Arthur Morris (1908–1937)
Cardigan Man Dies Fighting for Spanish Government
Arthur David Morris grew up at Claverley, 2 Gordon Terrace, the son of Arthur Owen and Martha Jane (nee Wigley) and worked as an apprentice at James’ ironmongery at Pendre. In 1929, at the age of 21, he emigrated to Canada. He served in the army for two and half years before he eventually settled in Blairmore, Alberta, where he worked as a miner. He joined the Communist Party of Canada in 1933.
Arthur Morris left Canada in 1936 to enrol in the International Lenin School in Moscow. After the outbreak of the Spanish Civil War the students of the Lenin School departed for Spain, and Arthur made his own way across Europe sending postcards home from Warsaw, Paris and Perpignan. He crossed into Spain and joined the American contingent who were forming the Abraham Lincoln battalion at Albacete, midway between Madrid and Valencia.
The battle that raged in the Jarama Valley to the south of Madrid in February 1937 was one of the most ferocious of the war with the Fascists deploying German artillery.
In February 1937, at the age of 29 Arthur Morris met his death in the olive groves of the Jarama Valley, south of Madrid.
In May 1937 news of Arthur’s death finally reached his mother and made front page headlines of the Tivyside Advertiser, competing for space with the Coronation; ‘Killed in Spain –Cardigan Man Dies Fighting for Spanish Government’. His mother described him as a “beautiful boy, always fighting for what he thought to be right”.
Henry Harries Evans (1872–14.05.1916, aged 45 yrs.)
A native of Solva, he moved to Cardigan when he was 20 years old. He was a bootmaker by trade. His workshop was in 8 St. Mary’s St. He was an excellent music teacher and conducted the Cardigan Choral Society for many years. He was also an accomplished artist in oil and watercolour. He composed a number of hymn-tunes for the local Singing Festivals e.g. Ar ei ben bo’r goron (1913); Cyfaill plant bychain (1909); Dewi (1914); Felinganol (1913); Induna (1913); Strathmore (1915); Ynys Dewi (1914). He disagreed with the decision to postpone the 1915 Cymanfa Ganu and strangely was buried on the very day that it was originally arranged to be held.
Ivor Rees (1935–84)
A native of St Dogmaels. Lived in Charlton House, North Rd. Local postman, and a keen sportsman – golf, snooker, football, and cross-country running. He played left back and was captain for Cardigan Town FC during its most successful period.
Charles Alfred William Mason (1900–82)
Born in Westminster. Fought with the 13th Royal Fusiliers during WW1. Joined the staff of the British Museum in 1922. Moved to Cardigan in 1956 with his wife Frances. They kept a second-hand bookshop at the Royal Oak, 1 Quay St.
Frederick David Lewis (d. Jan. 1983)
A native of Llandrindod Wells. Came to Cardigan in 1929. Amateur actor, Town Councillor, and mayor in 1952–3. A keen fisherman he kept a fishing tackle shop in Pendre. Accomplished golfer and excellent billiard player.
Cardigan through the ages 