Post by naomipalmer on Feb 7, 2024 13:05:51 GMT
I’m a historian from Swansea University and for a few months have been researching the story of the ‘Lost Choir’ of the 1915 Eisteddfod in Bangor where 2 battalions of the RWF (16th and 17th) competed in the male voice choir competition. A member of the Great War forum and the Royal Welch Fusiliers forum recommended this forum to me.
In the 1917 Eisteddfod in Birkenhead, one the choirs (the 17th battalion) was invited back and it was announced that their conductor, Lance Corporal Samuel Evans (of Rhosllanerchrugog/Penycae) was in attendance and was the only surviving member of the winning choir. This story has been repeated for over a century but it isn’t true, the 16th battalion were the winners and there were several members of the 17th battalion (and 16th) choir(s) that were still alive by the time of the Eisteddfod in Birkenhead in 1917.
I have discovered several names and believe that these men were from the 17th battalion (2nd North Wales), a number would have been in ‘B’ company. Newspaper articles of the time (attached articles from Y Brython, 27 September 1917, and Y Llan, 28 September 1917) contain the names of some of the choir members still alive in 1917, most of whom were from/living in and around the Wrexham area, but with some having fairly common names and currently without regimental numbers it's proving difficult to trace these men.
I have details for two (W.O. Williams (William Owen Williams) and Emrys Williams) but the others are proving a bit difficult. The conductor of the 17th battalion choir, Private (later Lance Corporal) Samuel Evans was from Rhosllanerchrugog, but by 1917 was noted as living in Penycae, and from what I can find, was the organist at Tai Nant Chapel in Penycae. He was injured during the war in 1916.
The purpose of all this is that there is a possibility, if more details can be found/confirmed, the stories of some of these men can be shared at the Eisteddfod in 2025 which is being held in Wrexham. I'm hopeful that some readers will know more about the story of the choir/choirs or are possibly descendants of the members. Although I have been focusing on the choir of the 17th battalion, any information about members of the 16th battalion choir would also be extremely valuable.
(Also attached is a possible image (although confirmation is needed) of the 17th battalion choir - this image is used in a Welsh-language documentary, Lleisiau'r Rhyfel Mawr (Voices of the Great War) (Cwmni Da, 2008) when the story of the choir is presented).
In the 1917 Eisteddfod in Birkenhead, one the choirs (the 17th battalion) was invited back and it was announced that their conductor, Lance Corporal Samuel Evans (of Rhosllanerchrugog/Penycae) was in attendance and was the only surviving member of the winning choir. This story has been repeated for over a century but it isn’t true, the 16th battalion were the winners and there were several members of the 17th battalion (and 16th) choir(s) that were still alive by the time of the Eisteddfod in Birkenhead in 1917.
I have discovered several names and believe that these men were from the 17th battalion (2nd North Wales), a number would have been in ‘B’ company. Newspaper articles of the time (attached articles from Y Brython, 27 September 1917, and Y Llan, 28 September 1917) contain the names of some of the choir members still alive in 1917, most of whom were from/living in and around the Wrexham area, but with some having fairly common names and currently without regimental numbers it's proving difficult to trace these men.
I have details for two (W.O. Williams (William Owen Williams) and Emrys Williams) but the others are proving a bit difficult. The conductor of the 17th battalion choir, Private (later Lance Corporal) Samuel Evans was from Rhosllanerchrugog, but by 1917 was noted as living in Penycae, and from what I can find, was the organist at Tai Nant Chapel in Penycae. He was injured during the war in 1916.
The purpose of all this is that there is a possibility, if more details can be found/confirmed, the stories of some of these men can be shared at the Eisteddfod in 2025 which is being held in Wrexham. I'm hopeful that some readers will know more about the story of the choir/choirs or are possibly descendants of the members. Although I have been focusing on the choir of the 17th battalion, any information about members of the 16th battalion choir would also be extremely valuable.
(Also attached is a possible image (although confirmation is needed) of the 17th battalion choir - this image is used in a Welsh-language documentary, Lleisiau'r Rhyfel Mawr (Voices of the Great War) (Cwmni Da, 2008) when the story of the choir is presented).