SANDBROOK, JOHN ARTHUR (1876 - 1942), journalist

Born at Swansea, 3 May 1876, second son of Thomas Sandbrook and his wife Harriet Sarah (née Lotherington). He was educated at Swansea grammar school and became an outstanding personality in British journalism. He began his journalistic career at Swansea in 1892, becoming chief assistant editor of The Western Mail after serving in the Boer War (1899-1902) when he was awarded the Queen's Medal with five clasps. His series of dispatches to the Western Mail were among the most vivid reports which came out of South Africa at that time. In 1910 he was appointed editor of The Englishman in Calcutta. He collaborated in Reuter's description of the durbar in Delhi, December 1911. In 1917 he was special correspondent in Mesopotamia; he was with the Indian press delegation on the Western Front in 1918; and he was at Waziristan and on the north-west frontier during the 1921 troubles. The following year he resigned his editorship and returned to Wales as chief associate editor of The Western Mail, succeeding Sir William Davies as editor in 1931.

A keen and sympathetic student of Welsh life he attended many national eisteddfodau and contributed reports daily of the proceedings. He took an active part in initiating public movements such as the erection of a national war memorial in Cathays Park, Cardiff. Until his death he concerned himself with making the ' Book of Rememberance ' in the Temple of Peace a complete record of Welshmen who gave their lives in World War I. He lived at Beganston, Pencisely Road, Llandaff before moving to Fairwater Road, Cardiff. He was a cousin of Lady Buckland (see Berry family above) and died a bachelor, 13 February 1942.

Author

• Dr Mary Auronwy James

Sources

• Who's who in Wales, 1933
• Western Mail, 14 and 18 February 1942

Additional Links

• Wikidata: Q20733350

Published date: 2001

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