Saving Private Roberts?

The Ceunant Isaf Family and the Great War

by Elin Tomos

During lockdown, I watched Saving Private Ryan for, I must admit, the first time; a film that follows the efforts of a group of soldiers during World War II to find and rescue 'Private Ryan', the only surviving son of four brothers. The film is said to be loosely based on the story of the Niland brothers from Tonawanda, New York: Edward, Preston, Robert, and Fredrick. One of many, many, families who lost more than one son during the World Wars.

After watching the film, I started looking closer to home - and wondered how many local brothers were involved in the fighting? Looking specifically at the First World War, here is a snapshot of the story of four brothers who enlisted in 1914: Robert ‘Bob’ Edward Roberts (b. 1887), John Edward Roberts (b. 1890), Thomas ‘Tommy’ ‘Twm’ Roberts (b. 1893) and Josiah ‘Jos’ Roberts (b. 1895).

There is no denying that the large families that marked the Victorian era made the Great War possible. One of those large families was the family of Ceunant Isaf, Nantperis. Of the eleven children born to Edward and Hannah Roberts, two died in infancy, leaving nine: Robert (Bob), John, Thomas (Tommy or Twm), Josiah (Jos or Jo), Mary, Eliza, Idwal, Owen and Margaret.

Apart from the details included in the National Censuses I haven’t been able to find out much about the family. Edward, the father, was born in Capel Curig and worked for a while in the Ogwen Valley before moving to Nantperis and marrying Hannah, a local girl. The family lived for some time at 'Office' near Cwmeilir Isaf, before moving to Glan-llyn (a house that was destroyed during the building of the Dinorwig Hydroelectric Plant) and then eventually to Ceunant Isaf, on the slopes of Y Garn.

According to the 1911 Census, Edward, the father, worked as a 'Rockman in Slate Quarry', John as a 'Loader in Slate Quarry', Tommy as a 'Quarryman', and Josiah as an 'Apprentice Quarryman.’ All of them were monolingual Welsh speakers - except Thomas, in his column, a cross was put through 'Welsh' and replaced by 'Both’, suggesting he was bilingual. For some reason, there is no record of Robert or Bob, the eldest son, on the 1901 or the 1911 census, which makes it difficult to confirm whether or not he also worked at Dinorwig Quarry.

 Traditionally, there has been a tendency to assume that all quarrymen were staunch chapelgoers, and, despite the strength of Nonconformity within the slate districts, the Ceunant Isaf family were Anglicans. This perhaps explains why there is little reference to the family in the newspapers; as the local Nant correspondent usually places great emphasis on Chapel events, for example, the listing of attendees during yet another successful prayer meeting or the winners of the latest literary competition.

I have come across only two references to the Ceunant family in the pre-war newspapers, one being the appointment of Edward Roberts, the father, in 1910 to light the village lamps and the record of John Roberts, one of the sons, who was ill under the care of R. H. Mills Roberts, Chief Surgeon of Dinorwig Quarry Hospital, again in 1910.

At the dawn of the Great War the Welsh slate industry was already in difficulty and when war was declared on 4 August 1914 the demand for slate fell significantly as the building market collapsed. By September 1914, the Oakeley, Llechwedd, Maenofferen, Penrhyn and Dinorwig quarries were working a three day week. In the Nantlle Vale the impact of the War was disastrous with many quarries closing completely leaving 1,170 men unemployed by September 1914. Between 1914-1918 29 slate quarries were closed for good across the north-west.

Given that so many quarrymen were out of work, some reporters within the Welsh popular press felt that not enough men from the quarrying villages were joining the Armed Forces; with many claiming that their Welsh, Nonconformist education was the reason behind their reluctancy to join. On several occasions the North Wales Quarrymen's Union deputies had to convince readers that the quarrymen of north Wales were as ready as any other cohort of workers to enlist. By January 1915, it was claimed that 1 in 7 quarrymen in north Wales had enrolled and considering the amount of quarrymen who were over 45 years old (so too old to join) the figure was closer to 1 in 5. The Union believed that those who were so eager to speak out against the men of the quarrying districts were not considering the fact that so many men had left the area in the months before the War due to the difficulties of the industry.

