‘I belonged to that generation which saw, by chance, 

the end of a thousand years’ life.’

Laurie Lee, Cider with Rosie

Back in 1919, Britain was beginning to recover from four years of war and was making her mark on the world stage when the ‘R34’ airship became the first to cross the Atlantic, arriving in New York on 6 July;  a daily air service from London to Paris began in August and the House of Commons   received its first female MP, Lady Nancy Astor.

 The Vicar of All saints’ Church and members of the Churchmen’s Society entertained around one hundred returning soldiers and sailors to a substantial meal served by Wren Harris of the Central Café. The Vicar extended a hearty Welcome Home and paid a warm tribute to ‘the noble part they had played in the great conflict. Mumbles had every reason to be proud of its fighting men’ and then went on to make a sympathetic reference to those who had made the supreme sacrifice.’

Another was at the Congregational Church where returning Sailors and Soldiers were entertained. Two hundred partook of an excellent supper provided by the kindness of the lady workers. Rev. Smith voiced the congregation’s appreciation of the way in which the men of Castleton had responded to their Country’s call. The Church Roll was called and a vote of sympathy passed in silence in honour of those who had made the supreme sacrifice. Solos were rendered by Mrs. Squires and Miss P. Beynon, Messrs. P. Beynon, David Lloyd, Ivor Davies, L. Jones, W. Taylor and J. Williams. Recitations by Mr. E. Rogers and Ivor Davies and Miss Rust and Mr. E. Child were efficient accompanists.  In another party at the same church, ninety children of those local men, killed in the conflict, were entertained to tea and entertainments under the auspices of the Swansea Widows and orphans fund.

The weather that Easter, the ‘First in Peace Year’ was fine, attracting ‘record crowds’ which ‘severely taxed’ the Mumbles Railway, which of course, came up trumps and laid on a special service of long trains of about twenty carriages, which were crowded both inside and out. Additionally, all sorts of vehicles on the Mumbles Road added to the crowds. Tourism had become a booming industry for the area, in contrast to  the oyster-dredging business, which by now had only nine skiffs operating, down from the one-hundred-and-twenty-three back in 1869.

A Masked Ball and a Grand Victory Fancy Dress Ball were held at the Pier Pavilion on 17th and 24th April. At the Masked Ball, the winner of the Juvenile Girls’ class was Miss G. Gammon with her costume, Peace and D. Jones in his Boy Scout outfit in the boys’ Class. Miss S. Gammon as a ‘Scotch Thistle’ and Ken Jones as a ‘Byng Boy’ won the adult classes. In the Fancy Dress Ball, the winners were Mrs. Holman as ‘Queen of Hearts’ and Mr. C. Claypitt as a ‘Miner on Strike.’

A charity match between Southend and Swansea was played at the Vetch Field in aid of the Benevolent Fund of the Mumbles Branch of the Discharged Soldiers’ and Sailors’ Federation—score, Southend, 2, Swansea, 1.

In common with many towns and villages throughout Britain, ‘Peace Day’ itself was celebrated in Mumbles on 19 July 1919 (the Treaty of Versailles having been signed on 28 June)  amidst  much sadness, but also gratitude that, what many had been led to believe was the ‘War to End all War’, was at last over. According to the Mumbles Press, ‘The village was gaily decorated, nearly every house beflagged and streamers across most of the streets. The Bristol Channel Yacht Club presented a very special appearance in the evening with some exceedingly effective illuminations in front of the handsome building and a fine display of fireworks served to draw to the spot immense crowds of visitors and residents. Many children were present and members showered them with pennies and silver coins and set them running races. There was a bonfire on the hill just after 10 p.m. together with a few small ones on the foreshore at points between Mumbles and Blackpill and several firework displays. Mumbles Train was full in the afternoon. Rain threatened in morning but none fell. The Harwich Band drew many to the pier’.

 The school children, including those from the St. David’s orphanage, had their ‘Peace’ treat on Friday. All those belonging to the Church Schools assembled in the yard early in the afternoon whence they marched in procession to Colonel Jones’ field headed by their own band. The usual sports, racing etc. were enjoyed, after which the youngsters marched back to the schools where they were provided with a good tea. They were presented with a bag of sweets and returned to the field where they enjoyed themselves with games until it was time to go home. At the Council Schools, the children were given an excellent tea in their classrooms, after which they went to the Castle Grounds, where there were sports and games.

