Aberystwyth Connections with The Welsh Hospital, Netley, Southampton

The Welsh Hospital based at Netley near Southampton was a gift of the Welsh nation to the War Office. The offer was made by the Prince of Wales on behalf of the people of Wales on 12th August 1914  - just days after war had been declared. It was originally planned as a support for the British Expeditionary Force and the original promise was to provide funds for a hospital of 100 beds together with trained staff for six months. The idea was that it would be a temporary hospital which could be dismantled and moved over to France if needed.

Reproduced by kind permission of Julie Green   www.netley-military-cemetery.co.uk

The Welsh Hospital was built on grounds very close to the Royal Victoria Hospital, a long established military hospital, and stood side by side with a large Red Cross Hospital. The location was very suitable for receiving casualties of war as they could be brought easily from France by boat and right up the river to the landing stage at the Victoria Park. Although the building was designed to be moved  abroad the military authorities decided it was best for the hospital to remain in Netley. 

The first appeal to raise money to provide the hospital begun in the autumn of 1914 raised a remarkable £28,000 – far more than had been expected. The project progressed rapidly and amazingly by November 3rd it was ready to receive its first patients in four wards. The hospital was fully equipped with the most advanced medical and surgical equipment available at the time, including, for example, X-ray machines which enabled doctors to see more clearly the position of bullets and shrapnel splinters in wounds and assess the damage that had been caused.

Doctors at the hospital entrance April 1915Reproduced by kind permission of Julie Green  

In  1915 Aberystwyth churches, as other churches in Wales, received a special request from the Welsh Hospital  Committee to hold  a collection for the hospital at  their services on October 17th   called Welsh Hospital Sunday. This money was to help continue the work of the hospital until peace was declared as the number of beds provided had been increased to 200 earlier in the year. In its first year over 2000 patients had been treated, many of them  casualties from  the Gallipoli campaign.

The Welsh Hospital  Ward C

Reproduced by kind permission of Julie Green  

One imaginative way in which money was raised was by getting towns or groups to fundraise for the annual cost of providing a bed. This amounted to about £70. There seems to have been an Aberystwyth bed though not much information is available about it. However, the Liverpool Echo in June 1917 reported that the committee of the previous year’s National Eisteddfod had decided to allocate £70 for the Aberystwyth bed at Netley. There is also mention in local papers of a Barmouth bed and a Vale of Teify bed, as well as a Welsh Dog bed and a Welsh Horse bed. The last two of these beds involved animals themselves having taken part in events to raised the necessary money. The dogs had been dressed up and  collected in the streets whilst the horses had taken part in a pageant.

Much of the money raised locally was through flag days
Reproduced by kind permission of Julie Green  

In the picture below men who were themselves patients at the Red Cross Hospital in Aberystwyth are shown collecting money on the beach in the town for the Welsh Hospital.

Reproduced with kind permission of The National Library of Wales

An important particular connection with Aberystwyth was that the Matron of the Aberystwyth Infirmary was appointed as Matron of the Welsh Hospital. Her name was Emilie Evans. She belonged to an old and well known Aberystwyth family and had had long and varied experience in nursing both at home and abroad, being awarded the Queen Victoria and King Edward medals for services in the Boer War. In South Africa she had experienced conditions of war that were similar in many respects to those facing soldiers in the First World War. In a letter to the Aberystwyth Observer in May 1900 she recounted heart rending stories of trench warfare.  She  had been appointed Matron of Aberystwyth Infirmary in 1907 after working in London and Birmingham and she volunteered  and was accepted for war work in  late September 1914. 

Reproduced with kind permission
of The National Library of Wale

Emilie Evans kept in good contact with people in the town who were offering help, particularly the Penparke Sewing Circle. In a letter of 6th October 1915 she wrote to Miss Powell Evans  of Trinity Road with requests for certain items – Turkish towels, slippers sizes 8,9,10, draw sheets, pyjamas and stockings. The Penparcau group had already sent items to the hospital and  Emilie complimented Miss Powell Evans on her organisation of the sewing circle “ to the highest point of perfection” and said that her band of workers were to be congratulated on the number of high quality garments already sent. The garments requested were duly sent with thank you letters written by Emilie Evans herself on October 25th and December 2nd 1915. In the second letter in which she warmly  thanked the Penparcau Sewing Circle she commented that “They would be amply repaid could they but only see how happy and contented these men are with us here.”

