Janet Jones

Place of birth: Llanrwst

Service: Quartermistress, WRAF

Memorial: War Memorial, Llanrwst, Conway

Notes: Aged 28. She is buried at Seion Calvinistic Methodist Chapelyard, Llanrwst.

Reference: WaW0141

War Memorial, Llanrwst

Name of Janet Jones on War Memorial, Llanrwst

May Stratford

Place of birth: Newport Monmouthshire

Service: Waitress, WRAF, February 1918 – September 19

Notes: May Stratford, born 1898, joined the WRAF in 1918. She seems to have served, as a waitress, in various RAF bases in South East England. She died in 1982

Reference: WaW0191

May Stratford

May Stratford in WRAF uniform. Also in the photograph is a coin engraved with her name and ‘WRAF’.

Discharge papers

May Stratford’s discharge papers. September 1919

Autograph book

Inside cover of May’s autograph book, showing where she served.

Autograph book

Page of May Stratford’s autograph book with a drawing of a bi-plane.

Mary Ann Holland (née ?)

Place of birth: Talywain ?

Service: Storewoman, WRAF

Notes: Mrs Holland was demobilised from the WRAF in October 1919, when she was 30 years old. Her work was described as ‘very good’. She enrolled and worked in London, and was married, though we do not know her maiden name. Her name appears on the Roll of Honour at Pisgah Chapel, Talywain.

Reference: WaW0292

Discharge certificate

Demobilisation certificate for Mary Ann Holland, 17th October 1919.

Roll of Honour

Mrs M A Holland’s name on the Roll of Honour at Pisgah Chapel, Talywain.

Caroline Jackson Davies

Place of birth: Llandovery

Service: Chief section leader Cook: , WRNS, 22/05/1918

Death: 1918-10-26, Carmarthen, illness/salwch

Notes: aged 22. Buried at Llandingat

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

Reference: WaW0005

Edith Picton Turbervill

Place of birth: Fownhope, Herefordshire

Service: Welfare worker, MP, Y W C A

Death: 1960, Cause not known

Notes: Edith (born 1872) was a twin [qv Beatrice Picton-Warlow], one of many children of John Picton Turbervill who inherited Ewenny Priory, Glamorgan in 1891. Always very devout, she worked with the families of navvies working on the Vale of Glamorgan railway and poor families in London After six years in India she returned to Britain to be foreign secretary of the Y.W.C.A. When war broke out, she raised quarter of a million pounds to build Y.W.C.A. hostels for young women munitions and farm workers. A strong supporter of ordination of women, she preached in several non-conformist chapels in Wales before becoming the first woman to preach in an Anglican church, in 1919, wearing ‘cassock and surplice’. As she was over six foot tall, with ‘a rather loud voice’, she impressed the newspapers. In that year too she joined the Labour party. After two unsuccessful attempts, she was elected MP for Wrekin in Shropshire in 1929. During her brief Parliamentary career she successfully introduced the bill to stop the execution of pregnant women.

Sources: Angela V John: Rocking the Boat, Parthian Press 2018

Reference: WaW0442

Edith Picton Turbervill

Photograph of Edith Picton Turbervill, c.1910

Newspaper report

Edith was clearly a good shot! Glamorgan Gazette 23rd October 1908.

Newspaper report

Report of the inaugural meeting launching the provision of Y.M.C.A. hostels for munitions workers in Wales (part 1). Glamorgan Gazette 13 October 1916.

Newspaper report

Report of the inaugural meeting launching the provision of Y.M.C.A. hostels for munitions workers in Wales (part 2). Glamorgan Gazette 13 October 1916.

Newspaper report

Report of Edith Picton Turbervill preaching in the Bishopsgate Congregational Chapel. Cambrian Daily Leader 14th February 1919.

Newspaper report

‘Small Talk’ column describing Edith Picton Turbervill preaching at a regular Church of England service in North Somercotes, Lincs. Glamorgan Gazette 11th July 1919.

Newspaper report

Report of Edith Picton Turbervill joining the Labour Party. Cambria Daily Leader 18th January 1919

Photograph

The Labour women MPs elected in 1929, Edith Picton Turbervill is centre back. Front right is a very young Jennie Lee, later married to Aneurin Bevan. Aged 24, she was too young to vote, but not too young to stand. Next to her is Ellen Wilkinson.