Cymraeg

The Experiences of Women in World War One

A collection of information, experiences and photographs recorded by Women's Archive of Wales in 2014-18

A collection of information, experiences and photographs recorded by Women's Archive of Wales in 2014-18

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Welsh Book of Remembrance /Llyfr Cofio Cenedlaetho

Memorial: The Temple of Peace, Cardiff, Glamorgan

Notes: The Welsh Book of Remembrance was created as a Roll of Honour to accompany the unveiling of the Welsh National War Memorial in Cathays Park, Cardiff, in 1928. It is an attempt to list all those ‘Men and Women of Welsh Blood or Parentage … Who Gave Their Lives in the War 1914 – 1918’. Before the opening of the Temple of Peace in 1938 the book was on display in the National Museum. A number of women are included: the stewardesses Hannah Owen and Louisa Parry who died when RMS Leinster was torpedoed in 1918; members of QMAAC Gertrude Dyer, Jean Roberts, Mary Elizabeth Smith and Lizzie Dora Stephens; and VADs Gladys Maud Jones, Gwynedd Llewellyn, Amy Curtis, Eva Davies, Margaret M Evans, Lilian Jones, Edith Tonkin, Jenny Williams and Frances Sprake Jones QAIMNS.rnIt is not clear why these particular women were chosen for inclusion. This site has the name of many women who could have been included. Additionally Gladys Maud Jones and Gwynedd Llewellyn, despite their names, had no recent connection with Wales.

Sources: http://www.walesforpeace.org/whybookofremembrance.html; https://www.llgc.org.uk/llyfrycofio

Reference: WaW0237

The Welsh Book of Remembrance, containing names of 35,000 service men and women who died during the Great War.

The Welsh Book of Remembrance

The Welsh Book of Remembrance, containing names of 35,000 service men and women who died during the Great War.


Nora Tempest (Soutter)

Place of birth: Dundalk, Ireland

Service: Teacher, cook, VAD, 1915 - 1916

Notes: Nora Tempest, born 1886, was a popular domestic science mistress at Carmarthen County Girls School. She joined the Scottish Women’s Hospitals to serve as a cook at Kragujevac Hospital. She was caught up in the great retreat after the Austrians invaded Serbia, walking for seven weeks through the mountains of Montenegro and Albania in winter. She arrived home on Christmas Eve, 1915. She is said to have taken many photographs of the retreat. After her return she married and settled back in Ireland.

Reference: WaW0275

Short account of Nora’s experiences on the retreat from Serbia. Carmarthen Weekly Reporter 21st January 1916

Newspaper report

Short account of Nora’s experiences on the retreat from Serbia. Carmarthen Weekly Reporter 21st January 1916

Report of Nora’s visit back to Carmarthen County Girls School. Carmarthen Journal 9th June 1916

Newspaper report

Report of Nora’s visit back to Carmarthen County Girls School. Carmarthen Journal 9th June 1916


Editha Elma (Bailey), Lady Glanusk (Sergison)

Place of birth: Haywards Heath, Sussex

Service: ‘Active war worker’, Red Cross

Notes: Lady Glanusk was born in 1871 and married the 2nd Baron Glanusk in 1890. From the outbreak of war she became very involved in wartime activities, and was an indefatigable writer to the newspapers, calling for young women to encourage their men to join up, and demanding the internment of enemy aliens. She was the President of the Red Cross in Breconshire, (for which she was awarded a CBE in 1920), and was heavily involved in the Penoyre Red Cross Hospital in Brecon. Two of her three sons were killed in the war, one a 17-year-old midshipman.

Reference: WaW0228

Lady Glanusk with the matron and staff of Penoyre Hospital, Brecon.

Lady Glanusk

Lady Glanusk with the matron and staff of Penoyre Hospital, Brecon.

Letter to ‘The Women of Breconshire’ published in the Brecon County Times 5th November 1914.

Newspaper letter

Letter to ‘The Women of Breconshire’ published in the Brecon County Times 5th November 1914.


Letter ‘The Alien Enemy Danger’ published in the Brecon County Times 25th March 1915

Newspaper letter

Letter ‘The Alien Enemy Danger’ published in the Brecon County Times 25th March 1915

Red Cross record card detailing the service of Lady Glanusk

Red Cross record card

Red Cross record card detailing the service of Lady Glanusk


Red Cross record card detailing the service of Lady Glanusk (reverse)

Red Cross record card (reverse)

Red Cross record card detailing the service of Lady Glanusk (reverse)

Citation for award of CBE to Lady Glanusk, London Gazette (Supplement) 30th March 1920

London Gazette

Citation for award of CBE to Lady Glanusk, London Gazette (Supplement) 30th March 1920


Gladys *

Place of birth: Cardiff

Service: Girl

Notes: Photograph of a teenage girl dressed in the uniform of a regular soldier in the Royal Artillery (too large for her) complete with swagger stick, seated in a chair. Her hair is tied back with a large bow, indicating that she is probably no older than 16 or 17.; Reverse of photograph indicating it was taken at Gale’s Studios Ltd, Queen’s Street, Cardiff. Inscribed in ink ‘From Gladys / To Ada’.

