Margaret Kathleen Turner, civilian scientist

Recently, and particularly over the last four years, articles and books have identified the essential roles of civilian scientists during the Great War, 1914-18. Some have concentrated on the contribution of women while others have dealt with the ways in which university chemistry departments were active in helping to produce essential materials, such as pharmaceuticals, when the cessation of European trade precipitated a crisis of supply. A number of these accounts mention a letter written in 1915 to the War Committee of the Royal Society by Miss Margaret Turner of the Edward Davies Chemical Laboratories, Aberystwyth.

Margaret Kathleen Turner was born in Newcastle-under-Lyme, Staffordshire, on 14th September 1880, the second daughter of William Turner, a prominent local solicitor. Educated first at the Orme Girls' School, she received a major county scholarship in 1899 and continued her studies at the Stafford Technical School. Under the guidance of GW Hefford, she studied chemistry with a view to taking a degree in the subject, and pursued and passed the Intermediate BSc examination of the University of London in 1906 as an external student.

At around this time, Margaret and her elder sister, together with their retired widower father, all moved to Aberystwyth, to a house in Queen's Avenue, where her sister ran the residence as a guest house, taking in student lodgers. Margaret was clearly anxious to complete her degree course, and entered the University College of Wales (UCW) in 1908, having been awarded an Open Exhibition. The head of the UCW Chemistry Department at that time, Professor JJ Sudborough, found the work of the Final Class that year was 'not quite up to the average', but Miss Turner was deserving of mention. She gained her University of London external degree, BSc with Honours in Chemistry, in 1909.

The next piece of information about Margaret’s progress is found in the adverts for the chemistry degree course at Aberystwyth in the chemical press in 1910 and 1911, which listed Miss MK Turner as a student assistant. In this capacity she would have helped with the supervision of students' practical work in the laboratories which were open on weekdays from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., and from 2 to 6 p.m. Facilities were also advertised for students wishing to undertake research work and Margaret took advantage of these, collaborating with JJ Sudborough in studies on the esterification of organic acids which were published in the Journal of the Chemical Society in 1912.  She also assisted T Campbell James in his work on iodocinnamic acids, and took an active part in the UCW Chemical Society, reading papers and participating in discussions. 

While Britain had retained its pre-eminence in heavy inorganic chemicals in the early years of the 20th century, it had fallen far behind Germany in the industrial production of fine organic chemicals such as dyestuffs and pharmaceuticals. It therefore relied heavily on the German chemical industry for such materials, but when supplies were cut off as hostilities began in July 1914, there was an urgent national need to produce drugs and medications to make up the deficit. The Royal Society took the initiative by setting up a Chemistry War Committee to coordinate production. In mid-November all chemistry departments at British universities were asked to contribute to the production of relevant organic chemicals, and by the end of November offers of assistance had already been received from 32 institutions. 

Image (c.) Dr Brian H Davies

UCW's Department of Chemistry was already stretched in 1914, staffed by only three academics, namely Professor Alexander Findlay, T Campbell James and CR Bury. The outbreak of war caused considerable disruption, as Bury and nearly all the senior students went off on military service while Campbell James was heavily involved with UCW’s Officers’ Training Corps. UCW was, nevertheless, one of those institutions responding to the Royal Society's request, and the temporary appointment of Margaret Turner to a staff position as Demonstrator was made 'in consequence of the effects of the war'. She and others carried out a number of large-scale preparations of essential components for certain drugs. By 1917, the Institute of Chemistry was able to report that 'the laboratories of our universities and colleges have become small factories for the preparation of drugs and medicaments'.

While Margaret’s contribution to the war effort was appreciated, it must have been frustratingly limited. At the end of August 1915 she wrote to the Royal Society's Chemistry War Committee asking if there was further work she could do and explaining that:–

"I was one of the workers in the preparation of diethylamine some weeks ago and should be very glad to hear of any further help I could give. I can put all my time and energy at your service for the next 6 weeks, and am anxious to know whether the few helpers down here could not be allowed to contribute further to the needs of the country? I should be much obliged if you would inform me whether there is any other preparations we can make, as I, for one, am willing and eager to give up all ideas of holiday while there remains so much to be done."

