This book is based on more than a hundred letters sent home by three brothers from Mynyddbach dur... more This book is based on more than a hundred letters sent home by three brothers from Mynyddbach during the First World War, almost all of which relate to the period 1916–18 when Richard, Gabriel and Ivor Eustis were serving in different theatres. The run of letters written to different members of the family allow us to build a picture of what the brothers thought about a range of different issues as the war was being waged, and of how their beliefs and ideas evolved as situations changed. In common with other soldiers’ letters to their families, information on the battles fought is scarce – they are rather concerned with keeping the family bonds strong during the men’s absence. The dynamics of the family are revealed in letters full of sibling rivalry and affection
Historical Encounters: A journal of historical consciousness, historical cultures, and history education
Much of the academic attention on issues of Great War mourning and commemoration has focussed on ... more Much of the academic attention on issues of Great War mourning and commemoration has focussed on the civic memorials, particularly given that they are designed to be public, visible reminders of the local community’s contribution to the war effort. The focus of this article is on a different subset of memorials, in that they refer specifically to workers from particular companies who served in the war. As such they were not always public memorials, being located in many cases within the works and thus only on display to fellow workers. Yet neither were they entirely ‘private’ memorials, such as the ones established in so many family homes to those they had lost. This article considers twenty five metalworks memorials in the south Wales counties of Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire. Taken as a whole, these memorials convey a number of messages about south Wales society in the immediate aftermath of the war. In most examples these were commissioned within three years of the...
The Palgrave Handbook of Artistic and Cultural Responses to War since 1914, 2018
Prior to August 1914, the chapels of the Protestant Nonconformist denominations of Wales prided t... more Prior to August 1914, the chapels of the Protestant Nonconformist denominations of Wales prided themselves on their anti-militarist credentials. Yet within weeks of the start of the Great War, the vast majority of chapel ministers had accepted the principle of the just war and were encouraging young men to enlist. The 52 months of fighting led to a variety of responses, as is evident in the memorials which these chapel communities commissioned. Some are clearly “war” memorials and have surprising imagery, such as depictions of tanks and warplanes; others are dedicated as “peace” memorials, with images of angels and declarations of brotherly love or have mixed messages. They tell us how much of a shock to the system the conflict was, shattering many preconceived ideas and heralding the dawn of an uncertain future.
Dr Matthews’ article about the impact of the First World War on Welsh Baptists challenges us to s... more Dr Matthews’ article about the impact of the First World War on Welsh Baptists challenges us to see what can be found in our churches’ records. Lists of names on war memorials (1914-18 and 1939-45) brought together in one place would help family historians, but what else is there? We would welcome further contributions: what can you find?
This is a (large) pdf file giving an overview of the titles and descriptions of all the items col... more This is a (large) pdf file giving an overview of the titles and descriptions of all the items collected by the 'Welsh Voices of the Great War Online' project. The aim of this document is to aid researchers in locating the material, which is now shared via the People's Collection portal
Dyma ffeil pdf (o faint sylweddol) sydd yn cynnig arolwg o deitlau a disgrifiadau’r eitemau a gas... more Dyma ffeil pdf (o faint sylweddol) sydd yn cynnig arolwg o deitlau a disgrifiadau’r eitemau a gasglwyd gan brosiect 'Cymry'r Rhyfel Mawr Ar-lein' yn 2010-11. Bwriad hon yw i gynorthwyo ymchwilwyr i ddod o hyd i'r eitemau sydd bellach yn cael eu rhannu ar wefan Casgliad y Werin.
Danfonodd milwyr a morwyr amrywiaeth eang o gardiau Nadolig yn ôl at eu teuluoedd yng Nghymru: ma... more Danfonodd milwyr a morwyr amrywiaeth eang o gardiau Nadolig yn ôl at eu teuluoedd yng Nghymru: mae'r erthygl hon yn ystyried beth allant ddweud wrthym ni am syniadau a meddyliau’r dynion.
Erthygl sy'n ystyried rhai o’r canlyniadau pellgyrhaeddiol a gafodd y Rhyfel Mawr ar gapeli Cymru... more Erthygl sy'n ystyried rhai o’r canlyniadau pellgyrhaeddiol a gafodd y Rhyfel Mawr ar gapeli Cymru a’u cynulleidfaoedd.
Welsh servicemen sent a variety of cards and messages home at Christmastime. This article explore... more Welsh servicemen sent a variety of cards and messages home at Christmastime. This article explores what they can tell us about the men’s beliefs and state-of-mind.