Reference: WaW0077

Photograph of Gladys, a teenage girl, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Artillery, c.1914

Photograph of Gladys, Cardiff

Photograph of Gladys, a teenage girl, dressed in the uniform of the Royal Artillery, c.1914

Reverse of photograph, taken at  Gale’s Studios Ltd, Queen’s Street, Cardiff, inscribed 'To Ada From Gladys'.

Reverse of photograph of Gladys

Reverse of photograph, taken at Gale’s Studios Ltd, Queen’s Street, Cardiff, inscribed 'To Ada From Gladys'.


Evelyn Margaret Abbott

Place of birth: Grosmont, Monmouthshire

Service: Nurse, Scottish Womens Hospitals, January - June 1916

Death: 1958, London , Cause not known

Notes: Evelyn, born 1883, was the daughter of the Grosmont school master. A professional nurse trained in London, she spent six months working at the Scottish Women’s Hospitals hospital at Royaumont Abbey north of Paris. Follow the link to see the hospital on film

Sources: http://movingimage.nls.uk/film/0035\r\nhttp://scottishwomenshospitals.co.uk/women/

Reference: WaW0248


Flossie Abbott

Place of birth: Bridgend ?

Service: Clerk, Bridgend Food Control Committee, 1919

Notes: In October 1919 Flossie Abbott requested a pay rise from £1 12s 6d a week to £2 10s, to gain parity with the clerk of Penybont Food Control Committee. A man doing the same job would have received £3 a week. Only one member of the committee opposed the motion.

Reference: WaW0351

Report of the meeting of the Bridgend Food Committee, where Flossie Abbott’s pay-rise was agreed.  Glamorgan Gazette 17th October 1919.

Newspaper report

Report of the meeting of the Bridgend Food Committee, where Flossie Abbott’s pay-rise was agreed. Glamorgan Gazette 17th October 1919.


Irene (Ivy) Ace

Place of birth: Tenby

Service: Technical Administrator , WAAC, 1917 - 19

Notes: Ivy, born 1892, joined the WAAC in June 1917, and was posted to France as an administrator. Her WAAC records do not survive, but from her photograph it seems she was an ‘official’, ie an officer in the WAAC. She served in France for a year. After the War she became an agricultural student. She is recorded as having been given a flight in an aeroplane for her 21st birthday, despite this she does not seem to have transferred to the WRAF when it was formed in 1918.

Sources: Narbeth Museum/Amgueddfa Arberth https://woww.narberthmuseum.co.uk

Reference: WaW0483

Ivy Ace in WAAC Official’s outdoor uniform.

Irene ‘Ivy’ Ace

Ivy Ace in WAAC Official’s outdoor uniform.


Irene \'Ivy\' Ace

Place of birth: Tenby

Service: Technical Administrator , WAAC, 1917 - 19

Notes: Ivy, born 1892, joined the WAAC in June 1917, and was posted to France as an administrator. Her WAAC records do not survive, but from her photograph it seems she was an ‘official’, ie an officer in the WAAC. She served in France for a year. After the War she became an agricultural student. She is recorded as having been given a flight in an aeroplane for her 21st birthday, despite this she does not seem to have transferred to the WRAF when it was formed in 1918.

Sources: Narbeth Museum/Amgueddfa Arberth https://woww.narberthmuseum.co.uk\r\n\r\n\r\n

Reference: WaW0483

Ivy Ace in WAAC Official’s outdoor uniform.

Irene ‘Ivy’ Ace

Ivy Ace in WAAC Official’s outdoor uniform.


Helena Susanna Adam

Place of birth: Belgium

Service: Refugee

Death: December 1916, School House, Pantycaws, Carbon monoxide poisoning / Gwenwyno gan garbon monocsid

Notes: Helena Adam was a 51 year-old Belgian refugee living with her family near Carmarthen. They arrived from Ostend in November 1914. Her death was caused by fumes from a fire warming their bedroom. The fire was made partly of culm, coal dust mixed with clay and other materials, which was much used at this time owing to the high price of coal. Helena’s husband Jacobus was also affected but later recovered.

Reference: WaW0388

Report on the inquest on Helena Susanna Adam. Herald of Wales 11th December 1915

Newspaper report

Report on the inquest on Helena Susanna Adam. Herald of Wales 11th December 1915

Another report on the inquest on Helena Susanna Adam. South Wales Weekly Post 11th December 1915.

Newspaper report

Another report on the inquest on Helena Susanna Adam. South Wales Weekly Post 11th December 1915.


Mary Andrews

Place of birth: Briton Ferry

Service: Nurse, VAD ?

Notes: Mary Andrews was awarded the Royal Red Cross in May 1919. She served at Oswestry Military Hospital.

Reference: WaW0272



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