She must have been disappointed by the reply from the Committee's assistant secretary, thanking her for her offer, but stating that there was "no other preparation on hand in which I can ask you to assist". 

Her remaining research at the Edward Davies Chemical Laboratories was of a more academic nature. She worked on projects with T Campbell James in 1920, and by 1922 had consolidated and extended the earlier work she had done with JJ Sudborough on the esterification of organic acids. She then submitted this work as an external candidate to the University of London and was awarded the degree of MSc (Chemistry) in 1922.

This young woman’s contribution to the war effort by using her chemical knowledge has been little recognised at Aberystwyth University to date.

Blog by Brian H Davies 
(Retired PAU staff member, Biochemistry)
November 2018

Remembering 'Our Boys : Aberystwyth War Memorial and the YMCA

Although the Armistice was signed on 11th November 1918, in the Palace of Versailles, in the spring of 1919, the leaders of the Great Powers were still deep in the negotiations that would officially end the First World War. 

In Aberystwyth, a public meeting was convened in the Town Hall (now the town’s library) at 8pm on Tuesday 27^th May 1919.  The meeting was being held to agree to collect donations for a town war memorial, similar to those going up in towns and villages all over Britain, to commemorate the dead, and provide buildings for the YMCA/YWCA (Young Men’s/Women’s Christian Association) to provide a social space for the living. Although it was widely felt that there should be a permanent reminder of the sacrifice of ‘Our Boys’ and to teach future generations about the horrors of war, the turnout was poor, so it had to be adjourned until a larger group could be gathered on 6^th June.

The first Aberystwyth War Memorial Committee had been formed in 1917 to debate whether there should be something to mark those that had, and were, dying or something to reward those returning from the war. By 1919, a second committee had been formed to replace this one and it agreed to do both by raising £10,000. Both projects were to be completed from a united appeal for subscriptions. They struggled to find a single building to contain the YMCA/YWCA, as they envisioned two wings (with each gender segregated) built around a central hall. However, they did not reach the target. Total subscriptions reached £5,865 11s 8d, with almost £3,000 going to the buildings and the rest set aside for the memorial.

Originally, a Welsh sculptor, Professor James Harvard Thomas, was commissioned to design the memorial but he died before work began. His replacement, Professor Mario Rutelli (of the Palermo Academy of Art) was hired, with the additional commission to design the statue of the then Prince of Wales (later Edward VIII) in front of the Old College. This is the only statue of him left in the world. His proposal was estimated to cost almost double that available for the memorial, so a renewed funding drive was called, which proved to be successful.

In 1921, the Presidents of the YWCA and YMCA symbolically took possession of the keys to new premises, on North Parade and Chalybeate Road, from the mayor in the town hall. This was on the understanding that a women’s club would be open to all, regardless of social background, religion, occupation, etc., for their recreation, rest, and to enable them to socialise. Both would be sold later in the century.

The memorial was built between 1921-23, with a bronze winged figure on top representing Victory, and a figure at the base symbolising humanity emerging from the war. It carries the inscription ‘Dros Ryddid’ (‘For Freedom’) and ‘Greater Love for no man than this…’. With 111 names of men of the First World War, and 78 of men and women from the Second World War, it is one of the largest war memorials in Britain.

Aberystwyth War Memorial c. Ceredigion Musuem

Blog by Ewan Lawry, project volunteer

Bibliography:

Councillor Richard Rowlands papers, National Library of Wales

Ceredigion Museum Collection @  https://pilgrim.ceredigion.gov.uk/

Armistice Week - Wythnos Cadoediad

Hanging the Exhibition - Gosod yr Arddangosfa 

This week's post is a report on our Armistice events, beginning on Thursday 8th November with the launch of our exhibition.  The National Library of Wales, Ceredigion Archives and Ceredigion Museum very kindly supplied and scanned these wonderful images for us, and the Arts Centre exhibition staff did a great job in hanging the display ready for the launch that evening. 

Many thanks to all who contributed, especially to our industrious and committed volunteers who found several of the images during their research.