Part of Emilie Evans’ duties as Matron was to escort special visitors around the hospital. The Cambrian News of 25 July 1915 reported that Matron Emilie Evans was involved in the royal visit of  Princess Beatrice  of Battenberg (who was the youngest daughters of Queen Victoria)  and also the visit a month or so later of Mrs Lloyd George . 

Towards the end of the war there was some controversy among officials in Aberystwyth about Emilie Evans' return to her post in the town. She had understood that she would return to her old job in Aberystwyth Infirmary but after her applying to do so in June 1918 the military authorities refused to release her, thus creating staffing problems for the Aberystwyth Infirmary. Seeing an advertisement for her old job, Emilie was upset that she might not be able to return to her post at Aberystwyth and angry that she should be penalised because of service to her country However, after several  awkward meetings in Aberystwyth a compromise was reached  on 22nd June 1918 to appoint an acting matron so allowing her to return to the Aberystwyth Infirmary when she was free to do so. 

 Almost 6000 patients went through the Welsh Hospital in its time and Emilie Evans was presented with the Royal Red Cross Decoration by the King for her self -sacrificing and valuable service to her country.

Blog by one of our project volunteers

More information on the hospital can be found on:
www.ncbi.nlm.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5228773
www.netley-military-cemetery.co.uk/wwi/welsh hospital/

Aberystwyth hospitals during the Great War - Part 2

Back in April, we posted the first part of an illuminating and informative blog on the wartime hospitals in Aberystwyth, particularly the Red Cross hospital on the Promenade, which is now the Cambria. This month - a little belatedly due to the project event blogs of May and June - we are continuing this story, diligently and enthusiastically researched by one of our project volunteers.  

In July 1916, the first edition of the Red Cross Hospital magazine appeared, price three pence. Its editor was D. Howard Tripp of the London Irish - a member of the group of the first six patients to arrive when the hospital first opened.

Reproduced by kind permission of The National Library of Wales

The magazine contained articles by patients and nurses and included poems, jokes as well as items about war work, for example the experience of a VAD (Voluntary Aid Detachment)  nurse, M. Williams, about her daily work.. The magazine contained a vote of thanks to Mr Terry Hunt, a hairdresser of the Castle Shaving Saloon, St James Square who was offering to shave and cut patients hair for free. The hospital patients were referred to in the magazine as “Distinguished Visitors”. In general the tone of the magazine was quite cheerful and upbeat.  From the beginning it was limited in size by the shortages of paper but it must have been well received as the first edition was reprinted. It continued to be published until the end of 1917 when production costs were felt to be too high.

Staff and patients outside the Red Cross Hospital entrance

By early August the hospital was full and the local community had raised the magnificent sum of £1657. Frequent fund raising events continued to be held, the most popular being whist drives and concerts.  As far as the whist drives were concerned the prizes seem to have been weighted in favour of the patients. On one occasion there were twenty six prizes of which twenty were reserved for patients! Nurses and patients often contributed to the concert acts which included humorous sketches, recitations and singing. 

Further groups of recovering patients continued to arrive from Neath Hospital, one of whom arriving in October was Horace Blair of Aberystwyth who is thought to have been wounded at Mametz Wood in France in July 1916. This was an early fierce confrontation in the First Battle of the Somme  involving  the 38th (Welsh) Division of the British Army. The battle had been predicted to last for a few hours but in fact proved to be five days of horrific bloodshed during which there were 4,000 Welsh casualties.

In the autumn of 1916 The Cambrian News praised two patients at the hospital who had received  medals for bravery. The first was Private F.J. Senior of the Bedfordshire Regiment who was awarded the Distinguished Conduct Medal for bravery in the field when he found six soldiers who had lost their way during a bombing raid and led them back to British lines whilst under heavy fire. He suffered three bullets in his left arm.  The second award was the Military Medal given to Private Hughie Jones of High Street, Penmaenmawr for conspicuous bravery in taking a machine gun single handedly. 

