George Walter Faulkner
This is the memorial page for George Walter Faulkner, native of Ystalyfera, killed during the First World War. Note that most records record his full name of George Walter Faulker, though the 1891 census records him as Walter George Faulkner. This may be the legal form, explaining why he was listed as Walter Faulkner on the war memorial.
The information on George Walter Faulkner comes principally from the Commonwealth War Graves Commission, from the Labour Voice newspaper, and the Parish Burial Register (courtesy of the Swansea Archives).
| Name | George Walter Faulkner |
| Date of Death | 13th April 1918 |
| Place of Death | France |
| Age at Death | 31 |
| Unit and Regiment | Royal Welsh Fusiliers; 17th Bn. |
| Rank | Lance Corporal |
| Service Number | 21074 |
| Additional Information | Son of George (b 1860 Railway Guard, born Beckley Oxford) and Elizabeth (b 1862 Stanton St. Johns, Oxford) Faulkner of 3 Midland Terrace, Gurnos. Born Islington, London. Former Tin Plate Worker |
| Cemetery | HEDAUVILLE COMMUNAL CEMETERY EXTENSION – FRANCE.; F. 19. |
| Local Memorials | Ystalyfera War Memorial Marble Plaque – English Congregational Church Ystalyfera (Demolished 2005) Plaque now housed in Royal British Legion. |
| Family Details | George Faulkner was living in Cyfyng Road, Ystalyfera at the time of the war and married to Mary Ethel, with a son Davis George, born in 1910. |
| Known Brothers | Aubrey William Faulkner (b 1890, Gurnos); Tin Worker Behinder Arthur FAULKNER (Born Gurnos 1896) Tin Worker Behinder Harry FAULKNER (Born Gurnos 1899) Ernest Thomas FAULKNER* (Born 1908-1958) Married 1928 Mary Annie WILLIAMS both Buried Alltygrug Cemetery Plot A 19 |
| Known Sisters | Rosalia (b 1885, Stanton St. Johns, Oxford)
Gertrude Emily FAULKNER (Born Gurnos 1892) Married in 1915 Mr Ernest BRINKWORTH Edith May FAULKNER (Born Oxford 1903) Married in 1923 William A SAYCE |
From the LLAIS LLAFUR 14th AUGUST 1915
YSTALYFERA MARRIAGE
An interesting marriage took place on Thursday morning at the English Congregational Church the contracting parties being Miss Gertie Faulkner, eldest daughter of Mr. George Faulkner, of Midland Terrace, Gurnos, and Mr. Ernest Brinkworth. The bride was attired in a very sweet dress of cream voile with hat to match, trimmed with pink heather, and she was attended by two bridesmaids, Misses Edith Faulkner and Olivia Murray, who were attired in dresses of pink voilé with hats to match. The bride and bridesmaids carried sheaves of sweet peas and flox, tied with white satin ribbon. Mr. Aubrey Faulkner was the best man and the officiating minister was the Rev. R. G. James (pastor). After the ceremony breakfast was served at the house of the bride's parents, and later the newly married couple left for Mumbles, where the honeymoon is being spent. Many handsome presents were received.
From the LABOUR VOICE 15th SEPTEMBER 1917
Page 2
Lance Corporal Faulkner, of the Royal Welsh Fusiliers, who is with a Lewis machine-gun section, has been home on furlough at Pantteg. He is the son of Mr. and Mrs. Faulkner Gurnos and it is 19 months since he was last on leave. He has been through most of the big battles, including the Somme. Prior to joining he was engaged at a munitions works.
From the LABOUR VOICE 27th APRIL 1918
Page 2
Keen regret was felt locally that Private George Faulkner, son of Mr. and Mrs. George Faulkner Gurnos, has been killed in the recent heavy fighting in France. Private Faulkner had been in the Army for a considerable time and a promising young man has died in his country’s cause.