The Launch - Y Lansiad

Mae'r post yr wythnos hon yn adroddiad byr ar ddigwyddiadau'r Cadoediad, a dechreuodd ar Ddydd Iau 8fed Tachwedd gyda lansiad ein arddangosfa.  Daeth y delweddau o Llyfrgell Genedlaethol Cymru, Archifau Ceredigion ac Amgueddfa Ceredigion, a wnaeth staff yr adran Arddangosfeydd y gwaith o osod y lluniau yn barod i'r lansiad y noson honno. 

Diolch yn fawr i bawb oedd wedi cyfrannu, yn enwedig i'n gwirfoddolwyr gweithgar ac ymrwymedig am ddod o hyn nifer o'r delweddau.

 On Friday, there was a double bill of First World War films at the Ceredigion Museum, beginning with a silent propaganda film from 1918, 'Mrs John Bull Prepared', praising the war work of women. This was accompanied by the wonderful and very apt piano playing of Dr C. Stephen Briggs. Following this was the awesome 1930s film version of 'Journey's End', directed by James Whale, who served in WW1, as did many of the cast. A big thank you to Sarah, for being the techi for the night!

Ar nos Wener, roedd bil dwbl o ffilmiau yn Amgueddfa Ceredigion, yn dechrau efo ffilm mud propaganda 'Mrs John Bull Prepared,' yn canmol gwaith menywod yn ystod y rhyfel. Roedd canu piano byw rhyfeddol gan Dr C. Stephen Briggs. Yn dilyn hwn, roedd fersiwn 1930au o'r ffilm anhygoel 'Journey's End, wedi'i cyfarwyddo gan James Whale, a ymladdodd yn y Rhyfel Fawr, fel nifer eraill o'r cast.  Diolch i Sarah am fod yn dechnegydd i'r noson!


On Armistice day itself, we attended two events, the tea at the Old College that followed the parade through town, the laying of the wreaths at the town memorial and a very moving service in St Michael's church. Thanks to Aber Food Surplus for contributing to the food. In the afternoon, Sian, the project leader, went to the 'Pages of the Sea' event at Ynys Las, and read out some war time letters at the open mic session.  

Ar dydd y Cadoediad ei hun, aethon ni i ddau digwyddiad, te yn yr Hen Coleg ar ol yr orymdaith trwy'r dref, gosod y torchau ar gofeb y dref, a gwasanaeth arwyddocaol yn Eglwys Sant Mihangel. Diolch i Aber Food Surplus i gyfrannu at y bwyd.  Yn y prynhawn, aeth Sian, arweinydd y prosiect, i draeth Ynys Las a digwyddiad 'Tudalennau'r Mor', a darllenodd rhai llythyrau amser rhyfel yn ystod sesiwn mic agored. 

Between these events, we also paid a visit to the Penglais Armistice tea and gave a talk to the local Scout group, so it was a very busy and very worthwhile weekend that paid a fitting tribute to this very special one hundred year anniversary of the end of the Great War.  Thanks again to all our volunteers for helping us tell the story of Aberystwyth at War and to the players of the National Lottery for making our project possible. 

Rainbow over the Memorial - Enfys does y Gofeb

Rhwng y digwyddiadau hyn, ymwelon ni a pnawn te yn Ysgol Penglais ac hefyd rhoesom sgwrs i'r gwrp sgowt lleol, felly roedd yn benwythnos brysur a gwerthfawr a dalodd teyrned addas iawn i'r dathliad arbennig hwn o gan mlynedd ers diwedd y Rhyfel Fawr. Diolch eto i'n gwirfoddolwyr am helpu i ni ddweud hanes Aberystwyth a Rhyfel ac i chwaraewyr y Loteri Genedlaethol am wneud ein prosiect yn bosibl.