Aberystwyth Hospital Heroes

Reproduced by kind permission of  The National Library of Wales

Christmas 1916 was celebrated with generously donated items of food and patients were given  presents, each bought from money raised at Borth over the summer for that specific purpose.

By January 1917 the Hospital was running very smoothly and the regular entertainments continued In addition there were a variety of classes  for patients, for example in French and shorthand, and lectures on local history given by the Reverend George Eyre Evans. A popular comedy act during this time was provided by two patients – Drummer Wagner and Private Basson - whose stage names were Monty and Carlo They performed comedy acts to the delight of audiences in the town until they were discharged in January 1918 to the great disappointment,  it seems, of both patients and townspeople.

Monty and Carlo

In the summer of 1917 a group of patients decided to raise some money themselves to buy a rowing boat to help pass the time. Their fund raising efforts succeeded and they enjoyed the use of the boat until the cold weather arrived. 

As more patients continued to be admitted, those who had recovered were returned to their units.

As well as the entertainments, Christmas in 1917 at the hospital included a message from the king and a toast to the boys at the front. There was also a special celebration on Boxing Day when one of the patients married a local girl from Trefechan.

In late autumn 1918 an epidemic of Spanish flu broke out in the town and visits of patients to private homes were stopped to help prevent it spreading. Many businesses in the town were forced to close temporarily as they had insufficient staff. It seems that the hospital itself was unaffected.

Christmas of 1918 was a quiet one for the hospital as most of the patients had gone home on leave with only twenty patients remaining. They were treated to a traditional meal and there was a whist drive, dancing and games as well as an army versus navy football match.

The hospital finally closed its doors closed on 3 February 1919 after an evening of dancing.  Advertisements were placed in newspapers asking people to come to collect items they had lent to the hospital.   The matron was given an attaché case as a farewell present from the VAD nurses and she was later awarded the Order of the Royal Red Cross second class for her work.

GREGYNOG FESTIVAL 2019: VISION

Aberystwyth takes centre stage as Gregynog Festival celebrates the vision of Gwendoline, Margaret and David Davies for a better world rooted in culture and peace following the First World War. The season is inspired by two centenaries - the appointment of Henry Walford Davies as first Gregynog Professor of Music at Aberystwyth University and the foundation of the Department of International Politics - all funded by the Davies family in 1919. 
The closing concert also takes place in the town with Meirion Wynn Jones giving a recital on the fine Frederick Rothwell organ at Bethel Chapel in Baker Street (Sunday, 30 June, 2.30pm). 

Meirion’s programme includes music by composers with Aberystwyth connections such as William Mathias, David de Lloyd and Walford Davies himself. Sir Walford gave the inaugural recital on Bethel’s organ on 24 March 1924, while de Lloyd’s composition ‘Er Cof’ (In Memoriam) was written for the service on 16 March to dedicate the instrument to the memory of the eleven Chapel members killed in action in the First World War.

As an Aberystwyth alumna who returned to live here last year, it has been ideal to curate this Festival on the spot. It was really exciting to trace the manuscript of ‘Er Cof’ to the University Archives and then to discover Mathias’ ‘Prelude, Elegy and Toccata’ in the National Library of Wales. This is an early work that Mathias wrote when he used to help out on the Bethel organ as a student, and it was premiered at Gregynog by the famous Aberystwyth organist Charles Clements in 1955, so it is perfect to hear it as part of this year’s Festival. 

A piece called ‘Aria’ was written by Firmin Swinnen, a refugee organist and composer from Antwerp who gave recitals at several Aberystwyth chapels in August 1915 before emigrating to make a celebrity career in America. The recital concludes with the world premiere performance of Meirion’s own composition ‘Diptych (on themes of Walford Davies)’ which is the 2019 Gregynog Festival commission.

A native of Rhewl, Llangollen, Meirion Wynn Jones was educated at Wells Cathedral School, before winning a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music in London. As a student he held organ scholarships at Winchester Cathedral and Westminster Abbey, working with David Hill and Martin Neary respectively. Having held organist posts at Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral, the Birmingham Oratory and Brecon Cathedral, Meirion now pursues a freelance career as a composer, accompanist and teacher. He was for many years a staff accompanist at the International Eisteddfod in Llangollen, and at the National Eisteddfod of Wales. 

