Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
believed spouse was MayWales in 1881 Census. Dwelling: No 16 Zinc St Census Place: Roath, Glamorgan, Wales Source: FHL Film 1342271 PRO Ref RG11 Piece 5285 Folio 72 Page 51
Richard BIGGS M 32 M Bisley, Gloucester, England Rel: Head Occ: Railway Engine Driver Margaret BIGGS M 24 F Neath, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Wife Gwendoline BIGGS 5 F Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Daur Edgar BIGGS 3 M Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Son Justin BIGGS 2 M Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Son Henry BIGGS 1 M Cardiff, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Son
Letitia BARTLETT U 17 F Neath, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Visitor Occ: Dressmaker Lewis MORGAN U 21 M Bridgend, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Boarder Occ: Railway Engine Fireman Auther HINDER U 22 M Swansea, Glamorgan, Wales Rel: Lodger Occ: Railway Engine Fireman1891 census
RG12/4371 page 30
Newport Monmouthshire
3 Leek (or Lock) Street
Richard Biggs Head M 43 Engine Driver Bisley, Gloucestershire
Margaret Biggs Wife M 34 - Neath, Glamorgan
Gwenllian Biggs Daur S 16 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Edgar Biggs Son S 14 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Jestyn Biggs Son S 12 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Henry Biggs Son S 11 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Mabel Biggs Daur S 9 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Richard Biggs Son S 6 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Alice Biggs Daur S 3 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Ivor Biggs Son S 1 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan1901 Census
RG13/5057 Fo:16 Pg:24 Schedule 141
Dwelling 25 Lewis Road, Neath
Richard Biggs Head Married 54 Railway Engine Driver, Bisley Gloucester, English Speaker
Margaret Biggs wife Married 52 Neath Glamorgan, English & Welsh Speaker
Edgar Biggs Son Single 25 House Painter, Cardiff Glamorgan, English Speaker
Richard Biggs Son Single 15 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Ivor Biggs Son Single 11 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Oswald Biggs Son Single 3 Neath Glamorgan, English Speaker
Mabel Biggs Daughter Single 19 Dressmaker, Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Alice Biggs Daughter Single 13 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Gladys Biggs Daughter Single 4 Neath Glamorgan, English Speaker
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
believed name was May
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
lived & died in Neath
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
lived & died in Neath
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
lived & died in Neath
married first wife at age of 26 at Llandyry Church on 11/9/1943 parish
of Pembrey
married Joyce at age of 33 on 11/7/1950 at Registry Office, LlanelliHe was in the army during the war and was part of the forces that fought in St Malo in France during WWII. He was also one of the soldiers who were charged with escorting "aliens" on the Arandora Star. This ship was sunk on July 2nd 1940. It took place north- west of Malin Head when the one-time flag ship of the Blue Star Line, the Arandora Star, was torpedoed and sank, with the loss of 682 lives out of a total of 1,571 on board.
The ship was torpedoed by submarine U47 captained by Kapitaanleutnan Gunther Prien. This disaster affected my father far more than he was willing to say. I remember him talking about it only the once when he spoke of having to go around cutting the floating the buoys of dead soldiers and others so that the bodies would sink to a grave rather than be floating food for the fish. He had a dislike of the sea ever since. He spoke of the sadness of what they had to do in the rounding up of many people with links to Italy and Germany for no other reason than that. They were links. But during that time, in war, they had no way of knowing who may be sympathisers with the enemy and who were not. The regret was more because he knew Italain and and Italian descent people, and whilst he couldn't believe that they were anything but loyal to the country they lived in, he undestood the orders that were given. He also spoke of having to have "words" with some of the way they spoke to the "aliens." He was still a Sergeant at that time (one of many - as "bing one of the boys" he also kept being demoted!!) and so could comment to the soldiers of lower rank.
I believe that survivors were brought ashore in Scotland (possibly Greenock on the Clyde). Photos were taken which were then used in the press. My father used to boast that this was the one and only time he was on the front page of a national newspaper. My mother told me that the first the family knew about where my father was, was when they saw his picture in the newspaper. This paper was lost over the years and I have yet to locate a copy of it.Buried at Llandyry Church Trimsaran
Details also taken from www.myforefathers.co.uk - site by Kerry Frater
Born Biggs
second wife of David Charles Frater and sister of first wife
Dulcie. Technically step mother of Clive but brought him up from a baby.
Technically half brother of Kerry
married at age of 28 on 11/7/1950 to David Charles at Registry Office,
LlanelliBuried at Llandyry Church Trimsaran
Details also taken from www.myforefathers.co.uk - site by Kerry Frater
married first wife at age of 26 at Llandyry Church on 11/9/1943 parish
of Pembrey
married Joyce at age of 33 on 11/7/1950 at Registry Office, LlanelliHe was in the army during the war and was part of the forces that fought in St Malo in France during WWII. He was also one of the soldiers who were charged with escorting "aliens" on the Arandora Star. This ship was sunk on July 2nd 1940. It took place north- west of Malin Head when the one-time flag ship of the Blue Star Line, the Arandora Star, was torpedoed and sank, with the loss of 682 lives out of a total of 1,571 on board.
