OVER 100 came to Aber Artro Hall recently to commemorate the life and memoirs of John (Jackie) Williams of Harlech at an event organised by Harlech Historical Society and Harlech a’r Cylch.

Jackie Williams’ memoirs were written in 1942 and are an unusual account by a working man of Harlech.

They include memories of the Gallipoli and Gaza campaigns during the First World War, his wounding and treatment, his comrades, their friendship and sacrifices, his beliefs, pacifism and life in Harlech after the war. Jackie survived the Gallipoli campaign in 1916 but was seriously wounded in 1917 on a battlefield in Gaza where he was rescued, completely by chance, by soldier friends, Ianto Humphries from Harlech and Will Williams from Llanbedr. Speakers at Aber Artro included Jackie Williams’ grandson, George Wright who explained that although the memoirs were written in 1942 they only came to light some 50 years later. Jackie’s great granddaughter, Rachel Jones talked about his life in Harlech after the First World War; how he opened Harlech’s first fish and chip shop, became caretaker at the castle and a deacon at the Tabernacle Baptist Chapel. She also paid tribute to his close friend and mentor, Ianto Humphries who encouraged him to become a pacifist. Dr Neil Evans, chairman of Harlech Historical Society gave an overview of the Gallipoli and Gaza campaigns, and Jackie’s part in them. Paul Morgan, the current owner of Aber Artro, described the house, how it became a Voluntary Aid Detachment Hospital during the First War and Jackie’s recuperation there. Richard Poole then read the poem I Saw a Man One Day which was written at Aber Artro by Patrick Shaw Stewart shortly before he left to fight in the Gallipoli campaign. Myfanwy Jones opened and closed the event, and presented bouquets to Jackie Williams’ daughter, Olwen Vaughan Wright, Ianto Humphries’ niece, Mair Lloyd and to Carolyn Morgan in thanks for her kindness in hosting the event at Aber Artro.