His choral and vocal works have been recorded and broadcast on BBC radio and S4C, and in 2011 he was awarded the Musician’s Medal (Tlws y Cerddor) for composition at the National Eisteddfod. Recently-commissioned works include Amryw o Wanwynau for Elin Manahan Thomas and Gŵyl Gerdd Bangor, Ffrindiau Bach a Mawr for Côr Heol y March, and the anthem Beloved, let us love for the John S. Davies Singers, marking the fortieth anniversary of their founding. 

Tickets and full programme details are available from

https://gwylgregynogfestival.org/30-june-aber

01686 207100

and at the door.

gregynogfestival.org

meirionwynnjones.com

https://soundcloud.com/meirion-wynn-jones

https://www.facebook.com/MeirionWynnJones/

Blog by Dr Rhian Davies, Artistic Director, Gregynog Festival

The Y.M.C.A in Aberystwyth - Part two

On 12th of Oct. 1917 The Cambrian news published the following :

EVENING CONCERT
LADY LISBURNE OPENS NEW HALL

On Friday afternoon the Countess of Lisburne, Crosswood Park, opened a new Y.M.C.A. hall at Aberystwyth in the presence of a large company of townspeople. Captain Doughton, proceeding to the opening Ceremony and presenting a silver key to the Countess of Lisburne, said he had the honour on behalf of the Committee to present her ladyship with the key of the new Y.M.C.A. Hut at Aberystwyth and to request her Ladyship to open the door and declare the institute open. Principal Prys,  who presided, in his opening address, expressed great satisfaction at having the Countess of Lisburne present to open the rooms. He was sure the company had not attended to hear an address, but were present to express good wishes to the Y.M.C.A. and to hope that the Institute at Aberystwyth would be a success. On behalf of the Committee he expressed satisfaction that the movement had so far prospered that they were able to provide what they regarded as a temporary building. The provision of that building involved considerable work which had been a labour of love to several friends who had taken active part in the movement.

Owen Prys, 

The idea of a Y.M.C.A. for the town was not a new one. Soon after he came to Aberystwyth eleven years ago some effort was made, but the promoters were daunted by difficulties which though perhaps imaginary to some extent then appeared to be insurmountable. Nevertheless the idea was never quite abandoned. It was always felt that something ought to be done and some of them had an uneasy conscience and felt that the difficulties ought to be overcome. Since then the great war had changed everything, changed their general estimate of the value of things and of movements. The world henceforth would never be the same to them; and in regard to that particular movement the war had made several revelations. 




It was hoped that the movement would be a truly educative movement. They hoped to provide lectures by some of the ablest men of the county, as well as classes of various kinds. He had said that the war had revealed possibilities in the institution and in their young men. It had also revealed possibilities in the people. He doubted whether before the war it was ever dreamt that the people of this country were capable of making the sacrifices they were making to-day and were making without much grumbling. They were putting up with restrictions of all kinds and were giving up luxuries and to some extent necessaries and were doing so, as he had said, without much grumbling. It showed that British people could be inspired with self-denial in a great crisis. They had realized that wealth was of less value than human welfare. They had also realized that the education of the people must be perfected at whatever cost. He felt that that movement to establish a Y.M.C.A. at Aberystwyth would be supported because it was intended to serve the higher interests of their young people. The young men deserved it all. The nation owed them a debt it could never pay. The promoters of the movement felt that they must make the institute a success in order that the youth of the town would not go astray because there was no provision for their social needs.

Cambrian News 12th Oct. 1917:
A meeting of the Aberystwyth Y.M.C.A. General Committee was held on Wednesday evening when gratification was ex- pressed at the successful opening ceremony. It was resolved to fix the following fees:— Juniors (16 to 18), 2s. per annum; Seniors (18 and upwards), 2s. 6d. It was also resolved that the billiard table should be at the free disposal of wounded soldiers between the hours of ten and twelve, two and four on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and on Wednesdays and Saturdays between ten and twelve. A letter was received from the Association of Discharged Soldiers and Sailors with regard to the appointment of caretaker and a reply will be sent stating that each had the careful consideration of the Committee.

