Elizabeth Jane Griffiths, known as Bessie or Batchie, was born in 1899, in Llandovery, where her parents Thomas Griffiths and Jane (née Jones) kept the North Western Hotel. In July 1915 she was awarded the Junior Certificate of the Central Welsh Board, and in the same month she started the first of three autograph albums. This album contains contributions from:
Jane Griffiths – Bessie’s mother
Johnny Griffiths, either her brother or a cousin
Lucy Handley, her cousin
Muriel, Gwen and either Edith or Ethel Thomas of Penlan, Frondeg Terrace, Llanelli: cousins of
Bessie’s
Hannah Pearce, maid at the North Western
Jane Strange, landlady of the Station Hotel in Llandovery, and her daughter Lucy Strange

Several of the entries were signed by fellow pupils of Llandovery County School:
M. Lily Stephens, 39 Stone Street, Llandovery
Gwendoline Davies, Fountain Hall, Llansadwrn
E. Gertrude Lewis
Maggie Jones, Penrhyn, Rhandirmwyn
Eleanor Morgan, Aberpedwar Farm, Llanfair-ar-y-bryn
Mildred Price
Sisters Celia (Cissie) and Lucy Rees, Penybanc, Llandovery
Another Cissy, surname not known

Other entries were from:
Elizabeth Ann (Lizzie) Davies , Ystrad Lodge, Llandovery
D. A. Evans (possibly Daniel Arthur Evans, Factory, Cilycwm)
T. Bonwin Evans (possibly an older relative of Bessie’s)
W. Price
S. Williams (possibly Sarah Williams, a fellow pupil who also took the Junior Certificate)
M. Lloyd, Alma House
Y N (or Yn.) Williams

In this first album there is no mention of the war, but this was to change with the second autograph album.