The Penparke or Darllenfa Sewing Circle - Part Two

During the war the Penparke group  frequently responded to direct requests from various groups and organisations. For example, they sent pyjamas and draw sheets to the Welsh Hospital at Netley where the Aberystwyth nurse Emilie Evans was the matron;  shirts and socks to The Welsh Horse serving in the Dardanelles  at the request of George Pryse: to The Motor Machine Gun Service at the request of Lieutenant Colonel R.W. Bradley and to the Women’s Patriotic  League in response to a request from Mrs Parker, sister of Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War,  to  send  comforts and clothing to Serbians who were in terrible need of anything that could be sent.

On 3rd August 1915 A Patriotic Fair was held in the Mission Room, Penparke to raise funds to purchase material for making winter garments for soldiers and sailors. The poster advertising the event was headed “ A Little Help is worth a Deal of Pity”   An opening address was given by Vaughan Davies MP praised the patriotism of the sewing circle in the comforts it was able to give to soldiers and sailors, among them thirty recruits from Penparcau itself. The event was followed in the evening by a concert held in Ebenezer Chapel.

The profit made at the sale was £66 and ten shilling from a variety of stalls plus donations from people unable to attend. By this time the Sewing Circle had already dispatched 290 garments to the Welsh, the Royal Flying Corps, Motor Machine Gun Service minesweepers and the Great Eastern and Belgian field hospitals.  A typical response of thanks came from Emilie Evans at the Welsh Hospital, Netley. She complimented Miss Powell Evans, the Treasurer of the circle saying, “You have organised your sewing circle to the highest point of perfection” and asked her to congratulate “your band of workers.” The event was followed in the evening by a concert held in Ebenezer Chapel which included Belgian and local artistes singing and giving recitations.

The Sewing Circle gained attention in the national press in an article in The Daily Sketch 25 September 1915 under the title “What Women are Doing” by Mrs Gossip. The sewing circle in “a tiny village” was described as “a very patriotic lot” having sent several parcels of woollies for our soldiers and sailors in response to the Daily Sketch’s appeal.

Later that year in October 1915 the Darllenfa Sewing Circle was involved in a disagreement in the town after receiving a letter from the Aberystwyth War Service Committee suggesting the need for more co-operation between the various groups who were providing comforts to the troops. The Sewing Circe was invited to a meeting and to appoint a member of the circle to serve on the committee.  However, following a meeting held in Penparcau on 15th November 1915 at which 21 adults were present, the group refused to agree to have a place on the committee as it was felt that it did not have the authority of a publicly appointed body. This difference of opinion does not appear to have had any impact on the activities of the Sewing Circle and it is clear from press cuttings that they continued in their work and indeed  responded to direct appeals from the War Service Committee, for example for fifty mufflers for which they were provided with wool in March 1916.

The urgent need for fund raising was constant problem and in July 1916 the Darllenfa Sewing Circle held another Patriotic Sale in aid of their funds. This time their poster was headed “If  we would that Britain live, we must give and give and give" As well as the usual stalls and side shows there was a special feature – a unique collection of antiquities including what the newspaper described as “The most interesting of all Welsh pre- Reformation relics– the Nanteos cup or the Holy Grail”. This cup had been in the possession of the Nanteos family for many generations and in earlier days had been lent to invalids as it was believed to possess healing properties. The exhibition was arranged by Mr George Eyre Evans whose two volumes of the Aberystwyth War Book were also put on display, with the notice “A penny a peep”. These books are at now the National Library of Wales along with the two later volumes all of which George Eyre Evans compiled along with his sister, Miss Catherine Powell Evans. The volumes consist of a collection of press cutting concerning local events and news throughout the war and what the brother and sister themselves described as “flotsam and jetsam” – an assortment of items such as letters, leaflets and programmes of events which provide an invaluable resource for research into Aberystwyth life in the Great War.