Cambrian News 13^th April 1917 

Correspondence.

Sir,—Mr. R. Rowlands, The Pioneer, North- parade, deserves every encouragement in the excellent step he has taken to provide a Y.M.C.A. for the town. A branch is badly wanted, and I am particularly glad, for the sake of the lade serving their country, that Mr. Rowlands has taken the initiative in this matter. It will be a great boon to our brave boys when they return home and they will know how to make the best use of it. The Y.M.C.A. deserves the town's support for the admirable services it has rendered on the field and at every training centre. Many letters I receive show clearly that the Y.M.C.A. is a centre of healthy life morally and physically, and when our boys come back, as I hope they soon will, nothing I feel will give them greater pleasure than to be able to keep in touch with an organization that has done so much for them.—Yours etc.

                                                                                      T. R. FEAR RSM

Blog by Ruby Radwan, project volunteer

Notes below by William Troughton, Archivist, NLW

It seems that initially the YMCA was housed in what had previously been called the Temperance Hall at the corner of Queens Road and North Parade, demolished to make way for houses many years ago. Kelly's Trades Directory 1920  gives 'North Parade' as the address of the YMCA, with T .L. Old and R. Rowlands as joint Honorary Secretaries. Photo albums 1385 and 1392 both contain photos of the interior and exterior of the Temperance Hall. These albums are located on the open shelves in the South Reading Room. 

By 1923 the address for the YMCA was Chalybeate Street, possibly the premises now occupied by Mikeys Cafe / Bar. Incidentally T Lewis Old was a plumber/ironmonger - his name can still be seen on many manhole covers in Aberystwyth. He was Mayor in 1941. Principal Prys was involved in many aspects of public life.  He was the first Principal of the United Theological College in Aberystwyth in 1922 and president of  Y.M.C.A in Aberystwyth in 1917.

The Y.M.C.A. in Aberystwyth

This article, to be posted in two parts, focuses on the establishment of the Y.M.C.A. in Aberystwyth during the First World War, as reported in the Cambrian News and Merionethshire Standard.

Summary

On the afternoon of Friday the 5th of October 1917  at three, the new building at 1-n North Parade was formally opened by the Countess of Lisburne and  was the first official beginning of Y.M.C.A. in Aberystwyth. Mr. R. Rowlands, North-parade, took the initiative in this matter, in the form of a letter advocating a branch in the town. This attracted much attention and a response from Y.M.C.A. offering all assistance. RSM Thomas Richard Fear supported the initiation and assisted the further steps to build up the Y.M.C.A. The Institute was situated at the corner of North- parade and Northgate-street, adjoining Shiloh Chapel, and was originally occupied by Mr Owen Daniel of Tywyn as an auction room and subsequently used as a newspaper office.

The following reports all appeared in the Cambrian News in 1917:

Friday 25th of May 1917 :
The first meeting of subscribers to the Y.M.C.A. at Aberystwyth was held at Owens Restaurant, North-parade, on Friday evening by kind permission of Mr. D. W. Teviotdale. Principal Prys occupied the chair, and Mr. R. Rowlands, North-parade, through whose initiative the movement was started, read a short statement on the work which had been done. The Chairman said that the first resolution was that the meeting decided to form a Y.M.C.A. in the town, and he called on Professor Levi to move it. Professor Levi said he was glad to propose the resolution and to state what he understood to be a Y.M.C.A. for Aberystwyth.

Friday 15th of June 1917: 
THE ELECTION OF OFFICERS 
At the Town Hall, on Wednesday evening, his Worship the Mayor (Alderman C. J. Williams) presided over a meeting of subscribers to the Y.M.C.A. which it is proposed to establish in the town. The Mayor reported that he and the Chief Constable secured the building for £35 per annum, the owners to renovate it. Proceeding to the election of officers, his Worship proposed the name of Principal Prys saying that he had no need to refer to the interest that gentleman took in all religious and good movements. This motion was seconded unanimously, carried, and Principal Prys took the chair, promising to do all in his power to make the movement a success. As joint secretaries Mr. R. Rowlands and Mr. T. Lewis Old were chosen, on the motion of Councilor Barclay Jenkins, and Mr. G. R Phillips, L. and P. Bank, elected treasurer.