On 2 September 1914, just one month after the declaration of war, the first enlistment meeting was held in Llanberis at the Concert Hall. Addressing the 'crowded hall' were Colonel Owen Thomas, Colonel Cotton and the notorious Reverend John Williams, Brynsiencyn, Honorary Chaplain of the 38th Welsh Division Battalion, a minister who chose to preach from the pulpit in his military uniform. Williams believed ministers had a duty to encourage men to join the armed forces, he praised the old Welsh proverb: 'better death than shame' as he urged young quarrymen to enlist. In Llanberis, 'he [Williams] carried the large crowd with him.’ In his speech he embarrassed his listeners, declaring ‘it was a war for the protection of liberty, and justice. '

'If anyone in Llanberis could stay calm in the current crisis, humanity was over…
If Germany were to attack us, what will become of our religion, our language, and our institutions?'

Recruitment was driven by public meetings and the publishing of patriotic literature such as posters and advertisements. In terms of the press, some of the the quarrying villages’ favourite newspapers including Yr Herald Cymraeg, Y Genedl Gymreig, Y Cymro and Banner ac Amserau Cymru were also loyal to the cause of the war.

By the end of October 1914, three of the Ceunant Isaf brothers had joined the Armed Forces: John, Tommy, and Josiah. Tommy was sent to Wrexham, Josiah to Northampton and John to Caernarfon. In Yr Herald Cymraeg, with great pride, it was reported that ‘although our area [Nant] is small, it is represented’ followed by a long list of Nant lads who had already joined. A comment was added at the end of the list which emphasized the fact that ‘the three sons of Hannah and Edward Robert, Ceunant had joined.’ Before the end of the year, Robert or Bob, the eldest brother, had also joined the army meaning that four brothers had now enlisted.

 ‘...there is a pretty empty place in this area without them.'

The first months for most soldiers were a period of intensive training and although the war, contrary to common belief, did not end by December 1914 many boys returned home to spend Christmas with their families. After training at Basingstoke and Salisbury Plain, 'where he was subject to very tough military exercises' Tommy returned to Nant to spend Christmas. John also returned home after a stint in Aberystwyth. There is no mention of Josiah or Bob.

But how did you go about welcoming a soldier home? According to Y Gymraes it was of utmost importance for a mother to show that she had prepared for the return of her son, or, in the case of Hannah Roberts, her sons.

HOW TO RECEIVE THE SON HOME – His bedroom must be clean and tidy. Repair and arrange his clothes and place neatly in a drawer. Make sure his socks are clean and intact. Collar, cuffs, tie, handkerchief, ready, if needed. Stationery, stamps, pencils, ink bottles, & c., Everything handy, his clothes and belongings all in the drawers together. Let every corner in the house show that you are expecting him home, whenever that may be.

By the summer of 1915 ‘several of the Nant boys were in battle at the Dardanelles.’ The village’s ‘concern about them was turning into a prayer for them to receive the divine protection, to return to the peace and quiet of the Old Country.’

The Dardanelles,  – a narrow 60-mile-long strip of water that divides Europe from Asia – has been of great strategic significance for centuries and it was the closing of the Dardanelles that eventually brought the Ottoman Empire into the war as a German ally at the end of October 1914. By attacking the Dardanelles, Britain were hoping to open a third front and secure a clear pathway of sea from the Dardanelles to Russia, thrashing the Ottomans and therefore undermining German efforts.

On 19 February 1915, British and French ships began a naval attack on the Dardanelles. Due to large losses from Turkish mines the fighting ceased on 18 March. Military landings on the Gallipoli peninsula followed on 25 April. Contained by the Ottoman defenders, a new assault began on 6 August, which involved several Welsh battalions, including the Ceunant brothers.  

On 24 August 1915 Hannah Roberts, Ceunant, received 'notification from the War Office, that Bob her son was dangerously wounded in the Dardanelles' and that he was 'currently in hospital in Alexandria, Egypt.' Yr Herald Cymraeg described Bob as 'a very popular young boy in the area.'

Within two weeks another Ceunant brother was hospitalized. By early September 1915, Josiah had been wounded in the Dardanelles and had been sent home. He spent a short period in a military hospital in Bristol before returning to Nant. Naturally, he was warmly welcomed back with locals eager to listen ‘to him recount his experience in the fire.’

