#Cardiff #Military #Wales #WWI
Albert1 Alonzo GAVIN was the eldest of two children born to Rollo Gillespie GAVIN (1858 – 1912), an Accountant, and Elizabeth THOMAS (1862 – 1950).
Rollo was born in Cardiff when his father Daniel O’Brien GAVIN (1822 – 1873) moved the family there after leaving the military. Elizabeth was born in Cardiff but her parents came there from Pembrokeshire, Wales. Rollo and Elizabeth married Q3 1883 in Cardiff whilst in their early 20s.
Albert1 had a sister, Winifred Kathleen O’Brien GAVIN (1896 – 1976) so there was a big age gap between them of about 12 years. She married Harold Thompson BUTLER (1894 – 1978) then moved to Kensington. Sadly, their son’s birth and death is registered in the same quarter of 1925.
In the 1881 Census Albert1’s father is a Boarder, along with two of his brothers, with a married couple of similar age to him. They are at 151 Castle Road, Cardiff, which per current maps runs past the entrance to Castell Coch. Could it have been a road down by Cardiff Castle at this date though? His future wife is at 34 Bridge Street, Cardiff with her parents and siblings. She is working as a Dressmaker.
They must have met somewhere locally and got married. Unfortunately for Rollo by this time both his parents have died and six of his ten siblings. [I have written much more about the family in a biography centred on Rollo’s eldest sister which is held offline].
Albert1 came along Q2 1884 with birth registered in Cardiff District. He was baptised on 19 October 1884 with his birth date being given as 18 May 1884. This was St Andrew’s in Cardiff which was an Anglican Church and seems to be on Penylan Road in Roath area of Cardiff. At this time they are living at 47 Richard Street, Cardiff.
By 1891 Albert1 and his parents have settled at 40 Ruthven Street. Again, this road seems to have gone in city revamps but it’s described as being in the Roath Park area. This is across from Cathays Cemetery where Rollo’s parents and some siblings are commemorated.
Also living with them are his Uncle Albert2 Edward GAVIN (1860 – 1892) who was a Marine Engineer and his Grandmother Mary [THOMAS] (1830 – TBA). Elizabeth’s father has died within the last decade then. Albert2 passes away on 12 July 1892, aged just 32, and another sister had already gone.
The next we find is his sister Winifred being born on 19 January 1896. The address is given as 40 Strathnairn Street, Cardiff which still exists. It is a terraced house in a long row of very similar properties which are repeated in a block. They have been there since at least 1893 per the Wright’s Directory of Cardiff. In the 1897 one we also find Rollo’s remaining sibling Alonzo Augustus GAVIN (1862 – 1935) who is at the New Dock Inn, 188 Broadway, Roath.
The 1901 Census gives them at the same property. Albert1, at 16, is a Commercial Clerk whilst his father is a Railway Accountant. At this point there are seven of them listed. Albert, his parents, sister and grandmother are five of them and a 39-year-old, single lady, listed as Visitor.
There is also a Douglas A HOUSTON listed as a 20-year-old Boarder who also works as a Commercial Clerk. Now I believe this is Alexander1 Douglas HOUSTON (1880 – 1935) the child of Rollo’s sister Emily Harriet GAVIN (1852 – 1886) and her husband Alexander2 Gilmer HOUSON (1849 – 1898) who had been living on the Isle of Wight.
By the time another decade has passed we find them now at 65 Shirley Road, Cardiff. It is just the four of them now so either Elizabeth’s Mother has moved, perhaps to join another family member, or she has died. Albert1 is now 26 and working as a Shipowner’s Clerk so would presumably be down the docks daily.
The next death is his father Rollo on 19 February 1912. He was 53 and only two of the ten siblings lived past the age of 34 with their average age at death being 30.
On 05 May 1914 we have evidence that Albert1 has joined the Masons. He belonged to Bute Lodge, Cardiff. At this point he is described as a Chartering Clerk.
Regarding Albert1’s military career we have evidence that in the 1914 – 1918 war he was in the British Army’s Welsh Regiment 1. He was living at 29 Kincraig Street, Cardiff 2. He attained the rank of Second Lieutenant and then Lieutenant.
Cannot seem to find more specific information but if in the Regular Army’s 1st Battalion then probably went to India, France, Egypt and Salonica. If in one of the other sections then probably still travelled around a fair amount.
His Silver War Badge Number given as 2797. This was awarded to service personnel who were honourably discharged due to wounds or sickness which it appears happened in or by 1916. He was also awarded the Victory and British War Medals. There is a Pension entry for him on Fold3 but I do not have a subscription.
It is possible he was injured prior to the end of 1915. He married Florence Gertrude BROWN (1885 – 1961) with it being registered in Q4 1915 under Cardiff District. It seems to be in the ward of Plasnewydd which is the electoral ward name now for what was Roath. The likelihood is that he knew her before the war. They do not appear to have any offspring.
Apart from his remaining paternal Uncle Alonzo dying in 1935 do not seem to have evidence for their lives between marriage and the September 1939 register. He is now working as a Traveller (Scales & Grocers, Butchers & Dairyman’s Outfitters) so presumably a Salesman to provide goods to these kinds of premises. He is mid 50s and his wife a year younger is listed as on Unpaid Domestic Duties.
At this time his sister and her husband are living with their Domestic Servant at 41 The Drapery in Northampton. He is a Bank Manager. It is not known where his mother is but by 1950 she is also over in Northampton. She died on 27 June 1950 at the age of 88.
Arthur1 died 10 April 1952 in Whitchurch area of Cardiff. He was just short of turning 68. Florence lived another 9 years and died Q2 1961, aged 76.
Albert Alonzo GAVIN was a 1C 4R to me on his paternal line. The nearest shared ancestors are my 4x Great Grandparents Daniel O’Brien GAVIN (1822 – 1873) and Jane LAWRENCE (1829 – 1874).
Footnotes –
Most research undertaken using Ancestry, FreeBMD and Google Maps. Additional resources listed below if utilised.
- Forces War Records – https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/16565853/second-lieutenant-a-a-gavin-welsh-regiment/ ↩︎
- Forces War Records – https://www.forces-war-records.co.uk/records/953407/lieutenant-aa-gavin-british-army-welsh-regiment/ ↩︎