Absent Voters Lists held by the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth.

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

Several lists relating to Welsh parliamentary constituencies are held at the National Library of Wales, Aberystwyth. These lists are not listed in the library's On-Line Catalogue  and will not appear in a catalogue search.  They can however be ordered in advance for viewing at the library.

The lists are:

Anglesey

          -County of Anglesey 1918-21 (Six lists in one volume).

 

Caernarvonshire

          -Carnarvon District of Boroughs (1919, unbound)

          -County of Carnarvon 1918-19 (2 lists in one volume)

 

Denbighshire

          -County of Denbigh and Wrexham Parliamentary Division 1919 (In same volume)

 

Glamorganshire

          -Aberdare 1918

          -Merthyr Tydfil (Merthyr) 1918

          -Swansea (East & West) 1919

 

Merionethshire

          -County of Merioneth 1918 (Bound at back of general list)

 

Monmouthshire

          -County of Monmouth 1919

 

I have seen, photographed and converted the Anglesey Spring 1918 list into a Excel spreadsheet.  It is comprehensive and apart from a few printers' errors,  appears complete, consisting of nearly 4200 names in all arms of the services. To view the items, you will require a reader's ticket (Photo ID, Proof of residence etc required). Although it is possible to make a "Non-catalogue request" using the website, it is easier just to ring the enquiries line on 1970 632933 (9.30-17.00) to order the relevant item.

The items are not digitized, but may be inspected free of charge at the library's reading rooms. They may be photographed (for a fee of £20 per day) or photocopied (30p/page). I presume that staff would photocopy a page containing a known name, address and regimental number, and post the item to you, although I am not sure what arrangements can be made with regard to performing a blanket search of a register. I suspect a researcher would be required for such a request.

[clive_hughes]

Dai,

Do you know what the catalogue numbers are for these items?

 

The Cardiganshire County electoral roll 1918 is held by that County's record office in Aberystwyth.  It does contain "Naval & Military" voters amongst the usual civil ones, but only as the letters "NM" in the margin without referring to their unit, ship etc.  So of limited value.  

 

The Pembrokeshire County Records Office in Haverfordwest holds an AVL 1918 complete for that county.

 

The Carmarthenshire County Records Office in Carmarthen holds a nearly-complete (first page missing) AVL 1919 for the county.  It's marked "3rd Edition" in manuscript, so might be correct for later on in that year?  

 

Clive

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

Clive,

As they are "Extra Catalogue" items I'm not sure they have a publicly accessible catalogue number as such.

They must have an internal catalogue number of some sort.

The Anglesey AVL has the number 'XCS 453' on the spine, but what the relevance of this number is, I don't know.

As I havent requested, nor seen the  other items, I can't say whether they have a similar number attached.

 

I might call to see the other documents you have mentioned.

 

Dai

[jay dubaya]

Thanks for the heads up Dai, and just to add to this thread, I transcribed the Pembrokeshire AVL 1918 mentioned by Clive above, it's not available online so if anyone needs a look up or a copy please do ask, images of the original also avilable.

 

J

[canadian gunner]

I am looking for a Thomas Watkin Thomas on Gadlys Street, Aberdare. I got a copy of the AVL 1919 and he's there but the names are just marked "R" or "NM". Can anyone look up the AVL for 1918 and let me know if Thomas has a regiment or number listed against his name.

Keith

[Dai Bach y Sowldiwr]

12 hours ago, canadian gunner said:

I am looking for a Thomas Watkin Thomas on Gadlys Street, Aberdare. I got a copy of the AVL 1919 and he's there but the names are just marked "R" or "NM". Can anyone look up the AVL for 1918 and let me know if Thomas has a regiment or number listed against his name.

Keith

Unfortunately, the National Library is closed for the foreseeable  future due to the pandemic.

I wonder if @Hywyn or @clive_hughes have that information?

 

[clive_hughes]

Dai,

Hywyn might have more information, but if the Aberdare copy is like that in Ceredigion/Cardiganshire, the "Naval & Military" etc. abbreviations may be all that's left to denote a serviceman.  

 

Clive

[Hywyn]

The only possible in that Street is Tom Thomas at number 47 who is shown as 18693 RWF. Also at the address is Richard John Thomas who is shown as 265786 1/5th Welsh Regt.

 

The RWF number denotes enlistment first week December 1914

[canadian gunner]

Both of those are correct Hywyn. I got a confirm from the National Library. Interesting thing, the AVL shows Richard as 1/5 Welsh, a medical record shows him 4/5 Welsh (which is correct for August 1918) and his MIC shows him as 1/6 Welsh. Either it is a mistake or the 4/5 was demobbed and he went to the 1/6.