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'1919, is a snapshot-in-time of life in Mumbles over a period of twelve months. This was a year of sharp contrasts-deep sadness for those whose loved ones would never return from the Great War or would die in the imminent influenza epidemic and for others, elation at the Peace Day celebrations and the Royal visit of Edward Prince of Wales to Mumbles.
‘I belonged to that generation which saw,
‘I belonged to that generation which saw,
by chance, the end of a thousand years’ life.’
Laurie Lee, Cider with Rosieby chance, the end of a thousand years’ life.’
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.
Demobbed villagers Included are:- Archie Michael, Phil Kift, Will Thomas, Alf Reeves, H. Thomas and Bill Lewis
photo; Mrs. Kippin
Most of us today do not remember life then, but for those living at the time it was a year of immense emotional contrasts and local political change—Oystermouth Urban District Council had recently ceased to exist as a separate entity, the area having been incorporated into the Swansea County Borough. The Great War had taken its toll on the Mumbles locality, with 112 of its young men destined never to return, others coming back maimed and some too scarred by their war-time experiences to face everyday life—the Mumbles Press carrying several reports of tragic deaths by suicide.
But having survived the conflict, it was to be a time of further tragedy for others, with the infamous flu epidemic starting to take hold, necessitating schools to be closed and cinemas’ performances to be shortened.
Walter Pool Terry
The Mumbles Press of 13 March 1919, ‘reported many cases of deaths, among them Mr. Walter Pool Terry, aged 30, Vice Chairman of the local branch of the National Federation of Discharged and Demobilised Sailors and Soldiers, whose home was at 41, Woodville Road, who had died of flu, on 10th March, shortly after being demobbed, wounded and gassed from the 6th Welsh. He left a widow and three children, ‘two of which are curly-headed twin boys’.
Walter TERRY
Noel Boss
That same week, Noel Boss, aged 35, my Grandmother’s first husband, a Headmaster at Pagefield College in Page Street, Swansea (the building today occupied by the Quaker Meeting House) succumbed to the influenza three days after becoming ill, leaving her to raise two daughters at 1, Promenade Terrace, Mumbles.
Noel BOSS
Villagers collecting for the ‘Bit Fund’ for ex-servicemen, 1919
By contrast, the Mumbles Press was central in reporting ‘The Peace’ and its aftermath, together with some villagers putting pen to paper to record their impressions of the time, while Melville Clare, a local photographer was busy travelling around on his bicycle with a tripod on his shoulder, capturing the villagers on his glass-slide negatives and recording activities as diverse as sports teams, the Royal visit and villagers’ efforts in raising money for the ‘Bit Fund’.
Nurses at Victoria Hall Red Cross Hospital
The two war-time auxiliary hospitals at Victoria hall and Dan-y-Coed House were able to close their doors in the March and during that summer, various celebratory and thanksgiving gatherings took place.
This plaque is displayed inside the rebuilt Victoria Hall, Dunns Lane
and recognises their achievement during the Great War
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 theMumbles 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.
Crowds greet Edward, Prince of Wales during his visit to Mumbles
Many people enjoyed the visit of Edward, Prince of Wales to Mumbles on 27 June. He had come to visit the Guildhall, Docks and Cwmfelin Works at Swansea, where he had met Mumbles Lifeboat Coxswain Davies and his crew, all wearing their distinctive yellow oilskins, sou’westers and safety jackets. During a short interval in his packed itinerary, he was driven to The Rhyddings,’ the home of Roger Beck at Newton, where he was shown the ‘splendid view of Langland Bay and the Bristol Channel’ from the garden. En route, he was welcomed by large cheering crowds at Dunns Corner and along Newton Road.
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’.
Church School Concert, 1919
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 sprts 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.
A closer view of the costumes
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.’
Oystermouth Council School complete with its bell-tower
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.
Oystermouth Athletic Hockey Club, 1919-20 By W A CLARE
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.
A Service at The Shrine
In November, the King wished that on this, the first Armistice Day, there should be ‘for a brief period of two minutes, a complete suspension of normal activities. . . so that in perfect stillness the thoughts of everyone may be concentrated in reverent remembrance.’ The day was marked with a service at the Shrine in Parade Gardens and the following week with a dance held at the Parish Hall, where Mr. Holness played a violin, which had been taken from a German dug-out during the war.
This was surely a year to remember, which although one of immense sadness for many, was hoped to be the start of a new and better life. They were not to know that twenty years later, the next generation would be fighting another war.
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
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