THE latest community news from Dolgellau

St Mary’s Women’s Fellowship

EIGHT members attended the last meeting despite the awful weather.

Jessie opened with The Lord’s Prayer.

The Speaker was David Shepherd, and the subject was ‘To personalise the people named on the war memorial in Dolgellau, to demonstrate their humanity and how they lived and died’.

David started with his own family interest, two of his great uncles were killed in 1917, the worst year in the war for the Dolgellau recruits, mostly in the 7th Battalion of the Welsh Fusiliers.

Hugh Richard Owen named on the Dolgellau Memorial and Hugh Lewis Davis named on the Aberdyfi Memorial.

Both grandmothers had kept memorabilia, which David had brought along to show us, including the diary of Hugh Lewis Davis.

David discussed the journeys of the 7th Battalion, especially the involvement in the infamous battle of Gallipoli.

107 names are remembered on the memorial in Dolgellau, including one woman, Mary Elizabeth Smith, who probably died of Spanish Flu.

David also shared other poignant stories, including one of a Soldier who was on board a Ship heading for Malta, it was attacked and sunk by enemy fire, a loss of all persons on board was reported.

His wife was notified that he was missing presumed dead.

David showed us the copy of dignified letter she sent to the authorities, humbly asking for a copy of his death certificate in order to claim his life insurance.

They refused as his body, along with many others, had not been found.

She was left to survive on a war pension of £1 11shillings and sixpence, with which she was to support herself and her five children.

They were all fascinated by the presentation, the photographs and stories of ordinary people during an extraordinary period in history.

As David quoted ‘The death of one man is a tragedy, the death of millions a statistic’ (Joseph Stalin).

David successfully put a face to some of those millions very eloquently.

David has written two excellent books, Three Memorials 1914-1918 in both Welsh and English (D I Shepherd) and Dolgellau and the Great War (D I Shepherd) .

Jessie gave the vote of thanks.

Jean won the raffle.

Eight members attended the previous meeting and Jessie opened with the Lord’s Prayer.

The speaker was Paul Williams, local safety support officer, who is employed by the Fire Service.

Paul informed them about the various duties he undertakes in this role.

He attends CATS meetings (community assistance scheme) regarding the support made to the community.

Vulnerable people who have fallen in their home will contact Gofal Mon on their personal alarms, they will contact the CATS team who will contact the injured person and assess the assistance that is required, thus avoiding the ambulance service to be called out unnecessarily.

Paul also attends scenes of domestic violence in liaison with the police.

Paul is responsible for Home Reassurance Well-being calls to see if vulnerable people need assistance in the home and liaising with the local authority services if help or equipment is required.

Paul went on to discuss many anecdotal details of his case studies, of course keeping the client details totally confidential.

Jessie gave the vote of thanks.

Jessie won the raffle.

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