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

Browse the collection


Sorted by cause of death

Rose Crowther

Place of birth: Cardiff

Service: Nurse, VAD, 03/06/1916

Notes: Rose Crowther was associated with Roath Road Wesleyan Methodist Church, Cardiff. She joined the Red Cross in June 1916, but nothing is known of her service. Image and information courtesy of Glamorgan Archives (DWESA6).

Sources: https://archifaumorgannwg.wordpress.com/

Reference: WaW0112

Rose Crowther VAD

Rose Crowther

Rose Crowther VAD

Red Cross record card for Rose Crowder.

Red Cross record card

Red Cross record card for Rose Crowder.


Red Cross record card (R) for Rose Crowther, showing where she worked.

Red Cross record card (reverse)

Red Cross record card (R) for Rose Crowther, showing where she worked.


Violet Annie Davies

Place of birth: Llanelli

Service: Telephonist

Notes: Aged 15. Received the Medal of the Order of the British Empire 'For courage in remaining at her post at the telephone during a severe explosion'.

Sources: The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser;

Reference: WaW0006

report of presentation in The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser 19th April 1918

Newspaper report

report of presentation in The Carmarthen Journal and South Wales Weekly Advertiser 19th April 1918

Report of presentation Cambrian Leader 30 April 1918

Newspaper report

Report of presentation Cambrian Leader 30 April 1918


 Reverse of photograph showing Violet Annie Davies's handwriting

Violet Davies (reverse)

Reverse of photograph showing Violet Annie Davies's handwriting

Violet was 15-year-old telephonist at a munitions factory, awarded the MOBE for staying at her post during an explosion

Violet Annie Davies

Violet was 15-year-old telephonist at a munitions factory, awarded the MOBE for staying at her post during an explosion


Lottie Davies (married / priod Buley)

Service: Nurse, VAD

Notes: Her niece Mary Davies gives the following information: My aunt was a nurse in Caerphilly in WW1 and nursed a young cockney soldier wounded in the Somme. They ran off on his motorbike (to avoid my aunt marrying the son of the local furniture store according to my uncle) and were married for over 50 yrs. In between nursing she played the organ for the silent movies!

Reference: WaW0007

Lottie Davies in VAD uniform c.1916

Lottie Davies VAD

Lottie Davies in VAD uniform c.1916

Lottie Davies c. 1916

Lottie Davies

Lottie Davies c. 1916


Mary D Davies

Place of birth: Swansea

Service: Unknown, ATS

Memorial: Cenotaph, Swansea, Glamorgan

Notes: Nothing is currently known of Mary D Davies, who worked, perhaps as a WAAC, in the Army Transport Service.

Reference: WaW0119

Name of Mary D Davies on Swansea Cenotaph

Swansea Cenotaph

Name of Mary D Davies on Swansea Cenotaph


Lilian Dove

Place of birth: Cardiff

Service: Nurse

Notes: Lilian Dove was the daughter of the former minister of Roath Road Wesleyan Methodist Church, Cardiff. She survived the sinking of SS Osmanieh, in which Margaret Dorothy Roberts died, on 31st December 1917. The Roath Road Roamer reported that she was 'rescued and is apparently none the worse for her unsought adventure and the exposure, shock and explosion, except that she unfortunately lost all her belongings’. She nursed in Alexandria until the end of the War. information courtesy of Glamorgan Archives (DWESA6).

Sources: https://archifaumorgannwg.wordpress.com/

Reference: WaW0113


Gertrude Winifred Allan Dyer

Place of birth: Newport

Service: Worker, QMAAC

Death: 1918-01-27, Cause not known

Memorial: Christchurch Cemetery, Newport, Monmouthshire

Notes: aged 38. On her grave it says that the stone was erected by her family and ‘Newport Women’s Liberal Association of which she was the secretary for 18 years’. A plaque has also been placed on her grave by the Commonwealth War Commission. Her name also appears on the WW1 Roll of Honour book kept in Newport Reference Library and the Welsh National Book of Remembrance.

Reference: WaW0103

Grave of Gertrude Dyer, Christchurch Cemetery, Newport

Grave of Gertrude Dyer

Grave of Gertrude Dyer, Christchurch Cemetery, Newport

Name of Gertrude Dyer, Newport Roll of Honour, Newport

Name of Gertrude Dyer

Name of Gertrude Dyer, Newport Roll of Honour, Newport


CWGC memorial plaque to Gertrude Dyer

Memorial plaque

CWGC memorial plaque to Gertrude Dyer


Annie Mary Davies

Place of birth: Abergele, Denbighshire

Service: Nurse, VAD

Notes: Annie, a farmer’s daughter aged 21, joined the VAD in early October 1917. Two weeks later she was posted to the City of Middlesex Military Hospital, Napsbury in Hertfordshire where she remained until May 1919.

Reference: WaW0181

Red Cross card in the name of Annie Mary Davies

Red Cross record card

Red Cross card in the name of Annie Mary Davies

Red Cross card in the name of Annie Mary Davies (reverse))

Red Cross record card (reverse)

Red Cross card in the name of Annie Mary Davies (reverse))


City of Middlesex Military Hospital, Napsbury, Hertfordshire.

City of Middlesex Military Hospital, Napsbury

City of Middlesex Military Hospital, Napsbury, Hertfordshire.


Grace Evans (later Nott/Nott yn ddiweddarach)

Place of birth: Cymtydu

Service: Nurse, 1914 - 1918

Death: 1930-11-16, Johannesberg, Cause not known

Memorial: Plaque, St Tysilio, Cwmtydu, Cardiganshire

Notes: Died 'as the result of war services in East Africa during the Great War 1914 - 1918'

Sources: http://www.wwwmp.co.uk/ceredigion-war-memorials/

Reference: WaW0014

Plaque commemorating Grace Evans, St Tylsilio Church, Cwmtydu

St Tysilio

Plaque commemorating Grace Evans, St Tylsilio Church, Cwmtydu


Annie M Evans

Service: Worker, QMAAC

Reference: WaW0073


Mary Evans

Place of birth: Trawsfynydd, 1890?

Service: Agricultural student

Notes: Mary Evans was the sister of the poet Hedd Wyn, Ellis Humphrey Evans. She was studying at Madryn Agricultural College, near Pwllheli. This letter, written in Autumn 1917, asks for money, talks about her life, and expresses hiraeth for her late brother.

Reference: WaW0097

Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 1

Mary Evans letter 1

Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 1

Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 2

Mary Evans letter 2

Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 2


Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 3

Mary Evans letter 3

Letter from Mary Evans to her parents 3

Translation of Mary Evans's letter into English

Mary Evans letter English

Translation of Mary Evans's letter into English



Administration