The ship was torpedoed by submarine U47 captained by Kapitaanleutnan Gunther Prien. This disaster affected my father far more than he was willing to say. I remember him talking about it only the once when he spoke of having to go around cutting the floating the buoys of dead soldiers and others so that the bodies would sink to a grave rather than be floating food for the fish. He had a dislike of the sea ever since. He spoke of the sadness of what they had to do in the rounding up of many people with links to Italy and Germany for no other reason than that. They were links. But during that time, in war, they had no way of knowing who may be sympathisers with the enemy and who were not. The regret was more because he knew Italain and and Italian descent people, and whilst he couldn't believe that they were anything but loyal to the country they lived in, he undestood the orders that were given. He also spoke of having to have "words" with some of the way they spoke to the "aliens." He was still a Sergeant at that time (one of many - as "bing one of the boys" he also kept being demoted!!) and so could comment to the soldiers of lower rank.
I believe that survivors were brought ashore in Scotland (possibly Greenock on the Clyde). Photos were taken which were then used in the press. My father used to boast that this was the one and only time he was on the front page of a national newspaper. My mother told me that the first the family knew about where my father was, was when they saw his picture in the newspaper. This paper was lost over the years and I have yet to locate a copy of it.Buried at Llandyry Church Trimsaran
Details also taken from www.myforefathers.co.uk - site by Kerry Frater
Born Biggs
First Wife of David Charles Frater and mother of Clive.
married at age of 23 at Llandyry Church on 11/9/1943 (parish of Pembrey)
Jestyn's Brother who married wife's sister
Married 24/5/1914. Lived at 100 Gwendolin St., Treherbert. married at
30.He was an Engine Driver like his father.
1891 census
RG12/4371 page 30
Newport Monmouthshire
3 Leek (or Lock) Street
Richard Biggs Head M 43 Engine Driver Bisley, Gloucestershire
Margaret Biggs Wife M 34 - Neath, Glamorgan
Gwenllian Biggs Daur S 16 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Edgar Biggs Son S 14 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Jestyn Biggs Son S 12 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Henry Biggs Son S 11 Scholar Cardiff, Glamorgan
Mabel Biggs Daur S 9 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Richard Biggs Son S 6 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Alice Biggs Daur S 3 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan
Ivor Biggs Son S 1 Scholar Swansea, Glamorgan1901 Census
RG13/5057 Fo:16 Pg:24 Schedule 141
Dwelling 25 Lewis Road, Neath
Richard Biggs Head Married 54 Railway Engine Driver, Bisley Gloucester, English Speaker
Margaret Biggs wife Married 52 Neath Glamorgan, English & Welsh Speaker
Edgar Biggs Son Single 25 House Painter, Cardiff Glamorgan, English Speaker
Richard Biggs Son Single 15 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Ivor Biggs Son Single 11 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Oswald Biggs Son Single 3 Neath Glamorgan, English Speaker
Mabel Biggs Daughter Single 19 Dressmaker, Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Alice Biggs Daughter Single 13 Swansea Glamorgan, English Speaker
Gladys Biggs Daughter Single 4 Neath Glamorgan, English Speaker
Born Carpenter
Sister of Mary Millicent who married Husband's brother
married on 24/5/1914 at age of 30.1891 census
RG12/4421 Pg 34
94 Gwendoline Street
Francis Carpenter, Head, 44, Photographer’s Agent, Somerset - East Harptree, English speaker
Jane Carpenter, Wife, 39, Scotland - Kinross, English speaker
George E Carpenter, Son, 21, Stoker coalminer, Glamorgan Ystradyfodwg, English speaker
Elizabeth Jane Carpenter, Daughter, 16, Glamorgan Ystradyfodwg, English speaker
Charles L Carpenter, Son, 13, Messenger port, Glamorgan Ystradyfodwg, English speaker
Florence Carpenter, Daughter, 8, Glamorgan Ystradyfodwg, English speaker
Mary M Carpenter, Daughter, 3, Glamorgan Ystradyfodwg, English speaker
Herbert (Hubert?) Vranch, nephew, 22, coalminer, Somerset - Radstock, English speaker1901 census
RG13/5012 Fo: 81 Pg 19
100 Gwendoline Street
Francis Carpenter Head Married 53 Commision Agent East Harptree, Somerset, English speaker
Jane Carpenter wife Married 49 Dundee, Scotland, English speaker
Charles L Carpenter Son single 24 Blacksmith's Striker Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, English speaker
Florence H (should be E) Carpenter Daughter single 18 Dressmaker's apprentice Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, English speaker
Mary M Carpenter Daughter single 13 Ystradyfodwg, Glamorgan, English speaker