But for one youngster Brynley McKay, then aged about seven, the day was definitely one to remember and not only for the happy day he himself, had enjoyed.  He recalled, ‘We lived in a house called Westward Ho!, situated at the top of Mumbles Hill. Victory was being celebrated everywhere by the building of huge bonfires and,  of course, there was one on Mumbles Hill, near the site of the old iron ore mine. Mr. and Mrs. Boulanger lived in Somerset House overlooking Bracelet Bay and the best position to witness the great night celebrations was from the rear of their estate. Hundreds of people passed our house to reach good positions to see the event and it was about five o’clock in the afternoon when my brothers and I made our way there. As we waited with the crowds, the fire was lit and it was an awe-inspiring sight. Everyone was singing Great War army songs and joining in the celebrations.

However, tragedy was to mar the occasion, as situated a few hundred yards from the event was a very dangerous part of the cutting, which had never been fenced off and was very deep, with a rock at its centre called locally “The Needle”. After dark, when the event was nearing its end, the crowds, some carrying torches and lanterns, began to disperse along the well-known paths leading to Limeslade and Thistleboon. As we were passing Somerset House, two men came running shouting “Help, we can hear cries coming from the Cutting!” Other people arrived on the scene and it was agreed that we would go to Mr. Boulanger’s to get ropes and more lanterns. Mr. Boulanger, his wife and Servant came immediately. By this time, however, no sounds of cries could be heard. I remember hearing people say, “Let’s hope to God whoever it is has not fallen on the Needle Rock!” Eventually, a man was lowered on a rope and discovered it was a boy, just a little older than me, who was in great distress. He was rescued and carried to Somerset House, prior to his transfer to Swansea Hospital. However, there was a happy conclusion, as we heard next day that although he had sustained quite a lot of injuries, he was very lucky not to have fallen onto Needle Rock.’

Another villager, Mr. A.C. Saunders recalled that, ‘Just after midnight on Peace Night, the drowsy silence of the moonless night was suddenly broken by the booming peals of the bell that had called so many of the Mumbles children to Oystermouth Council School over the years. Mr. Albert Williams, living so near, turned out within minutes, but there was nobody on the premises and the ringing echoes had by then died away. Good staff work paid off; no break-in had been effected; the bell was rung and the ringers departed silently—there was Peace on Peace Night. I wonder whether the school bell awakened dear old Mrs. George of the school tuck-shop, where the humble ha’ penny used to buy such a vast amount of confectionery.’ Some time in the intervening years, the bell-tower has disappeared.

 Out at Penmaen, the inmates of the  Poor Law Institution (which served the Mumbles area) celebrated in good style. The dining hall was decorated by the Master and Matron, Mr. and Mrs. George and illuminated in the evening with coloured fairy lights. Dinner consisted of roast beef, vegetables with new potatoes, followed by plum pudding. Beer and Mineral water were also provided and afterwards extra tobacco, sweets, oranges and biscuits were given out. After tea there was a social evening.

During this time, life in Mumbles was endeavouring to get back to normality—The new bowling green opened in May, Mumbles Cinema was showing the ‘latest and best pictures’, there was dancing at the Oddfellows’ Hall, Pavilion and the Pier every Thursday and Saturday from 7 until 11, sports teams played their games and there were the usual rites of passage of christenings, weddings and funerals.

Acknowledgments

Mumbles Press, 9 January 1919, 3 March 1919, 3 April 1919, 24 April 1919, 8 May 1919, 22 May 1919, 12 June, 19 June 1919, 3 July 1919,  24 July 1919, 14 August 1919, 11 September 1919, 13 November 1919, 20 November 1919

Brynley McKay, Boyhood reminiscences of people and Events in the Mumbles from the year 1902

A.C. Saunders, ‘Ringing the school bell on Peace night’, Mumbles News January 1972

M.A. Clare photographs reprinted in the Mumbles News: April 1970, July 1970 and April 1971 

Council School photograph: West Glamorgan Archive

Rodney Castleden, British History: a chronological dictionary of dates, 1994