As the centenary of the Great War of 1914-1918 draws near its end, Ceredigion Archives is still issuing the weekly blog ‘Reporting the Great War’ about the Cardiganshire experience in wartime.
Since August 2014 Margaret Jones of Ceredigion Archives has produced a weekly display, exhibited in the County Library and in the Aberystwyth council offices and elsewhere, and which is then published in the Blog: https://ww1ceredigion.wordpress.com/
Margaret has produced, to date about 220 separate displays reflecting what the people of Cardiganshire learnt, and knew, and felt about the experience of war. The process has been an interesting and moving one – reflecting the progress of the conflict in real time has helped us understand how our county reacted to the war, and even a hundred years after the event we have found ourselves saddened when we learn of the deaths of people we almost feel we know.
It has been a remarkable undertaking (thank you Margaret!) and a significant one in terms of our relationship with our records and our readers.
This week, week 221 of the war, Margaret notes:
Yet more heavy losses. Sad news for Cardigan in the Roll of Honour regarding the deaths of Major W. E. Thomas and Sec.Lieut. Gwilym Phillips, and Private David Lloyd of Llandyssul has also been killed in action.
There are further deaths reported in the Aberystwyth column;-Privates George Vearey and John R. Edwards have been killed as have three old students of U.C.W.
Privates C.R. Morris and Jack Theophilus have been wounded whilst Lieutenant H.T. Edwards writes home that the feeling in Macedonia is that the war is coming to an end.
A photograph appears of Private Daniel Evans Jones of Glanrafon Farm, Llanbadarn (as mentioned in previous weeks)who has died of his wounds in hospital in France.
In Beulah a service is held in memory of Private Lewis Jones who has fallen on the Salonika front.
A poem ‘Er Serchog Goffadwriaeth’ ( In Affectionate Memory) is penned by ‘Hen Volunteer’ in memory of Major R.W. Picton Evans who died, as mentioned in previous weeks, in hospital in Palestine on September 13th.
‘Y Carcharor Rhyfel’ by Glanceri is a poem written about the prisoner of war, whilst ‘Mae’r Ceisar wedi methu’ is a poem by Cynfelyn of Ffostrasol about the Kaiser’s failure.
There are many cases of influenza in Lampeter and several German prisoners are victims of the disease. Sadly Mr Evan Williams who was discharged from the army a few months ago has died from influenza at Cardiff having obtained an appointment as attendant at a Cardiff hospital.
Captain Gwilym James continues to write in his diary recording that he and Nan left Aber for Paddington at 12.30p.m. on the 28th October. Nan sees him off at Victoria on the morning of the 29th and he arrives at Boulogne at 12a.m. where he stays at the Officers Club. On the 30th he mentions travelling by ambulance train and motor ambulance. On the 31st he crosses the ‘Hindenburg line’, and on the 1st November he receives orders regarding the orderlies. On the 3rd he writes of 30 Australian deserters having turned brigands.
A happy event in Cardigan as Mr J. Williams marries Miss Evans. Two New Zealand visitors who are serving in France but who have arrived in Cardigan for a few days rest sign the register as witnesses. Another marriage takes place in Lampeter when Miss Hannah Maria Evans of Home Farm, Falcondale marries Private William Harold Davies, Tonypandy.
D.L. Jones and Sons will auction a large number of Army Boots at Brynawel, Tregaron at 2p.m. on Tuesday, November 5th.
