Crawshey Bailey had an engine..

[geraint]

Nice to hear from you again Grumps!

[Scalyback]

2 hours ago, geraint said:

Quite right! The Homphrays at Dowlais, The Guest family, the Crawshays, and all the iron masters of the valleys really despoiled our fair land Gwyn. The 1831 'rioters' were only demanding 'bara caws' - bread and cheese! Dic Penderyn, at 22 years of age was hanged as a scapegoat. His last words were "O Arglwydd dyma gamwedd!" "Oh Lord - this is a mis-justice!" How Green Was My Valley is the standout period book for me.

I'm also aware of the Crawshay's Fifteen which was a sort of combi valleys super rugby team which went on tour. Played against them at Ruthin back in the day when I was an Adonis-like youth. We lost 76 -0.

Back to the Great War thread - how many men left those steelworks and coal mines to enlist in the war? Their natural regiments would have been the SWB and The Welch I suppose.

Having said that how did this thread leap out 15 years since it's inception? Scalyback -explain!

I could explain.... Was just perusing old threads as a way of relaxation. Currently studying Chartism on the OU. Reading Great War history is a way to relax.

52 minutes ago, geraint said:

I wonder what Prof Gwyn Alf Williams would have made of it all! I remember picking him up, with the help of other students, blind drunk, from the floor at a Gregynnog  during an U of W history convention when I was a student. and tucking him in gently to bed. Socialism gave me sinews.

His book on the Merthyr Rising is excellent. Unfortunately I can only access it at the local library as a reference book. The kindle version is 25 pounds! I'm a Merthyr man born and bred but I have a confession @Dragon may not like. Captain Ray of the Milita helped put down the riot, he is a distant relative. 

I think the later Crawsheys had a worse relationship with the town later on. Steel production was done for the Great War but after it was shut down and the workers told basically to s#d off. 

(Any typos all mine as on a tiny tablet that has its own mind)

[Dragon]

5 hours ago, Scalyback said:

 

His book on the Merthyr Rising is excellent. Unfortunately I can only access it at the local library as a reference book. The kindle version is 25 pounds! I'm a Merthyr man born and bred but I have a confession @Dragon may not like. Captain Ray of the Milita helped put down the riot, he is a distant relative. 

 

There are several copies on AbeBooks, many under £10, if I have the right book.

We are not responsible for our ancestors, so I will forgive you. Doing the Chartists sounds very interesting. When I started O level History, we had to do a project on a subject of our choice. I expect the teacher was thinking of topics like Victorian schools or something. I chose the Rebecca Riots (yes, I would have been a Daughter of Rebecca too) and she seemed to think I was weird. Perhaps I educated her.

Geraint's phrase 'Socialism gave me sinews' is brilliant. What an image from Gregynnog . 

Edited 23 February by Dragon
Bonus information

[Scalyback]

On 23/02/2024 at 00:01, Dragon said:

There are several copies on AbeBooks, many under £10, if I have the right book.

We are not responsible for our ancestors, so I will forgive you. Doing the Chartists sounds very interesting. When I started O level History, we had to do a project on a subject of our choice. I expect the teacher was thinking of topics like Victorian schools or something. I chose the Rebecca Riots (yes, I would have been a Daughter of Rebecca too) and she seemed to think I was weird. Perhaps I educated her.

Geraint's phrase 'Socialism gave me sinews' is brilliant. What an image from Gregynnog . 

David Jones(???) Before Rebecca is a good option there, yes have that. Also have Major Flu(not covid) but my functions are right down. Back soon 

[geraint]

On 22/02/2024 at 18:03, Scalyback said:

 

His book on the Merthyr Rising is excellent. Unfortunately I can only access it at the local library as a reference book. The kindle version is 25 pounds! I'm a Merthyr man born and bred but I have a confession @Dragon may not like. Captain Ray of the Milita helped put down the riot, he is a distant relative. 

 

 

During my time as an history teacher, the WJEC GCSE syllabus required a fairly detailed study of the 1831 Merthyr Riots, The Rebecca Riots, the assorted Chartist Riots, the Tithe War and the land disturbances with Lloyd George. It was excellent stuff - giving Welsh pupils an understanding of the tumultuous events that was the background to their modern  existence. Twenty years on, having retired, and having gone through two of my grandkids'  WJEC syllabus with them - I'm horrified that NONE of the above contents are included in today's fields of study.

I did meet a distant relative of Pte Donald Black - the Scottish soldier that Dic Penderyn had slightly wounded,  (with his own bayonet), in the scuffle at the Castle Hotel in Merthyr - for which "attempted murder" Richard Lewis was hanged. Black told the court that he couldn't recognise Lewis and that he probably wasn't the man who injured him trying to evade Black's bayonet thrust. Miss-justice on a big scale. Any old scapegoat will do! 

[Dragon]

3 hours ago, geraint said:

During my time as an history teacher, the WJEC GCSE syllabus required a fairly detailed study of the 1831 Merthyr Riots, The Rebecca Riots, the assorted Chartist Riots, the Tithe War and the land disturbances with Lloyd George. It was excellent stuff - giving Welsh pupils an understanding of the tumultuous events that was the background to their modern  existence.  

That's so important. I'm sure that many found it interesting and could relate to it, given the flavour of topics which arise in Welsh news. In my view it's an omission that some of the history of Wales is not taught in English schools. I have bought my husband several books about the history of Wales and the Marches and parallels with how the events of that period of history were managed can so well be drawn today. (Logaston Press is a wonderful little publisher with a niche range.) There are even parallels with management in 14-18.

Thank you for the Rebecca book recommendation. I'll look for it.  I'm currently working my way (on and off) through Dr Wyn Thomas's book on Tryweryn, so may be some time.

[Interested]

On 06/12/2008 at 16:16, geraint said:

My Brother Sylvest

It's an American song, written in 1910 by Lasky and Stern, music by Fisher, also known as Big Strong Man.  Wikipedia suggests it was popular with Canadian troops in WW2, but makes no mention of it being sung by US troops in the Great War.

I know it from a "Fivepenny Piece" album from the 70's.