Aberystwyth at Christmas in the War Years

From various editions of The Cambrian News :-

These are just a very few Christmas snippets from the online newspapers during the four WW1 Christmases in Aberystwyth, interspersed with shop adverts of the time.  They provide tantalising glimpses into Aberystwyth life during that time with plenty of leads to follow up by further research, especially photographic, in regard to the shops, entertainments and home life of our small but highly community-minded town, both now and 100 years ago.

1914: 25 December

The Christmas Day edition in the first year of the war indicates that the impact of the start of WW1 had not immediately made itself felt in Aberystwyth. Its articles and adverts at the time reflect life carrying on fairly normally, from the annual reunion of old pupils of The Ardwyn County School (albeit to raise money for ‘patriotic objects’), to the ‘large supply and plenty of demand’ at the Christmas Market, where Geese and Turkeys sold for around 1s 2d per pound, Ducks for 4s each and ‘Fowls’ 6s ‘per couple’. 

 Entertainments:

In our time, the Skating Rink has just returned to Aberystwyth (to be opened 8 December 2018), whilst back in 1914 the Rink played host to a tea and Christmas Tree for the wives and children of serving men, arranged by the Soldiers and Sailors Families Association.  Additionally, the Rink was very popular with the Troops with concerts provided by the YMCA (a list of singers is given).

The Coliseum advertised its ‘annual Eisteddfod’ for Boxing Day, and promised ‘splendid pictures’ to be shown over the Christmas holidays. 

Cheetham’s Cinema promised ‘excellent programmes’ for the Christmas period including ‘The Warrior Maid’ and the Gaumont War Graphic.  A special festive offering of 3 shows were planned for Christmas Day only. 

Troops:

Christmas leave with advanced pay was given to men enlisting before Christmas, enabling them to spend Christmas at home before embarking on their duties.  Brigades of the Welsh Territorial Reserve went home on leave ‘in alphabetical order’, whilst those still active spent their time in drilling and marches ‘over the hilly country around Aberystwyth [which] has meant hard work’.  Christmas Day was spent attending a Church Parade and participating in football matches. 

1915: 31 December

Entertainments:

The Salvation Army provided an annual Christmas Night entertainment at the Queen Street Hall, including ‘pretty action songs’ by the children, with a display of ‘dumb-bell drill’ by the boys.  There were readings and recitations, and the Young People’s Legion gave a ‘tambourine drill’. 

 Infirmary: 

There is a touching description of Christmas on the wards of the Infirmary, which were decorated with ‘flags and holly’, with an entertainment provided on Christmas night by ‘an ex-patient’ held in ‘both’ wards.  The programme is listed and includes songs, violin solos (not by the Belgian refugees!) and dances.  After which ‘Nurse N. Evans, in the character of Father Christmas, distributed gifts’.  A list of thanks to individuals shows that the townsfolk provided fruit, tobacco, crackers, sweets, poultry, mistletoe, holly, and flowers, to alleviate the suffering of the patients.

Workhouse: 

Another touching example of the humanity of Aberystwyth residents is that the Board of Guardians at the Aberystwyth Workhouse ‘voted the usual extra cheer and gifts … to give the inmates a happy Christmas’ – in contrast with other boards who ‘curtailed the Christmas fare for the inmates on the grounds of economy’.  In Aberystwyth the rooms were decorated with holly and paper chains.  The children all had stockings filled by the Matron and Nurse, and everyone breakfasted on cocoa, ham and sausages, bread and butter.  Each inmate received a Christmas letter by a lady in Midlothian (no further details!).  

Their Christmas dinner consisted of Roast Beef, Geese, four vegetables, followed by Plum Pudding with Sweet Sauce.  Entertainment was provided, and gifts of mince pies and apples were donated by board members and townsfolk, with chocolates for the children.  (It may be appropriate to mention the current Food Bank in St Anne’s Church, Penparcau, where donations today can make a similar difference in our present-day community.)
 

Troops:

This edition quotes from a letter written from the trenches by Private Charles Ansley to his home at 5 North Road, in which he records taking a wounded comrade to hospital and looking forward to spending Christmas out of the trenches, although he had not yet received any letters from home.  He did record meeting ‘three Aber policemen in the trenches’, and notes that even though ‘cigarettes are short here’, he prefers a ‘tin of cocoa and some sugar’ to be sent to him instead. 

Wishing everyone a Happy Christmas!

Blog post by Lynne Blanchfield, project volunteer

Images courtesy of the Cambrian News