129. Joyce BIGGS
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
131. Cyril BIGGS
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
passed away and buried in Treorchy CemetryEither there are two Cyril's, one died and another was born or the year is wrong. As he is in the 1911 census
1911 Census
Name Relation Condition/
Yrs married Sex Age Birth
Year Occupation Where Born
CARPENTER, Jane Head Widow F 59 1852 Eating Housekeeper Kinross Shire
CARPENTER, Florence Ellen Daughter Single F 28 1883 Glam Rhondda Parish Treherbert
BIGGS, Mary Millicent Daughter Married F 24 1887 Glam Rhondda Parish Treherbert
BIGGS, Jestyn Son-In-Law Married M 30 1881 Hewer Of Coal Hewer Glam Cardiff
PRATT, Dorothy Niece F 14 1897 Rhondda Parish
BIGGS, Cyril Grandson M 0 1911 Glam Rhondda Treherbert Parish
RG number: RG14 Piece: 32332 Reference: RG14PN32332 RG78PN1853A RD589 SD4 ED4 SN283Registration District: Pontypridd Sub District: Rhondda EnumerationDistrict: 4 Parish: Rhondda
Address: 100 Gwendoline Street Treherbert Rhondda County: Glamorganshire
132. Reginald ("Reggie") BIGGS
Letter from Lexie Maurice (May A Biggs) March 2002
passed away and buried in Treorchy Cemetrydob from John Bridgman does not match date in birthday book (28.6)