The second sale held on 8 August 1916 was opened by Dr Roberts, Penywern who warmly praised the work of the Sewing Circle which had worked without a break since October 1914. He reported that since that time they had made 730 garments for soldiers and sailors as well as some for patients at the Aberystwyth Red Cross Hospital. Dr Roberts said that he was afraid that the war would continue for a while yet so it was extremely important that the group should be provided with funds to continue their good work. It was also reported that the sale was attended by several wounded soldiers who were given a warm welcome. This time the profit made was £55 five shillings and a penny. Donations amounted to £12 and the Museum stall raised £1 1s and 10d.

Blog by one of our project volunteers

Sources: The George Eyre Evans papers, National Library of Wales

All images reproduced with kind permission of NLW

The Penparke or Darllenfa Sewing Circle - Part One

At the outbreak of war in 1914 women were faced with very limited choices in the ways that they could contribute to the war effort. The choice was basically between nursing or sewing or knitting items for the troops.  In Aberystwyth there were several groups which met together to sew or knit often linked to churches or chapels. One of the most active of the groups was the Penparke Women’s Sewing Society, also known as the Darllenfa Sewing Circle. The Society, inaugurated on October 14, 1914, consisted of 16 members. The group was non sectarian and met one afternoon a week in Y Darllenfa (The Reading Room,) a wooden building which at that time was located behind St Anne’s Church, Penparcau

To begin with a grant was received from the Red Cross Society through Lady Pryse of two rolls of flannel and five and a half pounds of wool plus an additional grant of £5 for extra material. When this supply was used up, friends kindly donated materials and members often used their own materials to make or finish garments. Supporters who were unable to attend the meetings knitted garments at home.

In spite of local people’s generosity, there was a constant need to buy more material to work with and the Penparke ladies often had to set about raising money themselves. A  collection in Penparcau raised £11 and eighteen shillings and nine pence  which  included £3  from a concert by John Jenkins in the church and £2 and six shillings from a lecture and recital held in Ebenezer Chapel. 

The society was very fortunate in having among its members some professional shirt makers. The cutting out was done by experts and close attention was paid to the quality of work so that the garments produced should, the words of a Cambrian News reporter, “bear no marks of the amateur needlewoman”.

In a few months 245 articles had been made including 77 Welsh flannel shirts (two members being responsible for 39 of these) 42 pairs of socks, bed jackets, balaclava helmets and mittens. These were sent out to a wide range of needy soldiers including the Motor Machine Gun Service, the Army Flying Corps, Belgian women refugees at Alexandra Palace and of course local Welsh soldiers  Some early items  for local soldiers were sent to Cambridge where The Cardiganshire Battery was stationed but later on  items to them had to be sent abroad. One parcel was described by the recipient in his thank you letter as being opened “not many yards away from the German trenches.”

Whilst on leave from the front Major Abraham Thomas, a doctor serving with the Cardiganshire Battery, paid a visit to the Sewing Circle at their usual weekly meeting. He offered to take items from the Penparcau Sewing Circle to six local men who were serving in his unit. His suggestion was promptly accepted and on his return to France Major Thomas took charge of a canvas bale containing shirts, socks, soap, candles and writing materials which was then divided up to make separate parcels for individual soldiers.  The soldiers all wrote back promptly, their letters being quite lengthy and often written in pencil. The items were clearly very much appreciated and as well as being very practical keeping the men warm they also helped to boost morale.

Here is a typical letter sent in January 1916 with the address “Somewhere in France”

I wish to thank the ladies of the Darllenfa Sewing Class on my behalf for their kindness in sending such a most useful parcel of articles which I received today from Major Rea.  As they were just what I required here as the weather has been so wet and cold here lately. We are all in the best of health and spirits here and all doing well. Again please convey my best thanks also accept the same yourself. I remain
Yours sincerely D.J. Jones

The Aberystwyth War Items books compiled by George Eyre Evans and his sister are full of many such thank you letters from people in places all over the world which reflect the gratitude of those who received the garments. Here are two examples:

Both letters reproduce by permission of NLW

During the war the Penparke group  frequently responded to direct requests from various groups and organisations. For example, they sent pyjamas and draw sheets to the Welsh Hospital at Netley where the Aberystwyth nurse Emilie Evans was the matron;  shirts and socks to The Welsh Horse serving in the Dardanelles  at the request of George Pryse: to The Motor Machine Gun Service at the request of Lieutenant Colonel R.W. Bradley and to the Women’s Patriotic  League in response to a request from Mrs Parker, sister of Lord Kitchener, Secretary of State for War,  to  send  comforts and clothing to Serbians who were in terrible need of anything that could be sent.