A look at some of the far-reaching consequences of the First World War on the chapels of Wales an... more A look at some of the far-reaching consequences of the First World War on the chapels of Wales and their congregations
This book is based on more than a hundred letters sent home by three brothers from Mynyddbach dur... more This book is based on more than a hundred letters sent home by three brothers from Mynyddbach during the First World War, almost all of which relate to the period 1916–18 when Richard, Gabriel and Ivor Eustis were serving in different theatres. The run of letters written to different members of the family allow us to build a picture of what the brothers thought about a range of different issues as the war was being waged, and of how their beliefs and ideas evolved as situations changed. In common with other soldiers’ letters to their families, information on the battles fought is scarce – they are rather concerned with keeping the family bonds strong during the men’s absence. The dynamics of the family are revealed in letters full of sibling rivalry and affection
Historical Encounters: A journal of historical consciousness, historical cultures, and history education
Much of the academic attention on issues of Great War mourning and commemoration has focussed on ... more Much of the academic attention on issues of Great War mourning and commemoration has focussed on the civic memorials, particularly given that they are designed to be public, visible reminders of the local community’s contribution to the war effort. The focus of this article is on a different subset of memorials, in that they refer specifically to workers from particular companies who served in the war. As such they were not always public memorials, being located in many cases within the works and thus only on display to fellow workers. Yet neither were they entirely ‘private’ memorials, such as the ones established in so many family homes to those they had lost. This article considers twenty five metalworks memorials in the south Wales counties of Monmouthshire, Glamorgan and Carmarthenshire. Taken as a whole, these memorials convey a number of messages about south Wales society in the immediate aftermath of the war. In most examples these were commissioned within three years of the...
The Palgrave Handbook of Artistic and Cultural Responses to War since 1914, 2018
Prior to August 1914, the chapels of the Protestant Nonconformist denominations of Wales prided t... more Prior to August 1914, the chapels of the Protestant Nonconformist denominations of Wales prided themselves on their anti-militarist credentials. Yet within weeks of the start of the Great War, the vast majority of chapel ministers had accepted the principle of the just war and were encouraging young men to enlist. The 52 months of fighting led to a variety of responses, as is evident in the memorials which these chapel communities commissioned. Some are clearly “war” memorials and have surprising imagery, such as depictions of tanks and warplanes; others are dedicated as “peace” memorials, with images of angels and declarations of brotherly love or have mixed messages. They tell us how much of a shock to the system the conflict was, shattering many preconceived ideas and heralding the dawn of an uncertain future.
Dr Matthews’ article about the impact of the First World War on Welsh Baptists challenges us to s... more Dr Matthews’ article about the impact of the First World War on Welsh Baptists challenges us to see what can be found in our churches’ records. Lists of names on war memorials (1914-18 and 1939-45) brought together in one place would help family historians, but what else is there? We would welcome further contributions: what can you find?
This is a (large) pdf file giving an overview of the titles and descriptions of all the items col... more This is a (large) pdf file giving an overview of the titles and descriptions of all the items collected by the 'Welsh Voices of the Great War Online' project. The aim of this document is to aid researchers in locating the material, which is now shared via the People's Collection portal
Dyma ffeil pdf (o faint sylweddol) sydd yn cynnig arolwg o deitlau a disgrifiadau’r eitemau a gas... more Dyma ffeil pdf (o faint sylweddol) sydd yn cynnig arolwg o deitlau a disgrifiadau’r eitemau a gasglwyd gan brosiect 'Cymry'r Rhyfel Mawr Ar-lein' yn 2010-11. Bwriad hon yw i gynorthwyo ymchwilwyr i ddod o hyd i'r eitemau sydd bellach yn cael eu rhannu ar wefan Casgliad y Werin.
Danfonodd milwyr a morwyr amrywiaeth eang o gardiau Nadolig yn ôl at eu teuluoedd yng Nghymru: ma... more Danfonodd milwyr a morwyr amrywiaeth eang o gardiau Nadolig yn ôl at eu teuluoedd yng Nghymru: mae'r erthygl hon yn ystyried beth allant ddweud wrthym ni am syniadau a meddyliau’r dynion.
Erthygl sy'n ystyried rhai o’r canlyniadau pellgyrhaeddiol a gafodd y Rhyfel Mawr ar gapeli Cymru... more Erthygl sy'n ystyried rhai o’r canlyniadau pellgyrhaeddiol a gafodd y Rhyfel Mawr ar gapeli Cymru a’u cynulleidfaoedd.
Welsh servicemen sent a variety of cards and messages home at Christmastime. This article explore... more Welsh servicemen sent a variety of cards and messages home at Christmastime. This article explores what they can tell us about the men’s beliefs and state-of-mind.
A look at some of the far-reaching consequences of the First World War on the chapels of Wales an... more A look at some of the far-reaching consequences of the First World War on the chapels of Wales and their congregations
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