Blog by Kate Sullivan, Project Coordinator

Richard George Read 1899-1946: 'A Lifetime of Service'

Until fairly recently I knew nothing about my great grandfather other than that he must have served in the Army, as he is commemorated on Llanbadarn Fawr War Memorial. I had passed the war memorial a million times but never spent any time studying it or questioning his name on it. When my mum became very ill a few years ago she asked me to find out more about her grandfather, as he had died before she was born. She told me that his name was held in high regard within the family. I therefore started on my journey finding our more about the life of my great grandfather Richard (Dick) George Read. 

Dicky Read c.1920s

My mum’s family were brought up in Llangawsai, I had always assumed that they were Welsh, but it turned out that Richard was born in Hockley in Warwickshire in April 1899. Richard's mother Mary, and his two sisters Violet and Hilda, lived in army barracks as his father was an artillery man, accordingly Richard education was mainly in barrack schools where his father happened to be posted. 

Richard's father was in the South Staffordshire Regiment but left to join the Royal Artillery in 1891. He served a total of 12 years, and was called up to serve in the Boer War arriving in April 1900 but sadly he died of dysentery in October 1900 when Richard was just over one year old. 

Richard’s mother therefore had to bring up three children on her own, no mean feat without the today's safety net of the NHS and Benefit system. She eventually re-married another artillery man five years later and had three more children with him.  When Richard reached the age of 12 he found work at the Royal Arsenal, Woolwich. He was employed as a 'boy' and it was here that they created the weapons and ammunition for the British Armed Forces.  At the start of WWI he left aged 14 to enlist in the Royal Horse Artillery as a 'Bugler', he was posted to the BEF (British Expeditionary Force) serving on the Western Front in France. 

In Egypt 1920s

I find it hard to even contemplate the things he must have seen, especially considering that he was still only just a teenager. Richard's role in the Royal Horse Artillery meant that he would have been involved in several campaigns on the Western Front (I need to do more work to find out which!), indeed he was still in France in 1919, all before he was 20 years of age.   

Richard went on to spend over thirty years in service, serving in Palestine and Egypt in the 1920's and 30's, reaching his twenty one years’ service as Quartermaster Sergeant. 

He then re-enlisted just prior to WWII as a Lieutenant (QM) in the Territorial Army firstly in the 102nd then the 146th Regiment Royal Artillery and was promoted to Captain during this period. He was based mainly in Pembrokeshire and Cardiganshire before he decided to relinquish his Captain’s rank to join the 118th Field Regiment Royal Artillery as Lieutenant again. 

F Sphinx Royal Horse Artilliary in Gaza, 1923

He and his unit were deployed overseas initially expecting to arrive in the Middle East, however the war against Japan in the Far East was not going well and Churchill decided to deploy the 18th Division to Singapore, arriving when the battle was virtually already lost. They landed during air raids in Singapore harbour and many disembarked without the right equipment or training for warfare in the Far East. Within two weeks, on the 15th February 1942, Singapore had surrendered to the invading Japanese. About 80,000 mainly British and Australian (but also Indian and Dutch) troops became prisoners of war. The British prime minister, Winston Churchill, called it the "'worst disaster and largest capitulation in British history'". 

With his Unit,  location unknown

There followed over three and a half years of imprisonment for Richard and his fellow POW's. The Japanese had refused to sign up to the Geneva convention and were notorious in their acts of cruelty to their prisoners. Richard entered weighing 12st, 10lbs but by the time of his release was down to 7st, 10lbs, a reduction of 40%. Many families at home were in the dark for years about the fate of their loved ones. Richard only got his first piece of mail from his family in September 1943.  Richard somehow managed to survive and after recuperating for a few months in India, arrived back to a hero’s welcome in Aberystwyth in December 1945. There is a Cambrian News article about his return, and on arrival in Aberystwyth there was a welcoming party including the mayor and other dignitaries. His wife, Marion, misunderstood the arrangements and, having taken the train to meet him in Shrewsbury, missed his homecoming!

Richard George Read is commemorated on Llanbadarn Fawr War Memorial. Sadly he never really recovered from his poor treatment as a POW and died of stomach cancer in Chester Military Hospital in September 1946, leaving behind his wife and two daughters in Llangawsai.

Blog by Simon Burges, project contributor

Find out more about his great grandfather on Simon's website: http://www.richardgeorgeread.com/