigion / Photo courtesy of Ceredigion Archives

 

 

Front row: G. Jones; F. Warwick; L.E. Sulston A.I.E.E., L.A.R.P; H.R.Pratt L.A.R.P; W. Martin; H. Duggan Rees L.A.R.P.; D.C. Rendell L.A.R.P.; G. Denley Spencer; E. H. Chater M.Sc; S. Herbert L.A.R.P.; Major H.F. Stimson MBE TD FRSA (Deputy Controller); B. Pryse (Mayor of Aberystwyth); M. Owen L.A.R.P. (Head Warden); J. Barclay Jenkins J.P., C.C.; (Chairman, County A.R.P.); C.T. Daley (Sub Controller, B.R.O); F. J. Bumford A.R.P.S.  E. G.I.C.; P. Davies A.R.P.S.; I. Clayton Thomas; E. Jenkins; A. Davies; S. E. Foulkes L.R.A.P.; A.R. Beddows M.Sc.; C.A. Gwynn; K. Heller.

Second row: G. Ahern; T. Ll. Jenkins; G.A. Aliss; J. Ellis; Miss N. Hanson; Miss K. Ellis; Miss S. Mathias; Miss P. Jenkins; Miss E. M. Jones; Miss M. A. Bonna; Miss L. Davies; Miss S. Evans; Miss E. R. Burbeck; Miss G. F. Rhys, Ph.D., D.Sc., L.A.R.P; Mrs J. Joynson; Miss I. M. Wilson, M.Sc., Ph.D.; Miss M. Lewis; Miss E. Morgan; Miss P. Allen; Miss E. Morgan; Miss D.E. Carr; Miss D. Jones; Miss M. Edwards; J.E. Williams; D. H. Morris; J. W. Jones; O.G. Stephens; S. Hughes.

Third row: J.D. Lewis; D.P. Morris; W.G. Griffiths; C.H. Bilby; J. Davies; E. W. James; J.E. Davies; T. Jones; T.D. Mason; L. J. Egglestone; D. Davies; R. Read L.A.R.P.; W. H. G. Evans; A.    Rees; G.W. Jones; J.A. Robson A.I.A.S; T. J. Green; K.E. Thomas; J.R. James; E.G.Kenny; D.E.Jones; J. Watkin Jones; J. Salmon; A. Chamberlain; M. Jones; A.A. Dykes.

Backrow: T. I. Nicholas; I.H. Lewis; A.    Humphreys; E. J. Roderick L.A.R.P.; E.O. Savage; E. Haines; R.G. Bowen; G. H. Hill; P. Ralphs.

 

Kate Sullivan 

Project Coordinator