The practice of printing letters from soldiers was a common feature in Welsh newspapers during the Great War. In September 1915, a letter from John Roberts, Ceunant Isaf, was printed in Yr Herald Cymraeg:

'We've been in the Dardanelles for three weeks today ... a lot of the lads are ill, the effect of the water, or they haven't come to terms with the weather, but I myself am perfectly healthy.'

In his letter, John discusses his brothers' injuries and refers to some of the Nant lads who were also in the Dardanelles:

'Jos. [Josiah, his brother] was injured in his left knee, and Bob [Robert, his brother] was wounded on the first day… Bob John and Tommy Phillips [both of Glanrafon Terrace] and Gwilym [Glan-llyn] are perfectly healthy so far.'

His greetings to his parents are innocent enough, he reminds them to 'Remember me to everyone there. Mr. Lunt in particular', the Curate of St Peris Church. He also asked for ‘a few cigarettes, too, I would like to have a little something to eat, but I don't know what will keep on it's journey coming here – what about some bara brith or biscuits?' He finished his letter by sharing his hopes for the future:

'Well, I'll end now in the hope that you are all healthy and happy, and this war will be over soon for us to come home by Christmas at the latest. You can be sure that I will be delighted to return to the old country.

In short, from your son, John’

John Roberts, Ceunant Isaf was killed on 23 November 1915 after being shot in the head. He was 24 years old.

In December 1915, a letter from Tommy Phillips Thomas, of Glanrafon Terrace, Nantperis, a friend of John was printed in Y Dinesydd Cymreig. Tommy was the same age as John and had also been a quarryman before enlisting. In his letter, Tommy reports that he received some

'Very bad news, that Bob John [Private Robert John Thomas, Glanrafon Terrace] died in hospital… I pity Ann his wife, and his four children. A parcel came to him here yesterday, and I shared it with John Ceunant, because we're the only two here from Nant.’

When Tommy Phillips' letter was published, John had been dead for nearly a month. I wonder if Hannah, his mother, saw this letter in December 1915 when she was already aware of her son's death? The mix-up in dates and information is probably due to some delay in sending or publishing the letter.

Several different letters that were written by Nant lads and printed in the newspapers show that their paths often crossed and that many of them served in the company of friends. Many Welsh battalions took part in the Dardanelles Campaign, leaving whole villages grieving and Nant was no different.

The cost of the Dardanelles campaign in Nantperis was considerable. By January 1916, all but one (Willam Closs, Tanybryn) of the serving soldiers had either been killed, injured or were on their deathbeds. Two had already died (Robert John Thomas, Glanrafon Terrace and John Roberts, Ceunant Isaf) two (Gwilym Williams, Glan-llyn and Robert Phillips, Stamps) were seriously ill in a hospital in Manchester, one (Hugh Griffith, Bron Wyddfa) in a hospital in Portsmouth, one (Tommy Phillips Thomas) in a hospital in Cairo and two (Robert Williams, Glanrafon Terrace and Bob Roberts, Ceunant Isaf) in a hospital in Malta. With so many families in Nant sick with worry and to think that Edward and Hannah Roberts, Ceunant Isaf were already mourning the loss of John, they must have been quite relieved to see their sons, Tommy and Josiah return home over the Christmas period in 1915. It was reported in Yr Herald Cymraeg that Tommy had experienced a 'miraculous escape when fighting in France’ and that the residents of Nant were overjoyed to see ‘him look so well.’

On Boxing Day 1915,

‘At St Peris Church, the memorial service of our late brother, Private John Roberts, was held 1/6th Batt. R.W.F., who was killed by being shot in the head, in the Dardanelles… Many condolences to his parents, Mr and Mrs Roberts, Ceunant. They have three other sons who are also fighting: Bob, who has been wounded for some months in the Dardanelles, and is currently in Malta in Hospital. Josiah, himself wounded in the Dardanelles but recovered sufficiently to resume; the fourth [Tommy] is home on a short break after being wounded in France.’

 The three remaining brothers, Josiah, Tommy, and Bob all survived and the family moved from Ceunant Isaf to 4 Glanrafon Terrace in the early 1920s.