From the CAMBRIAN DAILY LEADER newspaper, 29th April 1918:-
News has reached Ystalyfera that George Faulkner of Cyfyng Road has been killed in France.
From the LLAIS LLAFUR 1st APRIL 1916
What might have been a serious accident, occurred last week while shunting operations were in progress on the line near Tarreni Colliery! A door of one of the wagons fell on the head of the guard in charge of the train, Mr George Faulkner of Midland Terrace Gurnos and he was thrown backward on to the rails, sustaining injury to the back. He was conveyed home but we are glad to learn that by this time he has recovered sufficiently to be able to walk about.
From the LLAIS LLAFUR 7th JULY 1928
VETERAN RAILWAYMAN RETIRES
Mr George Faulkner 3 Midland Cottages Gurnos, retired on Saturday, after having been in the service of the Midland Railway (now the L.M. and S.) for 47 years. On Sunday he paid his last contribution to the National Union of Railwaymen, which he joined 31 years ago.
Mr Faulkner, who is 68 years of age, retired under the age limit. He has been working for 60 years, for he commenced when a boy of eight, scaring birds from fields for a wage of 6d a day. As his father was a semi invalid and there were younger children, young George was obliged to help the family exchequer. In his youth Mr Faulkner was employed on farms until he reached his majority, when he joined the staff of the Railway Company in 1881 as a goods porter in London. After a series of promotions he was transferred to Wales as goods guard, in which position he remained for the last 41 years. About 3 years ago he was appointed gatekeeper on the Claphon Crossing Ystradgynlais, in place of Mr Charles Moore Midland Cottages, who had also retired.
A NARROW ESCAPE: About 12 months ago Mr Faulkner had a narrow escape from serious injury, if not death, when a number of laden coal trucks ran wild over the crossing. He was on duty at the gates as shunting operations were being carried out on the sidings. He saw that something had happened as he heard a crash and he ran to open the gates in order to avoid possible personal injury to anyone. He got to the centre of the bridge just as the trucks came rushing towards him. Projecting from under one truck was a pair of wheels which had been wrenched off and these were scraping the side of the bridge. Mr Faulkner jumped over the handrail and clung suspended over the river. A moment later the trucks struck the bridge a few feet lower down and the loose wheels were hurled into the river. Happily Mr Faulkner was none the worse for his unnerving experience.
In connection with his retirement Mr Faulkner has received a letter from the head office at Derby acknowledging his long and faithful service. Mr Faulkner is a native of Beckley Oxfordshire.
From the SOUTH WALES VOICE SATURDAY 4th JULY 1942
DEATH OF MR GEORGE FAULKNER
We regret to report the death which occurred on Tuesday morning of Mr George Faulkner 3 Midland Terrace Penygurnos.
Mr Faulkner was a native of Beckley Oxfordshire and on 1st February 1936, he and Mrs Faulkner celebrated their golden wedding. Deceased was employed on the London Midland and Scottish Railway for 46 years, starting at London, retiring about 15 years ago on reaching the age limit. After working in London for some years, he was transferred to Ystalyfera 55 years ago. Mr and Mrs Faulkner had lived in the same house for 51 years. Deceased was a guard for nearly 41 years.
Deceased was a man of strong moral character and was a valued member of the English Congregational Church Ystalyfera, where he was senior deacon. In addition to the widow, there are surviving six of their nine children: Messrs Aubrey, Arthur, Harry and Tom Faulkner and Mrs Brinkworth and Mrs Sayce. One of their sons Corporal George Faulkner, who was attached to a machine gun corps, was killed at Ypres in 1918.
The funeral takes place on Saturday at 4.30 for Ystradgynlais Parish Churchyard. No flowers by request
As a member of the English Congregational Church, Ystalyfera, as well as being remembered on the memorial plaque that was erected there, George Walter Faulkner was one of the men mentioned in The Fallen of the English Congregational Church in World War One, a speech given in 1935 by John Bell, for 28 years Treasurer of the English Congregational Church.