15th of June 1917 :
The Y.M.C.A - WHAT IT IS DOING. Speaking at Aberystwyth last week on the work of the Y.M.C.A. Mr. F. S. Higman, divisional secretary for Wales, said that in August, 1914, the Association was faced with a great problem. They wondered whether they dared ask the public for £25,000. They, however, took courage and did so. "When I tell you," he continued, "that the public have responded to the tune of a million and a quarter and that it has cost three and a half millions you have some idea of the magnitude of the work." Nearly all had had letters on Y.M.C.A. letter paper with the red triangle in the corner from all parts of the war area. That note- paper was costing over £1,000 a week, and when they realized how much could be got for sixpence they had an idea of the consumption. We say it has an ethical and moral value, for because if we can keep the boys in touch with home and their beloved ones they are not so easily inclined to go crooked. "Have you ever tried to write a letter on the top of a bucket?" he proceeded, "or on your hat, or on another man's back. If you have you will appreciate what it means to the men when they can go into a hut and secure games, tables, ink, and all they require with a quiet corner for the quiet ones or a piano for the musical ones." The Association had been founded eighty years ago and for twelve years it had been carrying on work in the camps with the volunteers. After the Association had shown what it was capable of there came the time when Lord Kitchener, who was always loyal, opened the door, and now the men had the Red Triangle at every halt they made.

YMCA insignia c WW1

5th of Oct. 1917 :
Y.M.C.A. CONCERT
As will be seen by an advertisement the Y.M.C.A. concert will be held on Friday evening at the Coliseum. In the afternoon, at three, the new building 1-n North-parade will be formally opened by the Countess of Lisburne. 

Blog by Ruby Radwan, project volunteer
Sources: The Cambrian News

A review of our May events

Last month saw two very successful project events, the performed reading of the 'Dot and Billy' letters in Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth Arts Centre, on 16th and 17th May,  and 'Songs and Music of the Great War,' in the Coliseum Theatre, Amgeuddfa Ceredigion Museum, on 22nd May. 

The Dot and Billy letters, which number some 170, have been kindly made available to the project and have already featured in several of our publicity notices and talks.  Written between 1915 and 1917, they are a moving and often very humorous exchange between two people trying to make sense of and deal with their growing feelings for each amidst the turmoil of the Great War.  

The letters were dramatised by Richard Hogger and Tom O'Malley. Richard directed and Tom produced the performance. Calista Williams played the part of Dot and Patrick Kavanagh that of Billy, both with sensitivity and understanding.  The intimate setting of the Round Studio was perfect for the telling of the story and the simple, yet atmospheric set, allowed the audience to really absorb and reflect on the words being spoken.  Both nights were full, with the Friday completely sold out, and the performance was also filmed, providing a lasting legacy to this wonderful piece and also a future learning resource.

Calista and Patrick as Dot and Billy, meeting up in August 1917 when Billy was on leave

The 'Songs of the Great War' concert organized by the Ceredigion Music Service was also full to capacity and the Ceredigion Museum was a perfect place to showcase the talents of the Aberystwyth Youth Brass Band and the Plascrug School Choir. The brass band was set out in the auditorium and the choir on the stage, and the repertoire ranged from 'Colonel Bogey' to 'Ar hyd y Nos' and 'Men of Harlech to 'Mellow Mood' and Cruella Deville. The children of the choir sang WW1 related songs like 'It's a long way to Tipperary,'  'Pack up your Troubles' and 'Keep the Home Fires Burning.' The penultimate item was 'Abide with Me.' during which two of the Plascrug pupils read out the names of the Abersytwyth fallen, and the 'Last Post,' played by conductor Aiden Hassan, was a haunting finale to a very entertaining and excellent evening. 

Many thanks to Canolfan y Celfyddydau Aberystwyth Arts Centre and to Amgueddfa Ceredigion Museum for providing these venues free of charge and to all the staff involved on the nights, and during the preparations, that made these two events very special. And thanks as always to the players of the National Lottery for making the project possible. 