Blog by one of our project volunteers 
Source: George Eyre Evans papers, National Library of Wales 

The first Aberystwyth Branch of the YMCA

Many readers will have enjoyed a previous blog about establishing the YMCA in Aberystwyth in 1917.  Many branches of the YMCA were established at about this time, but there were also earlier efforts at the end of the previous century, as in Aberystwyth.

Formed in London in 1844, the Young Men’s Christian Association (YMCA) aimed to improve the ‘spiritual condition’ of young men engaged in trade or business. Branches developed in cities and towns and provided young men with intellectual and recreational activities in a non-denominational Christian environment.  When the University College of Wales at Aberystwyth appointed a new Professor of Chemistry in 1888, they acquired an enthusiastic participant in College’s activities, a Methodist lay preacher for the town who was a campaigner for peace and temperance, a driving force for many charities and general benefactor.  This was Dr Henry Lloyd Snape who, even at the age of 26, had already contributed to student welfare at the university colleges at Liverpool and Manchester and at the universities of Berlin and Göttingen.

Lloyd Snape was very conscious of the stark difference between the local young men and the College students in terms of opportunities. He felt that Aberystwyth was lacking in the environment and facilities the YMCA was providing for young men in other towns.  In 1889 he joined others in seeking suitable premises for a local branch, finally settling on the Old Savings Bank (now La Taberna) in New Street, which they were able to rent, furnish and equip at a total cost of £60 a year.  At the inaugural meeting of the first YMCA In Aberystwyth on 24th February 1890, Snape was elected Treasurer, with Captain GW Cosens of Bronpadarn as President.

Snape had another important role in this YMCA, namely President of its Literary and Debating Society, whose meetings were similar to those of the College’s Literary and Debating Society, where Snape was President between1888 and1890.  Over 100 members were able to discuss matters of religious and social interest and keep up with current affairs.  He also participated in soirées and ‘conversazioni’, and gave evening lectures on scientific topics and on his visits to continental Europe, including his impressions of the Oberammergau Passion Play.

In August 1891 Lloyd Snape attended the International Conference of YMCAs in Amsterdam, where he was elected a voting delegate on behalf of the British YMCAs. He described the conference fully in the Aberystwyth Young Men’s Magazine, the bimonthly publication of the local YMCA, which he managed as Chairman of its Editorial Board.  Snape’s services to the Aberystwyth YMCA were much admired in the local press.

This first establishment of the YMCA at Aberystywth in 1890 survived only six years.  There were difficulties as early as the second year in maintaining meetings and forming classes and they increased. In March 1896 Snape distributed cheques from the proceeds of the stock and furniture of ‘the late Young Men’s Christian Association’ to Aberystwyth’s Infirmary, to be spent on books for patients, and to the Public Library.  Many YMCA branches were in difficulty as few new associations appeared after 1895 and many smaller associations ceased to function.

Yet, this was not the end of the YMCA in Aberystwyth, because there was a proposal to form a branch in 1909.  It was re-established during the WW1 in premises adjacent to Siloh Chapel, at the junction of North Parade and Northgate Street.  At its opening in October 1917 by the Countess of Lisburne, Principal Owen Prys (Theological College) recalled that ‘The idea of a YMCA for the town was not a new one’, but the promoters of an earlier effort had been ‘daunted by difficulties which, though perhaps imaginary to some extent, then appeared to be insurmountable’.  

The success of the later effort has already been recounted in a previous blog.

Blog by Dr Brian H Davies (former member of staff at AU) 

Private George Llewelyn Hicks : an Aberystwyth soldier’s experience during the early weeks of the war

Private George Llewelyn Hicks, who lived at 11 Gogerddan Cottages, Aberystwyth, wrote an account of what happened to him from the time of his mobilisation in early August 1914 to the time when he returned injured to Netley Hospital, Southampton – a period of just under 6 weeks.  George Hicks had been a postman in Aberystwyth but at the time of the outbreak of war he  was also a reservist in the South Wales Borderers which was part of the British Expeditionary Force.

