8 Woodsorrel Road Birkenhead September 7, 1917
Dear relatives, Even though I have found some time at last to sit down and write you a letter I feel unable to express adequately a quarter of what I wish to say because of the multitude of thoughts within. I represented Hedd Wyn yesterday in the Eisteddfod and I don't think there was a dry eye in the whole crowd of six thousand assembled.
The Prime Minister himself was standing next to the Chair and Sir Vincent Evans was by his side weeping like a child when it was announced that one of the children of Traws had won the Chair, and that he had fallen in this accursed war. Yr Ysgwrn has been immortalised but I know that you and Wales as a whole would infinitely have preferred to see Hedd Wyn coming home than to have been given the Chair and all its glory. Hedd Wyn managed to beat some of the Nation's Greats, a young boy, without any college education, only a basic education in Traws. Who knows what he could have achieved had he been allowed to live. It is an everlasting shame that he was dragged against his will to such a wretched place. God had given him to our Nation and it is a pity that he had not spared him from joining but there is no point talking now...
Yours sincerely with kind regards Rolant
The author of this letter was Rolant Wyn, Hedd Wyn’s uncle.
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
A poster with information about a memorial service for Hedd Wyn
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
A photograph of men from the Trawsfynydd parish who died in the War
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
Unveiling the Hedd Wyn Memorial, 1923
Plaque recieved by the families of soldiers that had died in the war
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
Army Certificate sent to Hedd Wyn’s family
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
Note written to Major Edwards on July 25, 1917, about the death of Hedd Wyn (1/2)
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales
Note written to Major Edwards on July 25, 1917, about the death of Hedd Wyn (2/2)
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales The 4th September, 1917 was my 8th birthday.
The pupils from Class 4 and above were given permission to walk down to the station to wait for the train, at 3.45 p.m, which was carrying the Black Chair all the way from Birkenhead to Trawsfynydd... We stood in an orderly manner on the platform, in a sort of half circle, and in plenty of time for the arrival of the train... It was customary for every train to whistle as it approached Tŷ Newydd Farm, about half a mile away, but it did not do so on this occasion.
It drew up silently along the platform, and we were placed at the exact spot where the closed carriage of the guard would come to standstill. We were warned beforehand by the Station Master to be silent, and not to talk!
Within a few seconds the carriage doors were opened and we caught a glimpse of the black drape which covered the chair. A man stepped back and stood to the left of the chair and drew back the cover slowly from this historical item. We were overwhelmed on seeing its beauty and craftsmanship.
These were sad moments and the silence was breathtaking and memorable. Without hurrying the guard returned to the chair a drew the drape back over it! The doors were closed and the man and the chair were confined within!
Without the usual whistle the train slide out of the station and continued towards Bala, onwards to Trawsfynydd and on to Yr Ysgwrn, the home of the poet, Hedd Wyn.
Lucy Margaret Jones, St.Asaph
A description of the Black Chair’s journey to Trawsfynydd
Hedd Wyn Resource Pack
The National Library of Wales and Amgueddfa Cymru-National Museum Wales