In the footsteps of the Great War in Aberystwyth

Last Saturday was the first of our scheduled guided walks around Aberystwyth, led by project volunteers Lynne and Nigel.  The weather was kind, which was just as well since the guides were in period costume - viz, a Red Cross Nurse, an Army Officer and a Land Girl.  

The walks began and ended at the Ceredigion Museum in Terrace Road and from there went onto the prom to hear about the visit to the town of Julian the Tank during War Weapons Week of 1918 and then on to the Red Cross Hospital, now the Cambria.  The Old College was next on the list, to hear about the soldiers who enlisted and the students left behind who ran The Dragon magazine, before we headed into the centre of the town to visit the sites of long-disappeared shops and places of entertainment, and the houses of those who served in the war. 

We learned of the RAF mechanic of Chalybeate Street, who survived active service only to die (like many others) of flu in 1919; the POWs - men and women too - of Cambrian Street, where hardly a house was untouched by the war; nine men of the same family - the Merediths of Portland Road - who all joined up and survived;  and a young man who joined up underage - twice! - and was killed in action just a  month after his 17th birthday. 

And much more besides - so much so, that our remaining walks are already fully booked!

Many thanks to our wonderful, knowledgeable and entertaining guides; to Stephen of wardrobe in the Theatre, Film and Television Studies department of Aberystwyth University, and to Caroline Clark for the fabulous outfits; and last - but not least - to the Ceredigion Museum for hosting the walk and to the Museum Cafe for the much needed refreshments afterwards. 

Nurses and patients of the Red Cross Hospital c. 1915

Outside the Cambria - the old Red Cross Hospital - 2019

Dydd Sadwrn diwethaf oedd y cyntaf o'n teithiau tywys o amgylch Aberystwyth, dan arweiniad gwirfoddolwyr y prosiect, Lynne a Nigel. Roedd y tywydd yn garedig, a oedd yn beth da gan fod yr arweinwyr mewn wisg cyfnod - sef, Nyrs y Groes Goch, Swyddog y Fyddin a Merch o Fyddin Dir y Menywod.

Dechreuodd a benodd y teithiau yn yr Amgueddfa Ceredigion  yn Terrace Road ac aethon ni ymlaen i glywed am ymweliad â'r dref gan Julian y Tanc yn ystod Wythnos Arfau Rhyfel 1918, ac oddi yno i Ysbyty'r Groes Goch, nawr y Cambria.  Roedd yr Hen Goleg nesaf ar y rhestr, i glywed am y milwyr a ymrestrodd a'r myfyrwyr a adawodd ar ôl a oedd yn rhedeg cylchgrawn Y Ddraig, cyn i ni fynd i ganol y dref i ymweld â safleoedd siopau diflanedig a mannau adloniant, a'r tai o rhai a wasanaethodd yn y rhyfel.

Fe ddysgon ni am fecanig y RAF o Stryd y Ffynnon Haearn, a oroesodd ei wasanaeth milwrol yn unig i farw (fel llawer o rai eraill) o'r ffliw ym 1919; y carcharorion rhyfel - dynion a merched hefy -  o Stryd Cambrian, lle oedd y rhyfel wedi cyffwrdd ar bron pob ty; naw o ddynion o'r un teulu - y Merediths o Stryd Portland - a oedd i gyd wedi ymrestru ac i gyd wedi goroesi; a'r dyn ifanc a oedd wedi ymrestru dan oed - ddwywaith! -  a chafodd ei ladd dim ond mis ar ôl ei ben-blwydd yn 17 oed. 

A llawer mwy o storiau diddorol, syfrydanol ac emosiynol eraill hefyd!  Yn wir, does dim lle ar ol ar ein teithiau i ddod.

Llawer o ddiolch i'n arweinwyr rhyfeddol, gwybodus a difyr; i Stephen o'r 'wardrobe' yn adran Theatr, Ffilm a Theledu ym Mhrifysgol Aberystwyth, ac i Caroline Clark am y dillad rhyfeddol; ac yn olaf ond nid yn lleiaf - i Amgueddfa Ceredigion am gynnal y daith gerdded, ac i Gaffi'r Amgueddfa am y lluniaeth hyfryd wedyn.