Britain declared war on Germany on 4 August 1914. By the next day Private Hicks was off to Brecon, arriving there at 7.45pm where there were crowds of reservists waiting to be given their kit. On their first night they had to sleep on the floor of a school. 

On 7th August Hicks travelled by train to Bordon in Hampshire and the following day was posted to B Company No. 8 platoon. In spite of heavy rain the battalion paraded in full marching order which meant carrying a weight of 96 pounds. They were now awaiting orders to proceed to the front. No one was allowed to leave barracks but each soldier received pay of 2 shillings. On Wednesday 12th August the soldiers left Bordon with full kit, 120 rounds of ammunition and battalion rations to last till Friday. They were heading for the port of Southampton and then on to France, travelling on the Gloster Castle. 

By 13th August Private Hicks had reached Le Havre from where the battalion route marched to No 1 Base Camp in severe thunderstorms. After a couple of days in rest camp the soldiers marched to Wassigny, a small town in Northern France.   As the route marching continued through small villages the soldiers received enthusiastic welcomes from local people, with great interest being shown in their cap and shoulder badges.  Private Hicks had a treat on the 20th August when he received his first letters from home – three from his wife and one from his father-in-law.

On 22nd August reveille was sounded at 4am and 5 am they left on yet another route march eating breakfast as they went. On arriving at Kauberge they heard rumours that German cavalry had been nearby and the soldiers were ordered to start digging trenches.  The following day Private Hicks had his first taste of warfare as he saw an officer of the 20th Hussars killed, shot in the back and his horse covered in blood.

On 24th August Private Hicks with his battalion journeyed on to the village of Peisaint to relieve the Welsh Regiment. His company was posted on outpost and the rest of the men dug trenches. Some German cavalry appeared in the early morning but, according to Hicks, “we soon settled them” after they had been fired at. Meanwhile Hicks’ company was told to withdraw as the enemy was too strong for the battalion. The Germans shelled their trenches for 3 to 4 hours and then made a cavalry charge but the British had managed to get away.

 On 26th August the Guards were in difficulty so reveille was sounded at 2.30am and the troops marched to relieve them. They had news that the Germans had been driven away. Heavy firing and booming of guns was going on all the time day and night for 3 or 4 days until the enemy was defeated. After this confrontation the soldiers marched a further 16 miles and on arrival laid out exhausted in a field with waterproof sheets over them as it was raining heavily.

27th August - Reveille was at 3.30am and the command was given to stand to arms This meant standing on the fire step in the trench, with rifles loaded and bayonets fixed.  At dawn the Guards made a successful bayonet charge on German trenches.  After that the marching resumed and they covered about 34 miles but with the enemy still sniping at them from the woods. By this time the troops, in Private Hick’s words, were “fair done up”. All the men were very tired, stiff and dirty.

29th August was a very welcome and much needed day’s rest for the 1st division. Hicks said, “I was ordered to go sick with my leg by the Company Officer as it was going worse as time went on.”  He was sent on to the Field Ambulance in which he travelled all through the night to Soissons .The following day the journey continued with the injured soldiers receiving great receptions from French nursing staff at every station and being given food, drinks and cigarettes.

The train journey continued in all for three days and two nights until they reached Nantes.  Apparently the RAMC (Royal Army Medical Corps) knew nothing about their arrival and were reluctant to help them. The soldiers had no food or attention and had to sleep in the goods shed. By September .2nd the injured and sick men were still stranded with no food other than what they managed to buy for themselves. Complaints were made about their poor treatment and eventually it was decided to put up a field hospital.  The men who were well enough to do so had to help erect it on a sports field.  Three days later the field hospital had been erected just before a new large group of wounded men arrived .  At this point the soldiers were sorted into groups - one group who were to return to the front, another group - which included Hicks - were to return to England.

Private Hicks arrived in Southampton on September 7th after a pleasant journey with plenty of food. They disembarked and proceeded to Netley Hospital, near Southampton travelling on an ambulance train.  Hicks was given clean clothes, had a bath and a clean bed. He commented: “The first time to have my clothes off since I had put them on in Brecon on the morning of 6th August.” 

Reflecting on his experiences he said he had had many “narrow shaves “whilst he crossed Northern France and on into Belgium. “it was nothing but shot and shells and the booming of big guns around us for a whole month.” He stated that the Colonel of his Regiment gave up all hope for them “at least four times”. The battle he fought in was later known as the Battle of Mons which was the first major action of the British Expeditionary Force in the First World War.

When Private Hicks eventually returned to Aberystwyth later in September he received a very warm welcome. The station platform was crowded with well wishers to greet him.  However, there were a few moments of concern as most of the passengers had got off the train and there seemed to be no sign of Private Hicks. However, he was discovered in the luggage van where he had been attempting to avoid attention. He was greeted by his wife, friends and a welcome party of the Mayor, College Principal and other prominent townspeople. According to reports, Private Hicks looked well though he was” walking slightly lame”.  He was taken in a carriage procession through the town with the police at the head, the Boys Brigade buglers providing music and standard bearers walking alongside  carrying large Union Jacks and other national flags. People turned out in their hundreds and gave him three cheers with an extra one for his wife. Private Hicks thanked people for their kindly interest and said he had been given 8 days leave and then would be returning to his regiment.

The newspaper reports give no information about the extent of his leg injury and Hicks himself did not describe it or how it happened in his account.  Nor does he say how long he was at Netley which was where he wrote up the notes about his experiences.  No further information has been found so far about what happened to him later in the war other than that he went back to Brecon after his short leave in Aberystwyth.

Blog by one of our project volunteers

Source: War Book Aberystwyth Items  Vol.1 Collected by George Eyre Evans

Penrhyncoch Survivors (1914 - 1919) : Gnr. Evan Richard Hughes

Gunner Evan Richard Hughes, 100th Siege Bty., Royal Garrison Artillery.  Service Number:-  186601.

Evan Richard Hughes was born on 3rd May 1894 near the village of Talybont and was raised by his maternal grandparents, farmer Lewis Hughes and his wife, Jane.  In 1911, he is listed as a farm servant, age 16, still living with his grandparents at Tynant near Talybont, Cardiganshire.  He briefly worked as a lead miner before heading to South Wales to work as a coal miner.  Evan enlisted to serve in the Army Reserve at Mountain Ash, South Wales, on 10th December 1915.

After more than two years in the Reserve, he was called up to serve in the Royal Garrison Artillery.  Evan served in France from April 1918 until September 1918 when he was injured by shrapnel wounds to his legs, one forearm and his back, and was invalided back to Britain.  He received medical attention for six months at the Military Hospital in Leeds before being discharged from the Army.  It would appear that his wartime injuries, particularly to his left leg, caused him significant discomfort and it is interesting to note correspondence that is in the possession of his family indicating that Evan was in discussion with the authorities for a number of years after the War regarding compensation for his injuries.

In 1923, Evan married Augusta Crane Curtis who was originally from Varteg, located near Pontypool in South Wales.  They initially lived in   Glyneath, Glamorganshire, but during the 1930s they moved to the London area.  In 1939 Evan and Augusta are recorded living in Surbiton.  Evan is listed as gardener whilst his wife is listed as a civic nursing assistant at Kingston Hospital.  They later lived at Sunbury-on-Thames.

In the 1950s they returned to live in Penrhyncoch, near Aberystwyth and Evan worked as the head gardener at the Welsh Plant Breeding Station until he retired.  He died on 16th April 1980 at the age of 85.  His wife had predeceased him in 1961, aged 68, and they were both buried in St. John’s Churchyard in Penrhyncoch.  They did not have any children of their own but were survived by a number of nieces and nephews, two of whom continue to live in the Aberystwyth area.

Blog by project volunteer Rab Jones
Source: Personal papers in possession of Mr Ceredig Evans, nephew